A New Tradition

Every year the kids and I head to Wisconsin for our annual camping trip with grandma, but this year, due to a very unfortunate event, we weren't able to go. Therefore, we chose to get our camping fix locally over a long weekend with four other families.

aiden was in his element,

content the whole time.

he pointed to his ear over and over.

"was a?" he'd say, as he

heard birds screeching, leaves rustling,

fire crackling, cicadas chirping.

he RAN to keep up with all his cousins

and friends, and when he couldn't

keep up, they never left him behind.

his quote of the weekend (and newest three word phrase),

that was said over and over and over again,

"be ri ba" (be right back),

as he'd hold up his index finger, look us right in the eye,

then run off to catch up with the others.

It was a weekend of hangin' with cousins and friends

of all ages, no fighting, no arguing,

just joking and pure enlightening laughter.

It was a weekend of spinning tops and decorating the patio with chalk.

of playing baseball (which Aiden hit his first ball by himself!)

of flirting.

a weekend of paddle boats and canoes,

of fishing and snapping turtles

of complete pure innocent silliness from the younger ones

and the older ones alike.

it was a weekend of laughter.

of great food. of great company.

kids ages 2 through 40 something joined the outdoor festivities,

although us 10 " grown kids" were outnumbered

by the 16 kids aged 2 to 15,

we all had equally amount of fun.

it was a weekend we decided to start a

new tradition, it was our first annual

friends and family camping trip,

with many, many more to come!