Seely Family Reunion 2011

We love Mt. Rainier! We had a Hatch reunion there three years ago and decided we wanted to do it again with my side of our family.

We had the cutest cabin.  Rustic and woodsy but with all the comforts of home and more!  Porch swing in the front, creek, firepit and hot tub in back, vegetation all around.

It also had a detached game room--with pool table and a couple of twin beds--where Caleb and Alyssa slept at night.  They dubbed it the "clubhouse."  We "put them to bed" at night but then they stayed up late playing pool. (We only eavesdropped over a baby monitor a couple of times.  We decided staying up late while thinking they were fooling us parents is what they were supposed to do.)

Big Creek was just a few feet from the back deck.  Jon managed to catch one little fish.  It would be the only catch of the week even though he and Spencer later spent hours at Mineral Lake trying desperately to catch some of the hundreds they'd heard were swimming there.

We all loved getting to meet the newest member of our clan, Clara.  She's really so adorable!

I taught my family how to make the best s'mores ever.  We sure had fun around the campfire.

We played Scum, a family favorite.  Chad was happy while he was president.  But unfortunately, his reign (and this smile) couldn't last forever as you'll soon see.

These are the people crazy enough to marry into our family. :)  We're sure lucky to have them.



We had lots of fun at Northwest Trek.  So many cool animals, so up close and personal.

The cougar was a definite favorite.  Especially for Caleb.

Grandpa played Go Fish with Natalie.  "That's what family reunions are all about," said Jon.

And we played more Scum.  Here's what it feels like to be scum and vice-scum. (See? no more smile for Chad. :) )

Scum faces

We laughed a lot!  And hard.

We got in the hot tub every day.  Sometimes twice.

We were just glad to be together.

With higher-than-average precipitation in the NW this year, Paradise at Mt. Rainier felt more like Christmas in July.

Just look at that wall of snow!

It was still as beautiful as ever.

Our final adventure was a ride on a vintage steam engine at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.

So many memories.  So much fun!