This past year for Christmas my parents gifted us with a weekend away as a family. Getting 20 of us together at once is both easy and difficult. Sometimes things fall in place without a hitch at the very last minute. Other times, it is nearly impossible to find a date a month early to gather. It has become more hectic as the grandkids have gotten older and involved with sports. Thankfully, it is still a top priority (family time) and my siblings and their families work hard to make the time. I think that without these intentional connection points, the cousins would enjoy each other, but not thrive off one another like they do. It is fun to watch them – usually building each other up and encouraging, occasionally rubbing and irritating each other… but isn’t that what we all do with those that are closest to us! The important part is that you can come back together.
So, between Ellie being at Camp Luz (and leaving about 6 hours early) and Madison taking off to Camp Luz a day later, we drove about 4 hours southwest to Adams County, very close to the Ohio River. My parents had rented a cabin that had a small detached cabin to give us all sleeping space. It also had a pond that was stocked with fish, a paddleboard and a kayak.
The kids had a ball – and so did the adults! The weather was oppressively hot and humid on the first night so the pond was a welcome diversion from the heat. Cousins tried paddle boarding together, fished – catching all different sizes, jumped off the dock, and soaked in the hot tub.
Adults joined in with some of the activity, made supper, and sat and talked. And we ate s’mores while we watched the sunset.
Friday, our only full day, gave us a chance to explore off-site a bit. One group headed to a nature preserve to walk around/near a lake.
Another group drove to check out the Ohio River, and ended up adventuring in a creek they stumbled on.
We reconvened at lunch time to devour sandwiches and chips. Then, we headed outside to a warm, but comfortable, day at the pond. Grandma said it was adult paddle board day, so most of us tried our hand at it – Grandpa, Grandma, Nate, Luke and Ben (with a kayak vs paddleboard dance/chase), Steph R, and me. Jeremy kayaked. And I think Steph M. opted to stay dry (which was not a bad choice!).
We celebrated July birthdays with a DQ ice cream cake!
Then, we enjoyed more fishing, showers, reading in the lounge chairs, bocce ball, frisbee, cornhole, and long conversations.
Saturday, we had breakfast, cleaned up, took some family pictures, and took off.
Most of us stopped at the Serpent Mounds – a Native American burial space. It is the largest effigy in the world (? country?). It was neat to see since the girls study it in fourth grade social studies. We walked the path, ate a sack lunch, and took off to home.
It was a great time. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for providing a getaway for family time.
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