Luebke Family Reunion

My Mom's side of the family had been doing annual family reunions as long as I can remember, and I have always LOVED them! They usually rent out cabins, but this time we headed to a huge home in Cave Creek, AZ. The kids and I drove down Friday afternoon and were the first ones there... took 5.5 hours and the kids did great! We loved getting to see our family, and my cousins, Aunts, and Uncles that I rarely get a chance to see!

There we tons of Quail and Jack Rabbits on the property. Casen and Landon had fun watching them through the window.


My Aunt and Uncle who planned the event were so generous and gave the master suite to our little family. It was so nice and worked perfect. Brinley slept on a mattress in the closet you can see in this picture, and Casen in the one to the right of the shower. It worked great since it was like having their own little rooms!


The pool was nice and warm and the kids loved getting to swim!


These 2 love their Grandpa!


The first night my Dad told my kids stories of Spot... a little bear that he always used to tell me stories of... and ones that his Dad told to him. My kids loved it and so did I :)


Uncle Brian is famous for playing with the kids, Casen could have done this for hours!


Landon, Brinley, Marlee, Casen, and Haley. Haley and Marlee are just 11 days apart.


Brinley loved hanging out with her older cousin Anne, and my little cousins MaKenna and Jenna.


Casen loving the tramp!


This is my cousin Kailee. I was in highschool when she was adopted at age 3. I instantly fell in love with her and loved being her "friend". It was so fun to see her with Brinley now. She was so sweet to her and Brinley keep talking about her "friend" Kailee :)


Marlee is my sweet little Momma's girl. She was definitely happiest when on the floor playing and not when people tried to hold her :)


This is a classic Marlee face... ok a classic Nelson child face...


She must have got it from her big sister Brinley!



The kids loved this shopping cart. Brinley and Casen both had fun getting pushed around in it. Here is Grant pushing Casen.


Casen had fun with the real legos (we just have the big ones at home). He built this airplane all by himself!


We played a little basketball one night... oh and Ryan flew in on Saturday night and then drove home with us. So here is Ryan.


And my brother Mark.


And my oldest brother Brian


Yeah, pretty sure I rock at basketball :)


As part of trying to keep the Sabbath Day holy, we don't go swimming on Sundays. A lot of our family does though. I let me kids know that some people would be swimming on Sunday, but that we choose not too. I know they really wanted to, but they did so good not complaining and made the choice to not swim. So before we left on Monday I was excited to let them have one last chance to swim with Dad. And Marlee was loving the heated pool!


Kalle and Brinley

Oakley, Brennen, and Casen


One of my best friends, Amber Ferrell Palmer (we have been friends since junior high), and her family came to see us Sunday night. Everyone else from the reunion headed home Sunday evening and so we had the whole place to ourselves. Amber and Brandt came out and put there kids to bed and then we all got to stay up and play games. It was a ton of fun! Then Amber and I satyed up til 3:00 am talking. It was so fun to get to catch up... she is one of my dearest friends.




The whole gang!