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Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Voyles Fam Visits

My family gathered at our home for an extended weekend to celebrate my Mom's 66th Birthday and my parent's 45th Anniversary. My sister and her family missed out since they are currently in the Pacific North West for work, but my brother and on my aunts and her husband were able to join us for the festivities.

Each year we seem to get busier and busier. While we try our best to make family time a top priority, Jack’s Cub Scout troop had a very belated Pinewood Derby (they normally do this in February or March) on the Saturday that our extended family was here. The delay of PWD meant less kids were available to participate, but it also meant that all the kids who were there got to push the release button for the track and that little brothers, like Isaac, got to participate. As a bonus, my parents and aunt and uncle were able to come watch the derby. 

The boys don't play formal baseball, but they really enjoy the game and having a baseball diamond across the street from us is one of the perks of our neighborhood. Pick-up practice games with neighboring kids is becoming more of a thing. And the kids loved having their Great Uncle come out and pitch balls to them while he was here.

My family loves to play games and the boys are getting big enough to enjoy some of our favorites. Getting to play real Monopoly with my mom (their Grammy) was a big hit for them. There were many Monopoly games to be played over the course of the weekend. My brother may have added some creative rules that kept everyone laughing. We also introduced the boys to Scrabble and Isaac ruled the roost with Rummikub.

Besides Cub Scouts activities, the boys also had swim practices and Sandlot Baseball games – an informal league in our town. It was super hot for their Sandlot games, but both boys enjoyed being on the baseball fields. This was actually a first for Isaac and he was very proud of himself.

I am so thankful that our family was able to get together. It has been a crazy year with co^id and I will be forever grateful that our family has chosen to continue to meet throughout the last 18 months when possible. As Isaac is currently a fan of saying, "We shall meet again..."

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Thursday, June 24, 2021

Weekly Hike: Blue Hole

Blue skies and puffy white clouds welcomed us for our weekly hike – the first official one of our summer break. The temperatures were finally hot enough so we hit up a local swimming hole and spent the afternoon swimming and playing. It is one of our favorite spots.    

 


It seems like snakes are being seen on the regular this year, at least it seems more often that previous years. Several people warned us about possible snakes on the trail. We did end up seeing one snake, but it was harmless. Our nature app said it was the non-venomous,semi-aquatic Queen Snake. We had all heard of a King Snake but not a Queen snake. 

This was my 39th hike for 2021 (39/52). We did about 1 mile working our way up the creek bringing me to 119 miles hiked this year. 


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Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Camping at Piney River

We spent Father's Day weekend camping with our crew at the Piney River RV Resort. It was the perfect spot next to the Piney River. The kids had such a good time tubing and paddling down the rapids in the bend in the river next to our campsites as well as cliff jumping (for the bigger kids).




The dads decided to do a Fella Float (dads only). So they loaded up the gear and got dropped off upstream. They took about an hour and a half to float back, stopping to fish along the way. Meanwhile the moms held down the fort and the kids swam and paddled to their hearts content.


  

The weather was perfect. Each night we ended around the campfire. The kids chased fireflies and played hided and seek and freeze tag in the dark until we finally sent them to bed, always way later than they would go to bed at home.



 

The RV Resort set up a slip and slide and the kids found their stride, trying different ways of hurtling themselves down the hill. Even rolling into the mud at the end a few times.

 

We did a second float trip with most of the crew, a couple of dads shuttled us and stayed behind so that we could do it. Isaac loved his first trip like this paddling on his own speed. His only complaint was that he wished it was longer. Don't worry, little man, there will be more rivers and streams to paddle in your future.


Our final night we took the dads out for dinner. We had delicious cuisine, even though we were out in the middle of nowhere. A local mercantile hit the spot with amazing fare. We all even sprung for the wonderful desserts.

 

 
 

As usual, we stayed up too late each night. But we never regret these trips. We come home exhausted, but full of beautiful memories and experiences. Our little crew grows closer with each trip. Time around the campfire bonds you in ways you can't always connect at home.

 

 
Our camping family has been an unexpected blessing in our life. It wasn't something we were looking for. But we wouldn't give it up now that it has become a thing. We are all looking forward to our next trip at the end of July.

 

 





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