The Kennel Family Reunion

We survived tenting with the Bean! This was the 39th Kennel Family Reunion (Shawn's mom's side of the family) at Dutchmaster's, the cabin near Wolfe's Store in Slate Run. Over 72 relatives camped there for the weekend - thankfully there are now three bathrooms. Shawn's entire family was there this year, which was nice.
This Year's Highlights

• Church Sunday morning where the family worships & prays together
• Watching fireworks over Pine Creek with Shawn (Grandpa Ginder had Joshua for this tradition to explain what the noise was all about)
• Joshua sharing his toys with other kiddos on the tarp in front of our camp site - new little friends! (The video above is so cute!)
• Building TWO campfires this year within the same circle
• Our tent & air mattress being set up already when we got there (Thanks Uncle Kevin, Aunt Missy, Aunt Erica and Grandma & Grandpa Ginder!) The pack 'n play was also inside the tent, but I didn't snap a picture until we were pulling things out to tear down.
• Not having to cook the whole weekend - hurray! And the camp food was delicious! Here's where we ate!
• No one got hurt (other than a few scrapes & bruises, especially on Aunt Missy & Grandma Ginder - I've never seen such a shade of purple!)
• Walking to Wolfe's for Moosetracks icecream - yum!
• The beautiful weather that was just the right temperature for hot outdoor fun and cooler sleeping; here's a picture of people playing volleyball
• The new toy that Grandma & Grandpa Ginder bought for Joshua's enjoyment and all the love and affection he received while we were there; here's a picture of Joshua trying canteloupe for the first time in his new toy
• Time to catch up with cousins, aunts & uncles, etc. Here's a picture of some of the various cars that were there.

This Year's "Low"lights

• The pickles at Wolfe's were spicy...bummer!
• The large nameless bug/moth/bird/scary creatures with fangs & wings - there were at least a half a dozen of these things near us. Here's a picture of one on the bathroom window, which doesn't even do it justice for how gigantic these things are.
• The pouring rain on Saturday night when I had to walk to the bathroom or not sleep (I chose the not sleep route)
• Pine Creek being too low to go tubing
• The baby pool water not being warm enough for the Bean to swim in
• Joshua not liking the car trip...two hours is his limit before the heartwrenching, earpiercing get-me-out-of-here SCREAM!
• The pesky mosquitos that I'm still itching from
• Missing worship Saturday night around the campfire because we went to bed just a bit too soon

Here's a picture of Daddy deflating the air mattress before we headed home. Click on it to see a slideshow of pictures from the weekend, mostly featuring Joshua. :)