Conversations roll on in the background as I escape into a quite room to type. Voices I’ve known my whole life rise and fall as stories spill into the open space…Uncle Dick’s laugh punctuates the end of a funny story, Aunt Mary’s smooth alto voice carries through the quiet moments – the level rises as cousins, aunts, uncles and assorted kids share stories and memories.

Grandma & Grandpa celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this weekend. The were surrounded by their three children, nine grand children and seven great grandchildren not to mention assorted spouses and various other extended family.

I love the chaos, but have found myself looking for quite corners from which to observe. Apparently five months of virtual solitude leave one rather under-prepared for the loving chaos of a huge family reunion. I’m loving it, but it is a lot all at once!

…here are a few pix as proof!

...70 years later! Grandma, 89, and Grandpa just turned 93.

Armin (our resident Alpine Mountain Guide) telling the cousins tales of near death experiences while climbing.

Jeff (cousin) & Eric (brother) catchin' up with the fam.

Aunties Claire & Sylvia prepping for lunch...at 8 a.m.! 🙂

My tiny Grandma Betty with her tinier dog Teeny. (ya, how cute is that!)

Grandma & Grandpa with my niece, me, my nephew and my brother.

The immediate family...just look what they started!!