For families spread across the country, an annual or biannual family reunion can be a great way to stay connected.
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Reunite Your Extended Family in Style
Reunite Your Extended Family In Style
(NewsUSA) - Everyone agrees that "family is important." But as families grow, expand and move around the country, it becomes harder to keep track of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visiting multiple family members can mean cross-country trips, travel expenses and the stress of finding house and pet sitters throughout the year. But options exist for families who wish to stay connected. Instead of making separate trips to see different branches of the family tree, families can plan family reunions once or twice a year. Family reunions can be as lavish or as simple as families wish. If the family is too big for one person to host, extended families can book camping grounds, rent vacation homes or plan a cruise.
For a homey feel, barbecues and potlucks create chatty, friendly atmospheres. For smaller groups, restaurant reservations can take pressure off the reunion's host.
With the right planning, family reunions can become a great way to reconnect. They may even become a highlight in every family's year. Wherever families may reunite, these tips can ensure a lively, fun family gathering:
- Create family souvenirs. Give children disposable cameras. The kids might just capture some great family moments along with the inevitable grass-and-feet shots. Families can also order mugs, buttons and clothing displaying the family name. One company, Ink Pixi (www.InkPixi.com), designs university-themed T-shirts, sweatshirts and baseball caps using surnames. Family members will all enjoy declaring themselves graduates from "Williams University."
- Plan games. Board and card games appeal to older guests, while teenagers will enjoy playing volleyball. Depending on location, children can enjoy lawn croquet, three-legged races and water gun wars. Family trivia involves the whole crowd.
- Planning themed reunions can make decorating and choosing the food easier. Mexican fiestas, Western barbecues and Hawaiian luaus all provide fun themes.
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