Tubing with friends - July recap

Brian's mom and Don live in Berkley Spring, WV. They have a second home - a sweet cottage - right on the Cacapon River; sort of a secluded get-away just a mile or so from their house. They are very generous with their cottage and allowed us to invited the Hendricks and the Cooks to the river for tubing & a cookout. It was just a day trip but fun was had by all!

Here are the guys blowing up the tubes out on the deck. The ladies then drove 3 dads, 6 kids and 9 innertubes to the drop off location about a 15 minute drive upstream. They made their way down the river, taking about 2 hours, I think. The ladies & little Jessica relaxed at the cabin.

The Cacapon River (view from the deck)

The next shots are of the returning tubers as they're coming down the river.

Shane (you might need to click on the image to actually SEE him!)

Trevor

Alyssa

Brian, the cooler & Tyler

Ty

Scott playing with Jess in the "chute".

(photo credit: Scott Hendricks)

Di & Lyss playing in the chute

Jess

Linner? Dunch? ...whatever you call it, it was our mid day meal!!

Shane

The Whole Gang!!

Family Reunion - July 2007

Every 3 years, our family gathers somewhere in the US, organized by one of the "branches" of the family and paid for by the family corporation. We've been doing these reunions since I was... 10, I think?! Yikes!

This year, I think there were 107 of us gathered in West Virginia at Pipestem Resort & State Park. What sweet memories we made!

My Gommie (on the left) with her 4 siblings. Uncle Robert (seated) turned 94 during the reunion! The youngest in Uncle Ralph who is 81. We're so grateful that all 5 siblings could be with us!

(photo credit: Shawn lancaster)

On "shirt" night, each leg of the family took a group photo. This is our family!

All in attendance except Linda & Laurie.

The deer were all around our cabin, not afraid of us at all!

Ellie and Issachar

The Bingo Waltz - crazy game thought up by Brian.

Our horseback riding trail ride was quite slippery after all the rain! Here is Em with her horse Fern.

As always, Zerlin (aka Dickie) WOWed us all, young and old, with his wonderful magic show. Emily was chosen to be his helper (which when I was a kid, I remember always hoping that I would be chosen!)

Late night french fry runs with the cousins.

A cool gondola ride thru' the WV mountains

A deer coming to check out what Cassidy was doing.

Zander

Cass and Kai

(photo credit: Cindy Thompson)

I'm so grateful for my family! I can't imagine life with out these 5 people!

July recap...

Ok, July 4th photo's are from the Thompson's - not great but snaps but still our family memories...

Allie, Em and Jenna watching the fierce pool volleyball game.

Rach and her best buddy Quay!

watching Uncle Jake's awesome fireworks.

Going... going... gone.

Have I *really* not posted all summer?! So sorry!

I'll do a recap thru' pictures over the next few days.

July 4th

family reunion

tubing

MC fair

Hendricks slip-n-slide party

youth retreat

back-to-school

Thanks for missing my posts, friends.

:) jen