The Matheson Fam: Beach Time!

August 5th - 11th was the much anticipated Kartchner family reunion in San Diego with my parents, siblings, spouses and their assorted children. We had the chance to leave a day early and travel to the LA area for the annual Watkins family picnic. Ruby Pearl Watkins Blanchard is Grandpa Joe's mom and the reunion/picnic is for the posterity of her and her siblings. We haven't been able to go since Lydia was 1 years old and now she's a big 6. The ones we know best were Mom & Dad, Devon & Karina, of course, along with Barbara Stogner & her son Morgan, Joannie & her kids Jesse & Jody and Jody's husband. We were sad the Tim & Suzy weren't able to make it. It was fun to see them and several other cousins.

The next day we headed for San Diego. After church we hit the Mormon Battalion Museum and managed to snag a parking spot (they're hard to find) right next to someone else with Benjamin Franklin Charter School Student of the Month bumper magnets (same school as our kids). The kids really enjoyed the Mormon Battalion Museum. Carter got to dress up as the demo soldier and they all -- especially Camille -- loved panning for gold afterwards. The story told in the museum was mainly narrated by the character of Zemira Palmer, our ancestor. We're assuming that the baby Zemira buried in Snowflake is named after him because Phoebe Palmer Kartchner, baby Zemira's mother, was Zemira Palmer's daughter. That evening we joined up with all the fam at the rental house on Sunset Cliffs.

Monday we hit the beach. Ocean Beach was closest so we gave it a whirl and had a great time. Tuesday was family pictures and swimming in the pool. Wednesday we went to the San Diego Zoo with Alan, Megan & Logan. Unfortunately, Camille came down with a nasty fever & upset stomach that day that was the beginning of the end of our adventures. Thursday was the pool and a visit to the Children's Beach near La Jolla. We went in hope of seeing seals but only spotted one so we settled for a little fun in the waves. By Thursday night Bradley had the fever and on Friday he was throwing up so we packed and headed home a day early. We battled fevers, throw up, strep throat, colds, unpacking and the start of school for the next week and a half. You know when you're meeting people and they find out you're a mom and they say, "Do you work?". I'll spare you the sarcastic answer.

Despite the post-trip exhaustion it was worth the really fun time with family. We enjoyed learning about parents, grandparents and some of the great-great's during the morning and evening family history presentations. I learned some cool stuff that I hadn't known. Games with the adults after kids bedtime was a lot of fun too. Thanks Mom & Dad & everyone else for a fun week.