Each year our family has a reunion up City Creek Canyon. This has been happening as long as I can remember; always, the same canyon, always the same picnic site, and always a lot of fun. We’ve blogged about this event in the past. It is a Snow family favorite and a must-attend summer event. Our kids are completely in love with it. Something also happened this year that will solidify the reunion in Madi’s mind for years to come. Read on to find out what happened.

One of the most anticipated events is the piñata! Here are all the participants lined up and ready to participate (note Nate’s ridiculous excited face). 🙂

Madi was the first of our kids up to bat. At first she had her eyes closed but eventually opened them and got down to business.

With a little help from Julie even Cara joined in the fun.

Cousin Joseph also got a few good hits in!

Stacy and Pam decided it would be OK to let Nate go without a blindfold. I think they will choose differently next year. Nate drew first blood and knocked some candy free!

Julie coaxing Cara from the sidelines to join the throng of candy collecters!

My mom Gail, sister Breanna, and cousin Dani look on in happiness.

The kids had some really good face painted left over from a work party earlier in the day. 

After the piñata action things got a little out of hand. This is where Madi and I created a memory that neither of us will soon forget. Here she is looking excited with something tied up in her rope. What has she roped? Me.

Her cousin Joe wanted in on the action as well. Here I am wrapped in rope. I don’t think I stayed upright too much longer. Madi has a fascination with ropes and tying knots. As you can imagine she was totally into this activity.

Here are a couple of videos (video 1 and video 2) showing events as they unfolded.

http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2274224214_DFLn2pf?width=640&height=360&albumId=27100842&albumKey=kPMds2http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2274229491_XRq5RzJ?width=640&height=360&albumId=27100842&albumKey=kPMds2

After they got me to the ground I was done for. Check out the complexity of this knot! If she could only get a hang of swearing she’d be an excellent sailor (ha!). In the next two images you can see how pleased I am with Madi. She is a wonderful girl and I love her very much.

Julie captured her enthusiasm perfectly in these last two frames. She was literally having the time of her life.