Family Reunion

Once again the first weekend in August was our family reunion with Ben's family from Tennessee.  After last year's trip to Memphis we headed back to Berkeley Springs, WV for this year's reunion.  We were due to head out to WV on Thursday, but Paige and Virginia left home on Tuesday and headed out to Dee and Dude's house for a couple of nights.  Ben and I stopped at their house on our way to the reunion, dropped off Jefferson, picked up the girls and had a nice lunch with my parents.  We were also treated to a little concert by Virginia, Paige and Dude where they sang their new song they wrote about our trip to Bar Harbor, Maine.

My babies in their first band!

 Paige even got to play the harmonica in this song.

 We got out to the treehouse and Mimi was the only one there.  We hung out with her for awhile and then Pops showed up with Uncle Lloyd and Shannon who had just flown in from Texas.  The girls were so excited to get to play with Uncle Lloyd and (soon to be Aunt) Shannon.  Mimi had gotten a bunch of punch balls, so they blew up a few of those and the girls played a game of keep the balloon off the floor with Uncle Lloyd and Shannon.

 Thursday night the rest of the family came over for a pizza dinner.  Unfortunately some of the family was missing this year.  Rob, Leigh, Mason and Carson didn't make it, but Caleigh came with John, Ali, Elizabeth and Justin, so at least we had one representative of the younger Stivers family.  We had a great evening of food and fellowship with everyone.

We decided Thursday night that a bunch of us were going to meet up Friday morning for a hike in the state park.  The members of the younger two generations (except John and Justin who went shooting with Uncle Bob) met up and hiked for a few miles.  It was a warm day, but we had a great hike.  The kids did a great job leading the way most of the trip.

Ben, Virginia, Caleigh, Shannon, Elizabeth and Lloyd on our hike.

 Shannon leading the group of cousins.

I think all four of these girls really look up to her.

 Shannon and her girls.

Paige, Elizabeth, Shannon, Caleigh and Virginia

 When we finished our hike with the girls we headed back to the treehouse for some lunch and a little break.  That afternoon we left Paige and Virginia to go fishing with Mimi and Pops while Uncle Lloyd, Shannon, Ben and I went for a more intense hike in the park.  We had a great and strenuous hike with some beautiful views.

Ben, Lloyd and Shannon on our hike.

 One of the beautiful vistas on our hike.

 Then it was time to go back to the treehouse, shower and get ready to go to the other house for dinner.  We had a delicious dinner of shrimp boil and bread with cheesecake for dessert.  Yum!  The kids also all had fun playing together while the adults enjoyed just hanging out and talking.

Caleigh and Paige

 Our girls really love their older cousins!

Caleigh, Paige and Virginia

 Saturday morning we all met up at the river to hang out in the water, play and have a picnic lunch.  The weather wasn't too warm, but the water was really nice.  We were all having a great time until I demonstrated how intense my fear of snakes is and then refused to get back in the water.  Shannon, Aunt Beth and I had taken the kids to the other side of the low water bridge from everyone else to wade in the slightly faster moving water.  We were out near the middle of the water when another guy who was over there very calmly told us that there was a snake in the water headed our way.  I, being the wonderful mother that I am, left my children in the water and sprinted for the shoreline losing my shoes in the process.  Shannon, who saw the snake coming straight for her, also ran for the shore.  The kids, though, did exactly what they should have done and stayed calm and stood still in the water until the snake was located and they knew it was safe.  Elizabeth was able to recover one of my shoes, but the other was lost to the river.  Oh well.  Everyone was impressed with how quick and agile I proved to be in my determination to get away from the snake.  I just can't believe I abandoned my children because of a snake.  I always wondered what I'd do if I encountered a snake while with them and I guess now I know.  Good thing they're old enough to take care of themselves in the presence of a snake...

Adults hanging out in the water.

John, Pops, Ali, Ben and Mimi

 Cousins in the water.

Justin, Virginia, Elizabeth, Caleigh and Paige

 Two dragonflies hanging out on my leg- and the last ever picture of my left Croc.

 The girls

Caleigh, Paige, Virginia and Elizabeth

 Paige and Justin digging around in the dirt.

 Paige and Virginia can not get enough of Caleigh.

 Not too long after the run in with the snake we all headed back to the houses to get showered and ready for dinner at the treehouse.

Virginia helping Pops prepare the fire for s'mores.

 Before we ate dinner we did our annual calendar pictures.  Since Caleigh's family wasn't there she filled in for them in pictures using their headshots from last year's pictures.

The June babies:

Aunt Beth, Mason (Caleigh), Virginia and Paige

 The youngest generation:

Mason, Elizabeth, Virginia, Justin, Paige, Caleigh and Carson

 Most of the members of the younger 2 generations making s'mores by the fire pit.

 It was another wonderful family reunion.  It's always fun to spend time with the Stivers and Umbarger families!  We sure missed you though, Rob, Leigh, Mason and Carson!  We look forward to seeing everyone at Thanksgiving!