I love when my extended family gets together. Why? Two things await me. Good Great food and a family adventure. When you get that many of us in room for a reunion, usually we have a good story (or two) to tell afterwards.

What’s your best family reunion story? 

We had a reunion in the Black Hills of SD in July of 2005.  We had been stationed in Hawaii for 3 years, so visits with family were limited.  About 20 of us were in 2 large cabins at the Palmer Gulch KOA near Keystone.  The day we arrived was bright and sunny in the mid 80's.  That night a cold front moved in and the next 2 days were drippy and 60ish.  We still had an awsome time playing games board games and curling up next to the fire.  We also went shopping in Hill City.  Jon Crane has an awesome gallery there.  Mt Rushmore still looks good in the rain! My mother in law paid for the cabins.  Each of the "kid's" families were responsible for providing dinner for the entire crew one night.  Lots of good food and family time.  Of course the day we left the sun was shining...  We have a new family joke - unseasonably cold wet weather is now called "Palmer Gulch Weather".   Another reunion is scheduled for June of 2010. 

My Mothers side of the family had a runion about 15yrs ago at a park in upstate NY. (My imediate family moved to FL in 1974) The cousins got got to show off their children and husbands and catch up. Little did we know at the time that one cousin would die of breast canser and her Mother of cancer a short time later. I am so thankful I made that trip.

My family has been having reunions for 58 consecutive years.  It started with my great-grandparents and their 11 children, who had children, who had children, who had children, etc.

Over the years the responsibility of planning the party has passed down from one generation to the next.  About 10 years ago the job was passed to my cousin and I.  This year will be our family's 59th anniversary of the reunions and we are planning a BIG celebration for the 60th!

Our parties are always..."bring a dish to share and your family's drinks".  We pass the hat during the party to cover the cost of the hall and whatever incidentals we had to pay for but it's never more than $15/family.

A lot of our family makes fun of the reunions but they always come and get mad if their "invitation" gets lost in the mail.  I have a lot of memories of the reunions - the food, the fun and the foolish relatives that we always seem to end up making fun of (shhh, don't tell them :-)!  )