Fun, fun, fun in the summer sun

Since I last posted, it's been fun, fun, fun - with the odd ear infection (Emily) and torrential rainstorm (on the way to the Boston airport). I was out of internet access for ten days - resulting in about 163 emails to wade through upon my return (still working on them). Instead of internet activities, we engaged in:

1. Family Reunion with about 25 people from my dad's side, at my cousin Sarah's in Massachusetts

- kids swimming for 8 hours straight with cousins (hence Emily's water-in-the-ear problems)
- meeting more relatives for the first time (e.g. my cute, twin, one-year-old second cousins once removed :-), and my first cousin's sister-in-law and family)
- 3 dogs interacting with everyone
- catching up with everyone we haven't seen in years

2. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Family Camp in New Hampshire

- meeting up with old college friends on both David's side and mine
- making many new friends, both for us and the kids
- discussion, reflection, study, singing, worship, and prayer over the topic of "The Way" as described in the Bible and as relating to personal and family life
- pond swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and diving off the floating dock ten times before going ashore
- semi-spontaneous 19th Century Dance Evening which I had the pleasure of calling/teaching
- bonfire with s'mores
- games, games, games (e.g. Hearts, Mafia, Guillotine, a pretty butterfly puzzle, and new-to-us strategy board games: Power Grid, and Ticket to Ride)
- ice cream at Kimball Farm in Jaffrey, NH (try Chocolate Peanut Butter, Coconut Almond Chip, Vanilla Swiss Almond and Moose Tracks - with peanut butter cups)
- pitch-black night-time glow-stick-lit ultimate frisbee for the teens (they wore glow-stick necklaces, and the frisbee lit up, and the goals were likewise lit by glow-sticks - it was surreal to watch, as I couldn't see any of the people, only the disembodied floating red and white necklaces... very cool)

3. Beach Fun at my mom's River House on the Rappahannock River in Virginia

- more kayaking, canoeing, swimming and beach playtime on the lagoon and tidal river
- more games
- more fun interpersonal interaction
- celebrating my mom's birthday (what a blessed daughter am I)
- finally back to internet access!

Only a few days left of our summer vacation...and I'm very, very thankful for all of it.