Virginia Love - Family

After our first couple of days settling into our rural Virginia life we welcomed my side of the family for a few days!  All 13 of us gathered in this beautiful place for lots of time on the river, in the yard, playing games,  and around the table just enjoying each other's company and connecting.  Having all of us in one place doesn't happen often enough so we are so grateful for the time together!  The older kids slept outside in a tent (which they chose to continue to do for a week straight even after the crowd left!) so there was plenty of indoor space for the adults and little girls - it worked out perfectly! And there is not a picture of it because it was just the two of us out on the river but Dad and I did the mile and a half tubing trip!  I haven't laughed that hard in a while and it is up there (if not taking the top spot) of one of my favorite father-daughter experiences!!!  We had so much fun and poor Dad, if it was possible to get stuck on the river/in the rapids he did. It was a riot and I often clutched a rock and held on for dear life waiting to see if he could 'un-stuck' himself or if I needed to get out and make my way back upstream to dislodge him.  It was hilarious and so much fun!  The non-rapid times were peaceful and quiet and I loved every second of being out there on the water with my Dad.  Time.  The most precious of gifts.

Here we all are! Love these people so very much and grateful each and every day to be a part of this family!

Ima and Sheshy with their pride and joy!  Jeffrey (15), Luke (14), Hallie (12), Evelyn (4), Amelia (2)

These two!  Adventurers through and through.  So many fish caught, so many river laughs, so many memories made.

Evelyn is the prime age for uncle kayak rides!  Both Mit and L took this little one up and down the river.  Lucky girl!

Crawfish and bass were on the menu almost nightly

My favorite fishermen!

Big boys in the background fishing and these ladies searching for endless creatures in the water.  Hallie was the master of the crawfish catching!  She didn't eat them but she provided everyone else with the staple happy hour delight. 

This cute fly fishing store in our little town was a big hit with Shesh and Luke. 

Another round of fly fishing casting lessons in the massive front yard before hitting the river!  This pole is for sure 'vintage' and such a cool skill and experience for Luke!  

Let's not forget the prowess that is Ima!  We had a full-family cornhole competition and these two - Daney and Ima - were in the championship round.  VERY exciting!  Daney's comment when notified that she would be playing her mother in the finals was "I'm allowed to beat her."  Boom - family trash talking at it's finest.  Poor Daney...allowance or not could not best Ima and her (hidden) cornhole talent!  Who knew?!?! She beat the rest of us barely breaking a sweat!  So fun!!!

Cards with Ima!  A treasured family tradition!

Mealtime

Plenty of tables, find your favorite and join a group

Uncle L and Amelia doing some Fourth of July crafts! So cute!

At the end of our long country road was a free veggie stand.  Take what you want and leave the rest for others. We have since met the owners of this adorable stand and their garden is amazing!  They are now retired but used to grow all the veggies for the local cafe!  

The little girls are lucky to have the big boys and the big boys are lucky to have the little girls!  Love the cousin love!

 Me and the littlest love bug!

 

The name of the house at the end of the road. Ha!  Wholesome family picture with three of the five getting the joke.  Hilarious!

We enjoyed our time with everyone SO very much!  It was a full house providing full hearts!