Memorial Day 2011

I just don't know where the time goes. I'll do a post and think I will get back to it the next week and next thing I know it's been....well, longer than a week.

Today's post is just a fun post (well, for me) sharing the highlights of our day at Aunt Pat's and Uncle D's for our annual Memorial Day celebration.

The afternoon always ends with roasting marshmallows by the pond. Our kids are all getting better at it - at least we know longer have to help them. They now understand why we always say the burnt part is the best. Partly because it is really good and partly because it's too sticky to separate it from the other. James ended up letting me eat this one - mmm, mmm, good.

Did I mention how great it is to not have to help?

One of the joys of Memorial Day is not caring whether you're sweaty, muddy, sticky and anything else that you're usually too concerned about. There is very little makeup around. It's just a fun time to hang out with family you only see once a year.

Here is some explanation for the muddy part. To get to the paddle boat (have you ever seen anyone successfully ride a paddle boat alone?), you have to go through the mud. The more mud you get on your feet or any other part of your body seems to make the ride more enjoyable. Somehow, too, it seems there is often some kind of accident that forces someone overboard. It is a pretty wicked paddle boat, I guess.

It is such a beautiful place. There is the pond, the pond house, a sandbox, zip lines, places to play kickball/baseball and lots of space to just relax.

This is the first time in a long time, maybe ever, that everyone was there. My grandparents had 11 grandchildren. We are all here in all our glory. I have so many good memories with this gang. I guess that's part of the fun of our getting together, we always remember some story or two.

The 11 of us produced this crew. There always one that just refuses to participate or participate under duress. Nathan seems to always get the privilege of holding the one under duress. This year we had both, just off camera view is the shy one.

Love this laugh.

Somewhere there's an Auburn joke in this pic.

There's always something to play. Looking like they will have good memories of playing together, or at least memories.

Before the zip lines, etc, there were water things like sprinklers and baby pools. But, the all time favorite has to be the homemade slip n slide. Lots of black plastic, water and detergent.

I think I've finally gotten past being totally paranoid that someone is going to get hurt.

Now, I know that someone is going to get hurt. This time it was a big bruise on James's hip. I have learned that they are just battle scars and add to memories.

Everyone has a camera in hand. (Doesn't Daddy look great?)

In the great grandchildren generation, we have a pretty strung out age group. The oldest graduates next year and the baby is a baby. Grandmama and Granddaddy would be so proud.

It's fun watching the boys who only see each other once a year playing together.

Great picture of Tammy.

I am so thankful for the heritage I have from my Goshen family. God has blessed generations of our family with knowledge of Him.

Is that Monkey or Tarzan?

I love Memorial Day weekend every year.  My aunt and uncle host a family reunion of sorts every Saturday before the holiday.  They bought the house and land where my maternal grandparents lived.  Then they bought the land next to it.  Then they built a pond between the two.  (They were very busy people.)  I don't know of many more peaceful place in the world.  There is this wonderful old barn where the walls have been replaced with screens near the home they built.  I'm sure it was my aunt's idea to hang a bed from the ceiling - she is so creative.  I have never even sat down on it because I know I would immediately want to take a nap.

Any way, they host us all...there are 11 grandchildren in my generation.  21 (with one on the way) make up the next.  7 "adults" comprise my mom's siblings and spouses....with the occasional other family members that show up, we have quite the crowd.

The food is awesome and the kids have so much fun.  There's the pond with pedal boat (or is that paddle?).  There's usually some kind of pick up game of something if not several things. Then there are all kind of water things to play with and finally there are the zip lines.  My guys love the zip lines.

This year, though, it seemed to be Christopher who was really into it.  After trying heroically to get the handle to the platform (only to see it slide away as he climbed up onto said platform), an adult went to help.

The orange shirt is my brother's son.  I just adore him - love, love, love getting my Bear hugs from him when I see him.  (Although this time, I did have to ask twice.  I guess they all get to that age at some point.)  Red shirt is my cousins son - brother of the cyclist.

Photography friends, I know these aren't the best.  You have to cut me a break.  You could feel the water in the air and the lighting was just impossible.  Use your imagination - certainly, it's good enough that you can imagine Tarzan.

This year I saw him do something I had never seen.  He put his feet up with his hands.  You can imagine what horrible thoughts were going through my mind.  (At that moment, it was not that I had found the missing link or how much he looks like a monkey.  More akin to "I wonder exactly how far is the hospital from here.")

I should have cropped and exported at a higher quality but, you know that I'm just getting back into the swing of things.  It was either bang this out or wait days to have time to do all that editing....regardless, this was a look of sheer jubilation.  Throwing his head back with absolute glee.  Oh, to be eight again.

Thanks, Aunt Pat and Uncle D-