We just spent a wonderful week at my parent’s home in Sedona, Arizona. My four siblings attended with their spouses.  My parents have nine grandchildren and all were together!  The first time in five years!

Many people dread family reunions.  I am so lucky that I get along with all my siblings, their spouses and my parents.  I absolutely love my nieces and nephews.

How do you make your family reunion great?  Here’s what we did:

1. 1. Get rid of any expectations you may have.  One of my pet peeves is when too many people try to do an activity and never get going on time.   I decided before I ever left that I wouldn’t let this bother me.  Just go to enjoy yourself and reconnect with family. 
   

2. 2. Have some people stay in a hotel with the house being the gathering point. We spent every afternoon swimming at the hotel which gave my parents and the people cooking at the house a break.
   

3. 3. Have a planner, my father in this case, who will plan the activities.  We were lucky enough to be in Sedona where we hiked several times and took a tubing trip down the Verde River.  Afternoons were quieter, swimming at the hotel and one day we all went to Toy Story 3.   (I cried my eyes out by the way!  It’s a fabulous movie.) No one was required to do any activity but everyone did.  Our main event was an incredible ping pong tournament.
   

4. 4. We each took a dinner! My brother came up with the idea that we’d celebrate all the holidays that we never get to do since we all live so far apart.  We celebrated:
   

• the 4th of July: ribs, corn and cole slaw and little firework poppers at everyone’s place setting.

1. •the Birthdays:  we had a pool party at the hotel where some of us stayed.  We made your own sandwiches and chips.  For gifts we each got a wrapped second hand book.
   

2. •Halloween: bobbing for apples, eating doughnuts off string and trick or treating at the front door!  Pizza and salad for dinner.
   

3. •Cinco de Mayo: a Guac-Off (guacamole making contest), a taco bar and a pinata for the kids, margaritas for the adults.
   

4. •Christmas: we had a cooked ham, asparagus and sweet potatoes with marshmallows.  My parents took this opportunity to wrap a little memento for each family member as they are planning to move to a smaller house soon.
   

5. 5. Lastly, be interested in everyone! We don’t see each other very often and a lot is missed just talking on the phone or checking Facebook.  Ask questions!  Try to find out something you didn’t know about each member of your family.  And give love to those children!  A older cousin/grandmother/grandfather/aunt or uncle’s love and interest is a very special thing.