We attended the bi-annual Ireland family reunion, held this year in Martin, SD at the farm/ranch. It had been over 5 years since I had been to the farm, and it was so fun to go back and to be able to show my kids one of my favorite places in the world. The kids were in absolute heaven. Riding horses and 4-wheelers, going fishing, climbing hay bales, catching toads, playing in mud puddles, and sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor. They were so filthy and happy at the end of every day. :)
The reunion technically didn't start until Sunday evening (July 1st), but we arrived Saturday night, and so did most everyone else. After church Sunday morning, we enjoyed visiting and playing games. Doug took the kids and I on a tractor ride.
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| Taking a tractor ride |
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| Playing cards with cousins Mason and Monty |
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| Playing spike ball |
The first official activity of the reunion was a tour of the farm and homestead. The home where my Uncle Brent and Aunt Tauna now live was built by my great-great grandparents, Howard and Mary Ireland in 1930. It has been added on to and updated several times, but it is neat to think that the home has been in the family for over eight decades.
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| There was a really cool thunderstorm! |
Monday morning (July 2nd) was spent taking the kids on horseback rides. It was the kids' first time riding a horse (other than pony rides where they just go in a circle) and both kids were beyond excited. Anna even got to brush the horses, and she thought that was pretty cool.
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| Corbin and Paul |
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| Waiting our turn |
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| Paul really loved this dump truck |
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| Throwing rocks in the muddy puddles was lots of fun, too. |
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| This big tarp made a fun slip n slide |
In the afternoon, the adults got to ride the horses. They were pretty old horses, which meant they were very docile, but we couldn't get them to move faster than a slow trot. :)
We also took the 4-wheelers out for a ride.
In the evening, we took our family photo wearing our reunion t-shirts. Then we had a cribbage tournament. I had never played the game before. It was a little complicated to learn but lots of fun!
Tuesday was the 4th of July! We started the day off fishing at Bad Hare Dam. It was the kids' first fishing trip, and I was glad they both caught fish!
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| Waiting to go fishing, Joe, Paul, and Monty |
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| Paul did not want to touch the fish! |
In the afternoon, we drove into Martin and toured the high school where my great-grandpa, Harold, my Grandpa Sam and Grandma Narene, and my mom all attended high school. We also visited the Martin Heritage Center and the Martin Cemetery, where my great-grandparents and great-great grandparents are buried.
After the reunion, we drove through Badlands National Park. It would have been fun to do some climbing and hiking, but it was 100 degrees. So we got out once to take pictures and otherwise stayed in our air conditioned car. We stopped in Wall Drug for lunch and walked around a bit before driving to Mitchell.
