Folger Family Get-Together

AND, WE'RE HOME!! Wow. It's been an action-packed week and a half. First, family vacation in Michigan, then Jon & I went on a cruise while Hannah was with Grandma and Grandpap, then straight from the airport to Sistersville to see Hannah & the rest of the family for the weekend. Now, to get caught up on laundry and wait for the house to cool off!!!

Every year since Karen & Brian got engaged Mom has hosted a big get-together at her place with all of us kids. She had the foresight to know that once we had families of our own, we wouldn't be home for all of the holidays like we had in the past. So, she dedicated early August as the time that we all come home -- not near any holiday, and not during the school year -- as when she'd like us to come home. So long as we make it in August, she doesn't care if we miss all of the holidays (although right now we each split Thanksgiving and Christmas with the in-laws, doing one family for each holiday and then alternating holidays each year). She's anticipating the day when we want to celebrate with our own families, and it has certainly made it easier on us.

So, this past weekend was our get-together. Daniel was in from NYC, Karen, Brian, Liam (and Bogart) were in from DC, my mom's sister and her family (aka Aunt Patty, Uncle John, Michael) were in for the day on Saturday, as well as cousin Susan (and Gary and baby Jaidyn) (who all hail from PA), and then my cousin Tammy (on my dad's side) and her kids Natalie and Lucas came from KY. Grandma Catney has been living with mom & dad the past 2 months, so she was there too. FULL HOUSE!!

Mom goes overboard with the food and dad makes spare ribs on the grill every year. We also have a number of family friends who stop by during the day because that is one of the few chances to see everyone. I just like getting to visit with family and play with my cutie-pie nephew, Liam!

Liam!

Hannah plays with bubbles

Hannah & Liam playing in the "sandbox"

Cousins!
Grandma with the kids!
Gotta' love the tie-dye obsession!

While on the farm the kids got to play with the horses and the 4-wheeler. My parents let this guy, Jack, board his horses (3 or 4 of them) at their place to help keep the hillside eaten down (less mowing!). Jack agreed to get out the horses for the kids and let them "ride" (which was really sit on them with a "bareback saddle").

Hannah was really interested in the horse and loved petting his nose. Hannah even sat on the horse for a minute or two.

We got out the 4-wheeler for adult rides...the kids only sat on it. They didn't get to go anywhere, but the pictures of them are way too cute!

2nd cousin Jaidyn - almost 2 months old

Jaidyn with her Grandma (my aunt) and Great Grandma
(My grandma is on oxygen because she has congestive heart failure)

Danila relaxing on the porch.

Yep, Josh & Danila made the trek from PA to return Abby to us (Abby "vacationed" in Pittsburgh with them while we were in Michigan & on the cruise). Danila told us that they knew they were getting close based on how "vocal" Abby was in the car...she knows the way! The GPS says "entering unverified territory, proceed with caution" when you turn up the road to the Folger Farm, so I'd given her "landmark" directions for the trip, and they made it. Danila also commented as soon as she got out of the car - wow, this really is the middle of nowhere! Danila got a tour of Sistersville in the evening, and both her and Josh got 4-wheeler rides through the hayfield and up on top of the hill. Then, the boys went fishing with my friend Merritt's husband....which is a story for a whole 'nother post.