I look forward to seeing all my family every July Fourth.  It's like a family reunion each summer; it's one of the highlights of my year.

I not only see my own immediate family: I also see aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and, of course, cousins.  I see my grandparents, my great grandparents, and even my great great grandmother, who is over 100 years old.  That Great Great Grandma Eulalia Mae is even still alive is amazing to me.

Our family reunions are big, wild, noisy affairs.  When we Bradfords get together, you can bet there will be food, love, music, laughter, and even some tears.  The cameras and video recorders will come out, and our good times will be captured for future generations to enjoy.

This year's family reunion was one for the record books.  Great Great Grandma Eulalia Mae was there, in all her royalty, to command and rule over her loyal subjects: she had just celebrated her 110th birthday the week before and looked as imposing as ever in her throne (her wheelchair); we were more than ready to do her bidding at any chance we got.

Besides Great Great Grandma Eulalia Mae, there were new cousins to meet: my uncle Sam and his wife, Cerine, adopted twin baby boys, Mykah and Myles, from China; they were two of the cutest babies I had ever seen in my life!  And my Aunt Susie, whom everyone thought would never get pregnant, had her first child, a boy named Carter Ray.  And there was my oldest niece, Starla, who had just given birth to her first child, a boy named Schuyler.

The weather co-operated with the event: the weather was ideal; you couldn't have asked for better conditions.  Perfect temperatures, pristine, cloudless blue skies, low humidity levels.  Everybody was in a holiday mood, and the thought of fireworks exploding overhead later that night just added to the excitement.

It was the best family reunion EVER!!

I am already looking forward to next year's event!!  :)