The weekend I am highlighting in this post was last month...what in the world? Life just keep happening and I feel more like living it than writing about it, I guess!
July 8-10
It had been 2018 the last time the Witmer family
(my siblings and their families)
had gathered at Refreshing Mountain.
We would have gone in 2020 but you know what that year brought.
2021 felt too soon also so we decided to wait till this year.
Not everyone could come...
flights are very expensive, work schedules didn't allow....
even illness (not Covid) kept my daughter, Greta, and her family
from attending.
SOOOO SAD!!
We stayed in a very cute cabin with the 3 grandchildren we live with.
Corey and Christy, their parents,
slept at home and came Friday evening and for the day on Saturday.
We brought our dinner with us and ate it after
getting all our stuff into the cabin.
Later we gathered on these nice swings to chat.
They were new since the last time we were there.
What a great addition!
We ate all the meals for the rest of the weekend
in the dining hall.
It was nice to not have to prepare the food
but with so many in my household with special dietary needs
it was kinda...well we didn't go hungry but the variety
was not great.
We get it, it's not easy to feed lots of people.
We ate our meals outside on the beautiful porch.
This was the only meal I took a picture of!
The rest of the Witmer's ate inside.
A downside of the current pandemic and our family's
continuing needed precautions......
not eating with everyone.
Saturday was a big activity day for the young!
My gang decided to do the ropes course first because the other activities had long lines.
Getting strapped in....
I would never do this....
even with all the strapping, hooks, etc!!!
They started on the low course.
Then went to the next level.
They were having a blast!
Noah especially loved doing what the big kids were doing!
Next was the zipline!
(Jumping off a platform is not for me either 😀)
There goes Noah!
He was whooping and hollering with delight!
I'm glad they enjoyed it =)
Time for some go carts too!
There wasn't anyone else waiting to ride so they said the kids could
just keep going!
They had a good time trying to out peddle each other.
Swimming...
There was a reserved time for our pool use
and it wasn't full at all.
So nice!
After this we had some ice cream from the shop next to the pool,
something Ellen always loves.
But no pictures.
I really messed up in the picture taking!
Another activity,
rock climbing!
Brave souls!
Gina and Justin came Saturday afternoon after Gina was finished working
but I didn't get a picture!
We ended the evening with smores around a campfire...
perfect way to end the day!
Sunday morning we had to be out of the cabin by 9..
the kids helped and we got it all packed up again.
After breakfast we gathered for some singing and sharing.
We reminisced about all the years we were doing there gatherings.
We started with tent camping,
then to Camp Andrews,
a summer kids camp...we went in October,
to Ebenezer,
a Mennonite Bible school that wasn't used in the summer,
to Refreshing Mountain.
Lots and lots of years with lots of memories!
Family pictures....Several had already left by this time.
Some because of illness, sadly.
Yes, Covid showed up and ended the fun for a few.
UGH!!
Thankfully just a few got sick and it escaped my family altogether.
The Witmer's ♥
States represented...
Pennsylvania
New Hampshire
Oregon
Idaho
Those from South Carolina, Florida and Georgia had already left.
Our family numbers in the 70's...maybe more by now.
It's hard to keep up!
My bunch that was there for the weekend ♥
Back row..
grandson Andrew, Pop Pop, SIL Scott, grandson Aidan
in front of them...
Nana (me), granddaughter Paityn
next row...
daughter Kim (mother to Andrew), grandson Noah in front of Kim,
daughter Ellen,
daughter Marcy (wife to Scott, mother to Paityn, Brinley, Cambrie)
holding granddaughter Cambrie, granddaughter Brinley, granddaughter Zoe.
Aidan, Zoe and Noah are the 3 grands we live with.
Their parents, Corey and Christy, didn't come on Sunday.
Those missing, Kim's hubby, daughter and family,
daughter Greta and family,
daughter Gina and Justin.
We number 25!
Someday I hope to get a pic of all of us.
Sister Elizabeth (Betty to the sibs) and her family from New Hampshire
Sister Mary Ellen (PA)
sister Barb (ID)
sil Nancy (PA)
Sister Jeanie with her hubby and grands and great grands.
Kids playing, family chatting....
It was coming to an end WAY TOO SOON!!
Just some random shots
Whew, if you made to the end
you did good!
Certainly was a photo dump and I for one will enjoy reading this
and remembering for years to come.
Have a great weekend!
7 comments:
Well, that looks like a fun time.
I love it. All that kid fun stuff...wow. Noah seems to have no fear. LOL. Sounds like you were all willing to be very careful to. I tell you Doris, I had to smile seeing the biggest man with the tiny baby. That baby was safe in his hands. Blessings to all of you, xoxo, Susie
I made it to the end and enjoyed every photo! I love that your family does this. It looks like such a great place for something like this I saw Jeans pics of the activities they did. I wish there was something like that around here. Just a joy to be together.
Wow! What a great time. I wish I could get together with my brothers and sisters like that. Like your family, they are scattered all over the country. I loved seeing all of the pictures.
It was great to read about and see all your family get together photos, Doris. I was curious as to where you spent this reunion. Also, nice that you did not have to do any food prep chores while away, even if the choices were limited.
I smiled throughout this post:) I love FAMILY (but you already know that)! The group shots are priceless. My Grands all love to do the climbing and zipping but not me, hehe. I stay on the ground:) We have a family trip coming up for Marc's 75th birthday. My daughter's family and Marc's two daughter's and their family. They all live out of state and I can't remember the last time we were all together. It is going to be awesome to have everyone together. Enjoy your day dear friend, kick back on the screened in porch! HUGS!
How fun to read all about it again. So many great memories made that weekend! Looking forward to the next time!
Post a Comment