Every other summer we spend a week with Jon's extended family. Traditionally, all 40 of us pile into one house (20 kids and 20 adults) wherever we can find a house big enough. One of the problems we have encountered in the past years is that usually a house big enough to sleep 35-40 people is on the side of a mountain. Since a lot of the kids are young and need to be able to go outside and play, we decided this year to take a different approach. This year we went to a lake in the northeast GA mountains. We divided into three houses. The "main" house was on the lake with a big grassy yard.
The kids enjoyed hours and hours and hours of fun in the lake. This is Malachi and Ezra.
Everyone took turns in the kayak...this is Elijah.
One day a big piece of Styrofoam washed up on our boat ramp and the kids spent hours playing on, knocking each other off of it (King of the Raft) and floating on it.
This was the view from the back yard.
Ezra spent a lot of time in the inter tubes.
The kids also enjoyed the big yard and swing that was set up in one of the trees.
Every night a "team" would cook and clean up for dinner. we had some very good meals. This is Jon's mom, aunt and sister making homemade pizzas for 40.
There was enough table space for everyone, so the kids usually sat at the tables and the adults carried their food in different directions.
The kids enjoyed hours and hours and hours of fun in the lake. This is Malachi and Ezra.Everyone took turns in the kayak...this is Elijah.One day a big piece of Styrofoam washed up on our boat ramp and the kids spent hours playing on, knocking each other off of it (King of the Raft) and floating on it.This was the view from the back yard.Ezra spent a lot of time in the inter tubes.The kids also enjoyed the big yard and swing that was set up in one of the trees.Every night a "team" would cook and clean up for dinner. we had some very good meals. This is Jon's mom, aunt and sister making homemade pizzas for 40.There was enough table space for everyone, so the kids usually sat at the tables and the adults carried their food in different directions. The back porch was a popular place for eating and just sitting around.
Jon and his mom.
One night we played a Jeopardy Game of family history and information. Like "Whose favorite show is Little Einsteins?" or "Whose birthday is Feb 3, 2002?" or "List all the cousins (all 20) according to age." 
We played a lot of backyard games: Badminton, Corn Hull, and Volleyball.
We also hiked to Anna Ruby Falls. (The grandparents stayed home.)
Once we got to the top we took a lot of pictures. This is a picture of all the cousins on Jon's side.
This is Isaiah and Jon-- the falls are behind them...way in the distance.
Jon and his mom.One night we played a Jeopardy Game of family history and information. Like "Whose favorite show is Little Einsteins?" or "Whose birthday is Feb 3, 2002?" or "List all the cousins (all 20) according to age." We played a lot of backyard games: Badminton, Corn Hull, and Volleyball.We also hiked to Anna Ruby Falls. (The grandparents stayed home.)Once we got to the top we took a lot of pictures. This is a picture of all the cousins on Jon's side.This is Isaiah and Jon-- the falls are behind them...way in the distance.We also turned one night into a 50th Wedding Anniversary party for Jon's parents. Every year Jon's cousin, Jon Robert, designs a shirt that we all wear on the last day and we take a big family picture. This year the shirt honored Jon's parent's anniversary.
Jon's brother, David, also put together a DVD of pictures and another DVD of people sharing about Mom and Dad and wishing them a happy anniversary. It was a lot of fun watching it.
Last, but not least, I wanted to include a few pictures from our rooms. We didn't stay in the big house. We stayed in the "early riser" house. So we had our own suite. The 4 big boys had a nice room with 2 double beds and Malachi had his own room (a sitting area). I forgot to take a picture of our room. Our house of the early risers, had both sets of grandparents and Jon's sister, Robin and her husband, Harry.
Jon's brother, David, also put together a DVD of pictures and another DVD of people sharing about Mom and Dad and wishing them a happy anniversary. It was a lot of fun watching it.Last, but not least, I wanted to include a few pictures from our rooms. We didn't stay in the big house. We stayed in the "early riser" house. So we had our own suite. The 4 big boys had a nice room with 2 double beds and Malachi had his own room (a sitting area). I forgot to take a picture of our room. Our house of the early risers, had both sets of grandparents and Jon's sister, Robin and her husband, Harry.There was also a 3rd house, right down the driveway from us (we were a mile from the lake house) that had a couple teens, one college age kid and a few single adults.
We had a great week. Some day soon I will get copies of the group pictures, when I do I will post them. I am so blessed to be part of this family. It is nothing but joy being with them for a whole week.
Great Post, fun to see the pictures!!!
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