The Relatives Came
One of my favorite picture books!
Then it was into the house and so much laughingand shining faces and hugging in the doorways.You’d have to go through at least four different hugsto get from the kitchen to the front room. Those relatives!And finally after a big supper two or three times arounduntil we all got a turn at the table, there was quiet talkand we were in twos and threes through the house. 
When Lighting Comes in a Jar
We have several of Patricia Polacco’s books. I love them!
We had bag races, watermelon-seed-spitting contests,and rides on Grampa’s draft horse, too.Until Grampa waved a yardstick in the air.
All of us kids dropped what we were doing and ran to the milk shed.
We knew it was time to get measured. We did this every year.I liked looking at the marks of my gramma and her sisters
and brothers on the same doorway.
Some shorter than mine.Hard to imagine that once they were little just like me.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
More acurately, we came (or went)… to see our relatives!
My Dad’s family (he has 3 sisters and 3 brothers) have been getting together every summer for years and years. My aunt and uncle have hosted this event almost every year at their home on the Willamette River. No ‘rides on Grampa’s draft horse’ but there is always a rousing game of volleyball going on as well as endless fun down at the river. A cousin (or two) always brings some interesting gadget or toy for the kids. This year it was a water rocket…. a big hit.
We now number in the 70s with all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins. (My grandmother passed away 2 1/2 years ago. Until then, she always gave a message to the family at our Sunday morning family church service during family reunion. Grandpa passed away over 15 years ago. We miss them!!) I am always amazed at the comraderie and friendship we treasure. Seriously, I have the most awesome family!!
