The Rest of the Story - Sept. 9, 2011

We have a tradition to gather up all of our kids on Labor Day Weekend and go camping. This year, since Tino and Amber had just gotten married, they didn't show up, but everyone else did.

Why Labor Day, you ask? Because it is close to the anniversary of when Steve's & I first met. I figure that a family reunion is a pretty good way to celebrate that event. :)

As just a little history, Steve & I met on September 9, 1995 (16 years ago today :). Our first date was a week later on the 16th. We got engaged on October 20th, and the wedding was November 22. Talk about a whirlwind! :)

Anyway, so about 4 years ago, I decided that we needed to start having an annual tradition so that everyone was already in the habit of a get together. That way, when everyone got married off and busy with families of their own, they would still remember to come camping with us on Labor Day. I think that it was a great choice, and the kids like it too. :)

Here are the remainder of pics from our family reunion/labor camping trip:

Home Sweet away-from-home Home


The "facilities" - a port-a-potty in a shower tent makes camping life just a little more luxurious ;)


Karen and Aiden


Matt with a bb gun, just resting in the hammock


The bb guns lined up along the fence - what is it with boys and bb guns? Mine - even the oldest one - still loves 'em


Jared and his schbapoop. This is his favorite activity to do while camping. He gets a dead-fall wood, about 6" in diameter & cuts off about an 18" piece, puts a hot coal on it, blows the coal - "cooking" the center of the log, getting a fresh coal every time the other one cools. He makes it into a wooden cup type thing. The trickiest part is directing the air at the coal - this year he took a piece of a broken fishing pole since it is hollow and will direct the air *exactly* where he wants it. Pretty ingenious! :)


Meg under the hammock


Josh and Matt coming back from playing in the meadow


Smores!


And to update my grandson's pic (found at the top of my blog) is this pic:


This is his "I don't know" shrug. Very cute! :)

Have a great day!