David W. Swanson

Pastor and Author

advice please: family reunion

A couple weeks ago I asked for breakfast cereal recommendations and a number of folks responded with their favorites. We’ve just run out of my standard cereal, so on this weekend’s grocery shopping trip I hope to try one or two new ones.

Given the good feedback about something as mundane as cereal (though my wife may take issue with “mundane”), I thought I’d solicit your opinions once again. Maggie and I will be traveling to the Oregon coast for a long weekend in July for a reunion with my mom’s side of the family. In my (almost) 31 years I have never attended an official family reunion. There have been plenty of family gatherings at grandparents’ houses, but never something with actual organization.

So, as a reunion newbie, what advice to you have for me? Is there anything we should do to prepare for 3 days with extended family? Did I mention the 24 of us will be staying in one house? Thankfully it’s a big house and we all like each other…for now 🙂 . What are some good activities for folks who only see each other every few years? How about some good conversation starters?

All reunion-savvy advice will be seriously considered.

David Swanson

5 responses to “advice please: family reunion”

  1. Susan Richmond Avatar
    Susan Richmond

    Hi David,

    Cereals favorites: Frosted Mini Wheats, Multigrain Cheerios, Snoqualmie Falls Oatmeal (more protein than most and really tasty). OK.

    We had a family reunion last year in Hawaii with 24 people. It was awesome. Some things that were fun for us. We made a chart of dinners for the time we were together. If there six dinners, then 4-people teams were responsible for a meal AND the evenings entertainment. It was so much fun and added a little air of competition. When it was not your turn to cook, you were free to read, relax and not feel as though you should be in the kitchen helping. The range of meals was great, from Costco lasagne and salad to barbecue, fancy sandwiches, etc. The entertainment the first night was one of those Mystery Games where everyone takes on a role. Another night we played MadGabs – hysterical fun! One night we talked about our goals for the next year in all areas of our lives and the overwhelming sentiment was to get together again soon. It was a great bonding time for us. Another thing that was fun was so go out one night in smaller groups (the younger set, or those with kids, grandparents and aunts, etc) to a restaurant. That way the younger couples have someone to keep their kids for one night, etc. I just know you will have a great time because you are all such great folks! I am looking forward to my time with your Mom next week! Blessings to you both, Sue

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  2. Leigh Avatar
    Leigh

    The Petit clan (my mom’s side of the family) gets together every July for a Sunday afternoon. Given that my grandpa had 12 siblings, there are a ton of people that come! My aunt and uncle host us on the farm so there are many farm related activities. There’s a hay ride and the ever popular chicken poop lotto. Yes, they have created a number sheet, stick some chickens in the cage and we all place our bets, hoping the chicken will poop on the number! Don’t mock me- it’s tradition. There’s also a water balloon contest/fight, pinata for the kids, an ice cream eating contest, the list goes on. The best part for me is catching up with all my second (and third) cousins. Petits are talkers so we never run out of things to say!

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  3. rkollbocker Avatar
    rkollbocker

    Cereal? Cinnimon Life.

    I can’t offer any helpful advice – based on my family experience…..I’d say, “stay home.”

    Reply
  4. David Avatar
    David

    Thanks for the ideas folks… though I’m not sure Ray’s “stay home” is an option… already bought our tickets.

    I know that we will be taking turns cooking which will be fun… though cooking for 24 will be a challenge.

    Reply
  5. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Yay the Oregon coast!! Where at out there? That’s such a wonderful area! 🙂

    My mom’s side of the family does lots of reunions. Simple games can be lots of fun– Apples to Apples makes a good one, as does Mexican Train (a dominoes game I can’t teach you but surely its online somewhere), as does 4-on-the-couch (parlor game that involves mixing up names and should not be played with elderly relatives who have trouble remembering people anyway). When there were a lot of little kids, we would do a skit night and various groups or families would prepare and perform some little silly thing, but the success of that depends a lot on the family. Shared dinners is definitely a good thing.

    For all of that, I’m a bit family-nervous myself. We’re headed out for an extended family weekend in July too, except in the other direction, to Delaware. The tricky part for me is that this will be Seth’s family, both parents’ sides, most of whom I have ‘met’ once, at our wedding. It could get interesting… Probably it’ll be lots of fun though. I certainly hope your weekend is an excellent one!

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