This morning, the parents surprised us with the announcement that we’d be going to Quarry Lake today. Dad had to work, but he and Uncle Adam were going to join us out there after closing the office and clinic for the day.
We had quite a gang going too, including Violet and Dillon; the Stones; Rowen and Patrick; and the usual group of best friends, including Stephanie, Jenny, Tim, and Scott. Aunt Leanne was coming with Kara, Eddie, and Nicole; and Alicia had the option for the afternoon off, but she came out to Quarry Lake with some friends too. There was quite a bit of work to get done before we could go there, and though we helped out when it came time to pack up Mom’s van and Violet’s car; Jaimie, Kaitlyn, and I mostly stayed out of the way while Mom, Violet, and Alicia put together our picnic, and got everything else that we’d need for the day ready.
It was about eleven o’clock when we headed north on Quarry Road, and Mom, Aunt Leanne, and Miranda and Jacob had some volunteer drivers helping out with the transportation. Patricia, Emily Warren, Brent Palmer, and Tracey Landry all helped out with rides; including taking other kids along once word got around, and sisters, brothers, or cousins wanted to go too. There was more work to do when we got to the campground, and all of the kids were recruited to help out with carrying chairs, bags, coolers, and picnic baskets from the parking lot to the spot Mom picked at the edge of the beach. Once that was done, it was all play for the rest of the day – at least for the kids and most of the teens.
I’d like to take a moment to mention that I really love getting to play with Miranda and Jacob. They don’t get to come out and play with us very often, but when they do; they’re really very good at it! Dad and Uncle Adam weren’t the only adults to come out to play with us after work, but since Miranda, Jacob, Mom, and Aunt Leanne were the only adults in our group for the afternoon, they stuck together; and Rowen and I, and the seven-and-under kids, helped to make sure that they had fun. If you’re reading this some day, Miranda, you’d have loved hearing some of the comments I did today – like one guy who shall remain un-named who suggested that your Inn would be full every day, all day if you wore swimsuits at work too. There were comments about Jacob too, but I’m definitely too young to hear most of them, even though I did – including a few from you and Aunt Leanne. Okay, time to move along now for sure.
We were in the lake, on the beach, or playing on the water slides most of the time; with just two short playground breaks after lunch and dinner. Ethan, Ehlana, and Nicole all had short afternoon naps under the shade of a couple of beach umbrellas while Mom and Aunt Leanne took that opportunity for a little sunbathing. Violet, Dillon, Jake, and Stephanie helped out with our visiting cousins while they were doing that, and the four teens were a magnet for most of the other kids in our group.
One of the reasons that Rowen and I were happy to have my cousins to entertain was that the tweenies and younger teens, including Rebecca and Jenny, were in full-out weird mode today. Patrick and Scott were annoying too, and probably worse than usual because they were trying to act like the other guys; but they had orders to stay close to parental support, so avoiding them wasn’t an option. I can tell you that between the wedding and today, Rowen and I are more than a little scared about what it’s going to be like at home for the two weeks that Chris, Martin, and Jonathan are here. Maybe they’ll spend most of their time at Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne’s house.
When Dad and Uncle Adam came out to Quarry Lake, they had another group of parents and kids come along. Liz and Philip Seager brought Naomi; and they joined us so that Naomi could hang out with Ethan and Ehlana. While my brother and sister played and floated around with their friend, Rowen and I continued to play with Jaimie, Kaitlyn, Kara, and Nicole; though Nicole would stay with her aunt and uncle whenever the rest of us went on the water slides. Dad and Uncle Adam had Patrick, Scott, and Eddie with them most of the time they were with us; and Rowen I and were glad to have the break from the goofing around and pranks that Patrick and Scott had regularly annoyed us with all afternoon.
It was time to pack up and get ready to head home by a bit after eight; and most of us were home with enough time before dark to unload the van and truck. Violet, Dillon, Jake, and Stephanie had other plans for the rest of their night, and Dad had work to get started on in the office, but all of the girls, including me, and Ethan, were ready to head for bed after a long, busy day of sun and fun. I helped Mom with the bedtime routine for Ethan, Ehlana, Jaimie, and Kaitlyn; and then got changed and in bed. Mandy’s currently cuddling with Kaitlyn, but she’ll probably end up in here with me sometime before morning.
I thought about just going to sleep right away, but we’ll be doing some camping this week, and this might be one of the few chances I’ll get to do any family business work; so I put up my wards and have done about four hours of regular speed work in the last hour or so. That’ll be enough for now; there isn’t any other news to report; and I’m way past ready to crash for the rest of the night, so...
...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!
