ALTHOUGH IT IS SAD, I'M REALLY PROUD

of my connection to this part of complex history - the Salem Witch Trials.
You know me well if you know I don't have only one, but that I have three direct ancestors who were hanged during the hysteria in Massachusetts.  Two 9th great-grandmothers and one 9th great-grandfather.

This Saturday is the anniversary of the death of my 9th great-grandmother, Rebecca Towne Nurse.
This Saturday there is also a family reunion in Vancouver, WA where I am going to be able to meet some "witch" cousins.  I'm really excited!  I'm looking forward to learning more about this time in history, all the while spending quality time with my parents and sister.  It's going to be so fun!  I'm counting down...

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE HUNTZINGER FAMILY REUNION

was going out to the family homestead.  We traipsed all over the place, finding landmarks referenced in photos and journaled memories.  Flooding over the years disintegrated the abandoned adobe home.  Flash floods to an unkept area changes things drastically.  We found the well, windmill, animal coral, and some fun treasures like a few pieces of silverware, broken pottery, gate pieces, etc...  It was so much fun.  Unfortunately, Eddie's grave couldn't be confirmed.  That would have been icing on the cake.

I loved meeting family members and being reunited with family I already knew.  Hearing stories with added information and clarification was invaluable and so fun.  Plans for the next family reunion are already in the works and I can't wait!

1450 MILES, 27-ISH HOURS, LOTS OF PIT STOPS AND SNACKS

and we're finally here!

The three of us,

with my dad (aka grandpa, old man, girlfriend, driver extraordinaire)

are in Arizona for a family reunion and some desert sight seeing.  We're braving the scary creatures,

and the heat - seriously, 111!

We're needing lots of chapstick because we are addicted to black pepper sunflower seeds and we've stocked up on liquids and sunscreen.
We're so excited to meet family members, catch up with family we haven't seen for a while, go out to the family homestead (this time we won't be trespassing) and be tourists for the week!

A FAMILY REUNION

is something my family has never done or if they have, we haven't gone to them.
I'm helping plan one for 2012 and I'm so excited and have ideas streaming through my head!
Not being familiar with the family reunion process, any tips or ideas you could pass on to me would be greatly appreciated!

Via Nicole's twitter, I saw this tree.
Each branch is a sibling and the leaves are all the children with their spouses and children.
LOVE IT!

via here

I love these fun and creative ideas for shirts via Angela...

via here

What are your favorite things to do at a reunion and best ideas to keep it fun and simple?