Summer Vacation

My husband loves his family and any excuse to get away, so last year he began planning a trip to include both his family and mine.  Yes, we knew ahead of time that everyone gets along!  We found Mo Ranch, where we could rent an entire house for a weekend, as well as keep everyone entertained with activities like swimming, canoeing, hiking, fishing, etc...  Schedules were cleared, plans were made, and we all arrived by Friday night. 

Kayla and Grandpa Branigan "Pa"

Hummingbirds seen from the porch.

My dad and Kayla were the two early birds Saturday morning.  On our way to the kitchen to get juice, we saw Grandpa out on the porch.  The night before, we had gone up on a hill from which you could see miles and miles of river and sky.  There was a huge lightening show far in the distance.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  The rain eventually made it's way to us and left a cool, damp morning after it--perfect for enjoying on the porch.




                                                                                                Once Grandma "Kiki" was up, coffee was the first thing on the agenda.  Kayla loves to make the coffee with my parents using a Kuerig, putting in milk and sugar, and then blowing on it.  She will probably be a full-fledged coffee drinker by the time she enters kindergarten.

Jeremy's brother Sam and Sam's wife Victoria made us yummy breakfast.  All 13 of us ate at the same table for every meal all weekend.  It was really nice to be able to do that!

After breakfast, we headed to the river for some canoeing, water sliding, swimming, snorkeling, and fishing.  The weather was perfect, being just a little overcast and breezy.

Jeremy braved the water slide.  You go down it on a wooden contraption...kinda scary.  Too bad I am pregnant...
I did, however, swim in the river and go canoeing with Jeremy and Kayla.  We have never canoed together before and he quickly discovered that I am not skilled in this area!  We couldn't go in a straight line.  Plus, I got a massive bruise on my leg just trying to get into the thing.  We still had a good time!

James was the first to try the rope swing.

Ernest got a bit more lift...

Sam got farther than this picture lets on!

My dad even tried it!

(Should have gotten a bit closer for pics, but I was just proud to have taken my camera and actually snapped pictures!)

All the uncles and aunt!

 

The grandmas relaxing while we swam.

Ernest, Adam, and Sean heading out for the canoes.

We headed to the pool after lunch and a long nap.  Kayla is in her element in the water.  She loves jumping in and also swimming to people in her little inner tube.  She's also a little ham for the camera.  This big grin gets me every time!

  Just relaxing!

I had forgotten to bring a cover-up shirt for Kayla at the pool, so I threw this one of mine on her.  When it was time to change her out of her suit at home, she flipped out about having to take off the shirt.  So, back on it went along with a dry diaper--what a monkey!

The highlight of the weekend for me was the sheer joy Kayla got from being around all of her family.  They adore her and she gives the love right back.  Her favorite thing to say all weekend was everyone's names, some better and more often than others, but constantly.  "Hi Tia (Aunt Victoria)!"  "Hi Ganny!"  "Hi Uncle James!"  "Hi Uncle Ernie"  "Hi Uncle Don (Sean)!"  She would say "Hi" over and over until the person responded, and even then!  She also would ask "Kiki go?" (Where did Kiki go?) and "Mommy, are you?"  (Mommy, where are you?)  I am so glad that she will have these family memories through the years!