Pura Vida: Thiessen Family Reunion

Just your average family reunion...complete with ropes course. These Thiessens do not mess around!!

For the past 20 years or so, the families of the children of Henry D. and Tina Thiessen (Grandpa Ben's parents) have met in Colorado every 2 or 3 years for a family reunion. That was getting a bit far for some of the older siblings, so the cousins got together and planned a Kansas reunion. They got us all together at Morning Star Ranch, just outside of Florence.

It had all of the essentials -- plenty of places to sleep, a swimming pool, a big dining room to hang out in -- and a staff that cooked for all of us!

But when you go where there is a ropes course, you pretty much have to do the ropes course!!

Here is Grandpa Lyle flying through the air with the greatest of ease.

Mommy made it half-way up the climbing wall...not bad for 5 months post-partum, right??

Aunt Lola and Cousin Ellie went across these boards...Super scary. They are fearless! (Mommy and Daddy were going to do this one together but they ran out of time. In the end Mommy wasn't too sad.)

Mommy did make it up this big pole, then once you've perched yourself on top, you turn around and jump toward the trapeze. Only a few of the big men made it to the trapeze. Mommy did not. But she was proud she stood up on this crazy thing AND jumped off. Once she started, all she could think was "What if something happens to me? What about Ben?!?!" She is off of death-defying feats for a while.

Ben made it up in the air ... No, not THAT Ben... Grandpa Ben!! Not bad for 90 years old, eh??

Daddy of course made it all the way up the climbing wall. Those summers of teaching rock-climbing at camp in Wisconsin pay off in these types of situations.

Of course, Daddy was one of those big men who got the trapeze!! So cool!

I stayed on the ground, safe and sound with Grandma Donna. We were BOTH happier here.

Hanging with Aunt Lola. Cousin Tami even made me a special reunion onesie to go with the grownups' T-shirts!

I also had fun hanging with cousins Ellie and Lucy from Grand Junction. I really wish Lucy would come up here from Colorado College and babysit me some time! Maybe Ellie will wise up and chose CU!!