Fildes Family Reunion!

So as I mentioned in my earlier post, the point of traveling to South Dakota was for a Fildes Family Reunion. The Fildes part comes from my dad's side of the family. He is the youngest of 10 children. Also, since we live all over the country and haven't seen most of them for years or haven't even met each other, we thought it would be nice to get together to catch up and meet. Also, my Aunt Carrie (by marriage) passed away and she wanted her ashes spread back in her home, Rapid City. So my Uncle Les (dad's brother and co-trouble maker) decided that it would be nice for all of us to get together. 

We all met at the cemetery where her parents are buried for a little memorial. Then we made our way to Mt. Rushmore for a family picture and some sight seeing. It has been years since I have been to Mt. Rushmore. It is an amazing sight as a child, but even more as an adult. The creativity that went into making such a memorial to some of our Nations presidents was beautiful.

The Fildes Family... Don't ask me to name anyone other than about 15 of them (9 of them would be my family, sisters, nieces and my parents.) 

Majestic Sight!

Lucas saw all of the pine trees and made a connection that I would not have seen coming. He say them and started calling for Alvin, Simon and Theodore. The chipmunks. Too funny. It made me laugh. We spent our hour long walk looking for those chipmunks... Which we never saw.

The forest where the Chipmunks live... In case you didn't know.

"Alvin, Simon, Theodore. Where are you?"

The cousins: Piper, Lucas and Rylie.
Macie wasn't there because the trail was a long stairway and she was in her stroller.

My little man and me...
And the presidents.

After the 2 mile hike we needed a little lunch before heading on for the rest of the reunion party. Plus, Mommy needed to shop for some black hills gold earrings for Macie and Lucas got a baseball. Duh!

While we were on the 2 mile hike, Macie spent some quality time with Grandma.
I think they got the better end of the deal.

The Fildes Family: Shawna, Rylie, me, Macie, my mom, my dad, Lucas, Donna and Piper.

After a trip through the Black Hills and enough time to give the children a nap in the car, we made our way to the campground where we would continue the reunion. There were a lot of people there and it was nice catching up with cousins that I haven't seen in ages. We enjoyed a nice cookout and games. Even more fun, was the kids playing together like we used to do. Funny how times have changed, but when we all get together it is just like the past. At the end, we all talked about how we need to do this more often. I agree. But next time, I would love for Matt to be there.

More Fildes Family.
Again... Don't ask me to name them even though they are wearing name tags.

Lucas found a new best friend... His cousin Logan.
Logan is my cousin Karen's little boy.
Lucas had a blast playing with him.

Enjoying a cookie at the reunion dinner.

Cowboy Golf.
Lucas played this for awhile. Anything to do with sports is his thing.

And that is all she wrote for the Fildes Family Reunion.