The ChilldogsBrad, Jon, Jim, Elliott, Paul
The ChillpupsAnna, Claire, Hannah, Elodie, Porter, Tanner, Levi, Brody, Kade, Isabelle, Madeline, Samuel & Lydia -- yep, that's right, 13 children!!!
Ages range from 4 months to 7 years.
The Families -- 23 people in allAs I mentioned in my post last year, each year Jon's college buddies and their wives & kids all get together for an annual gathering. This year we've had two new additions to the gang (there were "only" 21 of us last year). This year the Rowley family had the "privilege" of hosting our entire gang, in their home, for an entire weekend. We drove out to Springfield, Illinois on Friday, arriving just in time for dinner. After a quick run out to get ice cream (well, as "quick" as you can be with a 5-vehicle caravan and 23 people) and putting the kids to bed, the adults stayed up talking for hours. The guys often tell stories that are so funny you can't help but cry!
The first time I joined the group for a day (in 2003), there were 6 kids. Jon tells me that the previous gatherings were a little more about the adults and just hanging out. Now, the kids tend to run the show. The following pictures are from our action packed Saturday. Enjoy!
PART 1: TRIP TO THE ZOO
In the morning after breakfast we made a quick trip to the Springfield Zoo. Lucky for us, it was FREE before 11am (and we arrived about 10:30) and they were having a "zoo olympics" in the center field. The kids (and some parents) participated and the bigger kids all got medals.
Hannah enjoyed the big tortoise and fed a goat for the first time.
PART 2: LUNCH, NAPS & CRAFTS
After we got home from the zoo, we all had lunch, and it was nap time for the little kids. Emily had prepared a picture frame craft project for the big kids, and they really enjoyed it!
After we got home from the zoo, we all had lunch, and it was nap time for the little kids. Emily had prepared a picture frame craft project for the big kids, and they really enjoyed it!
PART 3: WATER FUN OUTSIDE
Once everyone was up from naps & the picture frames were done, we had fun in the water in the yard. Bounce house, slip n slides, and sprinklers! I won't say which adults broke the slip n slide racing on it.....but the slip n slides weren't just for the kids!
Hannah & Porter (they're the same age) weren't quite sure about the sprinklers, but they had fun playing in a bucket of water in the shade.
PART 4: SNACKS & DINNER
After all of the outdoor fun, it was time for snacks and dinner....Hannah & Daddy enjoy some Chex Mix on the couch.
After all of the outdoor fun, it was time for snacks and dinner....Hannah & Daddy enjoy some Chex Mix on the couch.
Some yummy watermelon after dinner....
Hannah decided she loved Porter's car. She was in it all of the time over the weekend.
PART 5: PINATA
Believe it or not...our day still isn't done!! After dinner we had a pinata made by the Mooney family. Here are 11 of the kids lined up to take their turn hitting it.
As the youngest (other than the babies), Hannah got to go first. Daddy helped her take the first whack!
Saturday was Elliott's birthday, so he also got to take the last "whack" (and I think he had fun doing it). 
Hannah needed a little help picking up some goodies.
The other kids didn't...PART 6: BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ELLIOTT
After the pinata, we had ice cream cake for Elliott's birthday. We'd surprised Elliott with the cake and Brad made a whole bunch of life-size pictures of Elliott's face that we each held up.
PART 7: WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE
We then put the kids to bed and the adults stayed up for a white elephant gift exchange. We didn't take any pictures of that....but I think the highlights were Jen receiving a wresting singlet, Jim getting a pink bathrobe and brick (based on an old college story), and Jon getting one of Brad's framed senior pictures. Let's just say my gift of a "can you guess the smell in the bottle" was "accidentally" left behind.
Believe it or not, we all made it up for church on Sunday (the "good" pictures at the top of the post were taken after church), and then had lunch together before everyone hit the road.
This tradition is so much fun. The kids love it and we all have such a good time. To be honest, I'm a little jealous that none of my friends ever got anything like this going. Next year is our turn to host again.....I have no idea how everyone is going to fit in our house - especially without a finished basement. I think there were only 18 of us the last time we hosted. Next year is the 10th anniversary of these gatherings - they started in 2000. Amazing that we make a point of getting it on the calendar every year.
No comments:
Post a Comment