Austin Family Picnic

Every year at this time, we all get together for the Austin Family Picnic. My Grandma reserves the picnic area for that years picnic in January. I can't remember how long this tradition has been going on, but for as long as I can remember. I remember when it was actually in my grandparents backyard, but since then of course, all of the kids have had kids, and now almost all of the grandkids have had their own kids too. I think my Grandma said today that she has 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. We now have it at a really nice park in Fort Morgan, my Grandma always gets the picnic area closest to the bathrooms, the playground, and the swimming pool. The grandkids and the great-grandkids always have a great time. Unless there are weddings or babies throughout the year, this is sometimes the only time we see each other.

A tradition started a few years ago with water balloon fights and every year they get better and better. We now have water balloons, water guns, and buckets of water. Lets say that our kids have put their own spin on the good old fashioned water fight. They have learned to bring stashes of water so they don't run out, they have learned to keep it cold, and to keep it away from the big kids.

We have suffered some losses over this last year, and for some reason this year's picnic seemed to tug my heart a little bit more than usual. I look around and soak up all of the families around me. We have 3 new babies at this years picnic and another one on the way; I can't help but wonder to myself how long will this "tradition" go on? Will our children keep it going when the rest of us are gone? I don't know, I hope so. I looked at the new babies around us who are enjoying their 1st family picnic and wonder if they will still be coming when they are 36?

Sammy, Jett, and Grace

We will have a wedding, another baby, and many more memories before the next "Austin Family Picnic". I guess we will just have to all work together to make sure that the tradition that we have grown up with continues throughout our children's life. These are days that you can't ever get back.

TT and Ally

Me with my Grandma