Our family reunion this year was in Provo, UT at my sister Kathryn's house. Our reunions are somewhat unconventional. "Jensen Symposium" as we call it involves some of the traditional fun activities for kids and adults but it also involves each adult (my sisters, our husbands, and my mom and dad) preparing a class for everyone else on the topic of our choice. The sky's the limit. It can be sharing about something we've been interested in and so learned more about during the year, it can be a specific skill we've learned, about a book we've read, a demonstration...anything really. Everyone gets creative and we get to learn and catch up with each other - which is really great. We do most of the "classes" in the evening after kids are in bed and the adults can relax and enjoy. I especially like it because as a mom of young kids - I don't often get to sit down for adult conversation or learn about such random but interesting things!
For example - here are the classes for this year:
(thanks Kat -I'm copying some of your explanation commentary :) )
Heafed to the Fell: Herdwick Sheep on the High Fell Farms of the British Lake District
Emily Koller
(This came out of the class she taught the previous year about Beatrix Potter. Beatrix we learned raised and loved these very unique Herdwick sheep that only live in the British Lake District. Very interesting. My mom felt so good when a few weeks ago when she came across the term Herdwick sheep in a magazine and knew everything about them b/c of Emily's class!)
A Conversation...
Shannon Detling
(He talked about family vacation ideas...so we can all plan one.)
Container Gardening: A Little Piece of Eden on Your Front Porch
Jenny Rebecca Mizukawa
(Gardening...in containers. Made me feel like I could actually attempt it.)
"As shaky as a fiddler on the roof"
Kathy Jensen
(Mom talked about family traditions...the importance of...and ideas...)
outliers: a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others of the sample
Ken Ojuka
(talked about one of his favorite books called "Outliers")
The Accidental Impresario: Adventures with Performers in China
Doryl Jensen
(dad talked about travel adventures...specifically taking performers to China)
Boy Scouts vs Bull Riders
James Koller
(He talked about his involvement with boy scouts which he has been involved with for years through young men's and also he taught us all about the rodeo events/rules etc. - we all went to a rodeo that night)
You Are What You Eat, Why Go Organic?
Kathryn Ojuka
(what it says...)
From My Home to Yours: Intriguing, Enlightening, Satisfying
Amanda Detling
(not a shining year for me: my topic was very last minute and I didn't have one picked before Kat needed the titles for the t-shirts ....so... I picked a very vague non-committal title. :) I ended up showing everyone how to make these little super hero capes that I learned to make.)
Benjamin Mizukawa (absent)
Family Picture: All of us minus Ben who couldn't be there this year! We missed him!
Trying to get a picture...
We bribed the kids with ice cream. We told them they could have ice cream AFTER we got a family picture...Can we say "cheese"!
It must be good ice cream.
Beautiful Annie
Sweet Henry
Crazy Daniel
Nora and Julius
Nora showing off her Symposium T-shirt: Kat did a really great job with them. The all turned out so cute. The kids shirts had all of their names on the back.
Shannon's Aunt Jo was in town while we were there which was an added bonus! It was so great to see her.
I don't know what Jo is saying to him here -but I thought Shannon's face was hilarious!
Ken 
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