The genesis of this gathering was that our niece (my husband’s brother’s daughter and flower girl in our wedding) was bumped from a flight out of Barcelona last summer with her family on the way home from our epic trip together to Turkey last year, and they had lots of flight points they needed to use up. So they came for a visit for a week at the end of August, because the weather in Louisiana then is a bit oppressive. It was our niece’s husband’s first time to the northeast.
Then, because they were coming, our older daughter flew in from California, then our younger daughter drove in from Upstate New York. A cousin who is finishing her Phd in Biochemistry at Yale also came. So we incrementally added more guests as the week went on, as you can see in the chronological photos below.
The last day everyone was here, my husband’s sister’s family was up in the area moving out of their red cottage (movers come today), which all the cousins had spent time at over the years, so we went to see them, as well as say goodbye to their house– an end of an era. In this way, our week started with three extra and ended as a group of eleven.
It was especially great for all the cousins to see each other, as well as for us all to get to know the oldest grandchild, who I have to say, quite impartially, is a particularly wonderful child. She features prominently in the many photos below. Also, I’ve always liked our niece’s husband, and I enjoyed getting to know him better, besides just bonding over being the outlaws in the bunch. They were incredibly great to host, which prompted yesterday’s poem, about how to be great guests.
We played, swam, hiked, hugged, talked, went to the farmer’s market, and ate. (The photos and recipes for our menu will be posted tomorrow). We also visited the lobsters at my fishmonger, cows and chickens at New Pond Farm, processed our tomato crop, collected mushrooms, and had a surprise visit at our swimming hole by a bobcat (blog about that here). Our oldest with her cousin and daughter, made by husband a surprise carrot cake too.
A great time was had by all, and I’m so grateful we could all be together. Check out the photos below of our special week.
Looking at my artist journal
Showing the little one her mother as our flower girl in our wedding photos
fascinated by our daughter’s embroidery
learning “go fish”
an upside down egg carton is a great way to hold a toddler’s cards
her dad being a sea turtle
game: Snail’s Pace Race
wow
our two daughters (on the left) with their cousins
looking at our Turkey photos from last summer
last time to see it…goodbye
more cousins (far left from London and far right from Virginia)
Our Turkey trip inspired our nephew to make baklava
somewhere I have a photo of me pushing the cousin in the navy dress, at three years old, on that very swing…
her beautiful present to us
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5 Comments
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Sounds wonderful! We had more than our share of guests this summer, which will be winding up this weekend with our son and his wife, the granddaughters, her parents and sister, and her brother and his wife.
Even though I have never been there and don’t know the people, I am sad about the Red Cottage being sold! Fortunately, I have my own Red Cottage.
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WoWWW!!WWhattA Beautiful Bountiful BouncyBo-ciferous Family!!!
Love it!
Reminds me of home!!! We had 16 plus a dog and a cat here for the weekend of Aug. 7-9!! Whewie!!
So I can re-late!!!Saying YES to Life…works!!!
Thanks for sharing. Warmed me heart! Family is a Gift!
Sue K
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I am so inspired and awed by these lovely family photos of ordinary life – tomatoes, Go Fish, books, finger paints, swimming, flowers, building blocks… I am struck by the extraordinary everyday beauty that surrounds us! Really enjoyed seeing your family & the wonderful visit. Felt heartwarmed!
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Loved seeing the little girl playing with the blocks instead of staring at a screen….
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