Our Vacation Part 2 - The Surprise Family Reunion

We had talked as a family about getting together last Christmas, but it just didn't work out, but the siblings kept on talking via email and we decided to do a surprise family reunion while our family was visiting Washington in June.  Having one family who Mom knew was going to be there for sure gave us a way to make sure that things could be somewhat planned - like going to Anderson Island and Dad getting off work.

We threw around the idea of people showing up at the big slide on the Island - one of the family's favorite haunts, but decided in the end to just surprise the parents on the ferry.  This was a "dangerous" move since people could be spotted in line to get on the ferry, but we got on without anyone being spotted.  I leaned against my open window (as if enjoying the beautiful weather) to block Mom's view of the other cars waiting to board the ferry - ie all the siblings - Brian who was sitting behind Mom waved at everyone as we drove pass.

I had Mom pose for this picture as Chris drove past.

Josh enjoying the moments of peace before the storm.  :)

 The plan was to hurry Mom, Dad, Eric and my kids up to the top of the ferry, for everyone else to congregate and then come up together.

 Lots of hugs were given...

 And up they came singing "Oh, we're from Nairobi"...  Mom was at the top of the stairs...

And screamed when she saw everyone.  More hugs....

Anna and Dad

 Then Dad heard the commotion and came out of the cabin.  He was more happily bemused than anything.

Eric didn't know what was going down and he was shocked.

At the Slide at the Old School

After we got off the ferry we went to our traditional picture taking places.

Then went to "the swimming hole."  While this has been the traditional swimming place for quite a few  years, I had never been.  It has a great kid swimming area, a slide out on a dock and a high jump off another dock.  It was cold enough that I didn't go in, but all of the kids and most of the younger adults did.

I didn't get pictures of everyone, but Brian and I and our girls were there, my sister Erica, her husband Bill and their children (Eleanor, Matthew, Jerome and Margaret), Josh, Chris and his son Andy, Neil, Anna and her husband Scott, Blake, Eric, Aunt Becky, Krissy and Mom and Dad.  (Total: 25)

Highlights included:  sand castle building, getting promised candy bars for going of the slide for the first time, rides in the blow-up boat, quiet talks, walks, yummy bleu cheese pecan dip, huge chocolate cake, daisy chains, Mom rescuing Andy, bees on blue towels, baby in backpack, Josh texting pictures of himself and the baby and lots of catching up.

L to R:  Erica and Bill, Matthew and Jerome, Anna and Scott and Blake

We headed back in the evening, the young adult car stopped for Little Caesar's pizza, we ate and then set up camp at the parents' place.  Quite literally.  We were all surprised at how much more camping stuff Mom and Dad had than we expected.  We had worked out who would sleep where via email earlier, but were able to spread out even more than planned.

 Erica and Bill, Matthew and Jerome, Anna and Scott and Blake slept in tents in the back yard, Becky slept in her minivan, Krissy slept at her grandparents and on the couch, Neil slept on the hammock and on the couch/living room, my kids slept in the guest room, Brian, Margaret and I slept in the pit, Chris and Andy slept in the storage/laundry room, Josh slept in Eric's room and Eleanor and Emily slept in the tree house, under the dining room table and in the living room depending on the night.

And thus ended Day 3