This week together with Jonathan's family is right up there as one of the most anticipated weeks of the year for our family - except that it marks the end of summer. So we always approach this week with mixed feelings. We can't wait for it to come, but when it is done, it is back to school and that is not our favorite!
The week this year was unusually cold which was fairly disappointing. But kids being kids, theyjust find different things to do and adults just follow their wise lead. The kids spent a LOT of time by the bridge catching frogs and turtles. This area is really fun for them!
Titus
Karter, Titus, Keziah
Kade and Karter
The big sand pile was a lot of fun for the cousins.
Lots of canoe and kayak rides were had.
Matthew, Faith, and Isaiah.
Reese and Eleanor spent a lot of time fishing with their dad. They were very patient fisherladies and very cute ones too!
Karter out for a little kayak ride.
MaryBeth and Gretchen enjoying some fellowship.
It was a chilly week, but that of course does not mean that no one swam! Of course they did. Kids and big people too! (though I will confess I waited til the last day and did so only because it didn't quite seem right to have a week of summer holidays and not swim at all!)
Mason
Karter
The mud pit was great again!
Mason and Karter
Jackson and Konnor
Kade fishing
Konnor and Jackson
I think they are rafting in the background. Taking the slide out for a ride.
The boat and its driver still kept busy too. There were many brave and willing souls willing to brave the chill for some thrill.
Konnor
Ma and Pa getting ready to head out for a kayak ride. There is a lot of beauty on this lake and a peaceful kayak ride away from the mainland is probably a welcome respite every once in a while!
Reese and Keziah
After the raft was brought to deeper (or maybe not) waters!
Marshall, Uncle Dave, and Konnor
Karter. He didn't notice it was cold too often at all.
Keziah
An intense game of bocce ball.
More fun by the bridge.
Reese (after being bug bitten) and Keziah
Blaire
Nora
Chris showing the snake he caught to Faith and Ezra.
Thomas
Nora - definitely not too scared of the snake at all! Brave little girl!
Chris and Marshall out for a little bike ride.
Karter
More sand fun.
Finn
Uncle Nate took a bunch of boys to town one morning and they picked up these guns.
Judah and Isaac
Finn
Liam
Owen, Judah, Isaac, and Hunter
Eleanor
Keziah
Back from another boat ride. Kylie leading the way - she has not been brave enough all year to go behind the boat. She is always on the boat.
Marshall
One day the uncles with the help of some of the kids I think, made this huge sand sculpture.
Savannah
Supper time!
It was warm enough to eat outside every night thankfully.
Konnor and Marshall at the VBS some of the girls put on
Lots of time for spikeball. This was a popular game this week.
Hunter and Jack
At one point Kade and Jeremy fell off the thing behind the boat and the boat driver left them behind to find their own way back to shore. This was a very good work out for the stomach muscles I'm sure. Since the water is very shallow for a very long time, with less than lovely feeling "stuff" on the bottom, you want to swim very flat in order to avoid things other than the water. This is a very unnatural way to swim. I'm sure it was an adventure they deserved.
Konnor
We had a large contingent off to Tamarack this year including Kevin and his age group. They were glad to be able to join us for the weekend and we were glad to have them back and hear how their week had gone.
James and Kevin
The dads going out for a turn.
Kade and Konnor
We did age group pictures again this year (the best we could with who we had). It's been a long time!
Summer, Kylie, and Mackenzie
With Brooke too.
Kate, Tim, Ryan, Jonathan, Kevin
Mary Beth and James (Jacob missing)
Faith and Kade (Joshua missing)
Chris and Jer
With their other two crew members.
Judah and Owen (Jonathan missing)
Hunter and Holly
Karter, Reese, Keziah and Mason
Isaac. Isaiah, and Brooke (Josiah missing)
Steve and Jenna
Dad and Mom
Trampoline fun
One of many volleyball games that went on.
Tetherball
So though it was not a typical week, you can see that it was not a boring week. There are a lot of fun things to do at Selah and the cooler weather gave us the opportunity to do more of them. I think we had to be more active too, which is never a bad thing. Because the water is not especially great for swimming near the shore, in some ways it was okay that it was not super hot. The adventure of the water is a lot of fun too and is bound to produce shrieking and laughter . . so it is good either way. What ends up being important is family and being together. We love warm weather, but we love being together and enjoying each others company more. Games and fires at night and sports and coffee times and just relaxing throughout the day - it's a good time. As our families grow and get older and bigger, we see less of each other throughout the year, so this time is really special for the cousins and their parents really value it too.
Thanks to all of you for a good week (and Dan and Sarah and Matt and Elizabeth . . we missed your families!) Thanks for all the conversations and all the competitions. Looking forward to next year as always.
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