*Note: This is a LONG post of pictures and journaling. I am posting this mainly for my own benefit...as this is my personal history...BUT your welcome to join in and read along if you want to put in the time~
ALSO...I tried to "highlight" the fun quotes in a different color so the story flowed better...but for some reason blogger isn't being cooperative in this matter...oh well~
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family:
Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.
-- Jane Howard
I have one, and I call it~
FAMILY!
...and I think they are one in a million!
We are seriously a group of crazy, fun, hysterical people
and every single time we get together we have a RIOT!!
I've heard HORROR stories of family reunions that end up in fist fights, screaming, tears and endless silent treatments...I don't understand it. I can't wrap my head around "THE WHY"...maybe its because growing up we weren't aloud to fight and quarrel....thats not to say that we didn't on occasion, but it wasn't tolerated. My parents didn't fight and we were encouraged to treat each other like we wanted to be treated. We were taught that families are forever and that when everyone else turns their back on you....your family will always be there...no matter what! We have tried to raise our children with those same beliefs and I hope they will carry on those strong values in their own families.
after all....
"The values we live by are worth more when we pass them on...."
Author: Foundations for a Better Life
...and passing those family values on, from family member to family member
happens in so many different ways. Sometimes its by word, and sometimes its by example, that we learn the things we should do. Sometimes its a lesson learned from our parents, sometimes its a lesson we learned from our extended family...either way,
a lesson learned is worth its weight in gold!
Along the path of learning brings about many "life experiences"...
those experiences often bring about stories...
those stories often bring about memories...and those
memories are often what shapes us~
AND that is why....
"Family stories make the most valuable heirlooms."
Author: unknown
...and so our story begins...
Once upon a time, in a mountain far away, a family of extroverts
pitched their tents and gathered their wood for a weekend of
rest and relaxation~
The flowers were nodding with excitement as the family brought laughter
and enthusiasm to the wilderness they so quietly rested in.
They knew that their peaceful atmosphere was about to change
with this lively group that was full of fun and frenzy!
"So this isn't Home Sweet Home...Adjust!"
Author: Unknown
Spots were staked out, tents were set up and fires were started, as the family
settled in for a few days of enjoyment.
AND so it begin....
"Cousins by blood - friends by choice."
Author: unknown
The three musketeers did everything together as they spent their weekend in the wilderness...they ran from one end of the mountainside to another, making huts, reading in the woods, making dust devils on the ATV's and loud laughter in the dark.
Remember to the world your no one, but to me your the world"
Author: Unknown
BUT they weren't alone in their merriment...because Cameron and Grandma
were full of zest and vigor as well~
chasing "wabbits" and winning games!
"Cousin to cousin we'll always be, Special friends from the same family tree."
Author: Unknown
There were games of hide-n-seek...tag and competitions between the finest~
Remember, as far as anyone knows, we're a nice, normal family."
Author: Homer Simpson
There were also many "SURPRISE" visitors as this family of campers
"got down and boogied" to some good ol' fashioned "funky music"......
"Having brothers is like having your very own super hero's"
You could say that "Eatin' and kickin' back" was pretty much the theme of this
wilderness family's weekend trip....
BUT don't get me wrong, there was always a little "mayhem" going on...never a dull moment was met by this family. Especially as one lonely little
"cat napper"got her morning shower...
in her CLOTHES!
Which caused a burst of laughter to echo throughout the mountaintops.
"Every survival kit should include a sense of humor."
Author: anonymous
"Everyday and every place is a vacation with you."
Author: Sandi Larkins
...needless to say, no one else dared to invest in a quick bit of shut eye
amongst the crowd of "AWAKE AND ALERT" onlookers, for fear of what might
happen to them....
"So much of what is great has sprung
from the closeness of family ties.
Author: James A. Barrie
...even though "sleep" was very much desired,
as the night left several with very little (if any) shut eye!
"sister's are like stars you can't always see them but you know they are there......."
Author: Unknown
Since sleeping wasn't an option at this point,
the wilderness came alive with the sound of......(music??)
giggles, chattering, barking dogs, ATV motors, crackling fires and the smell of good food...
"To the world, you're just one person, but to one person you can mean the world."
Author: Unknown
"HAPPINESS IS HOMEMADE"
Author: UNKNOWN
...as well as the pitter, patter of little feet as they played in the dirt and tip toed through the posies.
"The best things in life aren't things."
Author: Joni Neese
Tip toeing through the posies is only for some, as THIS Wilderness Family is known to do things in a BIG way, so it was no surprise
when Cam opened his rather "large mouth" to EAT his rather "LARGE marshmallow"....
...and play with his rather LARGE friend (the Great Dane GUS, that stood nearly as tall as he does...a very "small" 6' 8")
Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown
...and wear his rather "adorable" hat....its all what makes him CAM
and that's why this family loves the "little guy" !
"A little child enters your life and fills a special place in your heart. A place you never even knew was empty!"
Author: Unknown
"Together is my favorite place to be!"
Author: unknown
They all had "girl time" and "guy time", just doing the things that made them SMILE.........
"Just knowing you are there keeps a smile in my heart."
Author: unknown
"Cousins are those childhood playmates
who grow up to be forever friends."
Author: unknown
"A mothers children are portraits of herself"
Author: Unknown
....AND SMILE........
"Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present and future."
Author: Unknown
...AND SMILE!
"An aunt is someone special to remember with warmth, think of with pride, and cherish with love."
Author: Unknown
and all "because they were on VACATION"!
"A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way."
Author: Unknown
"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."
Author: Helen Keller
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Author: Unknown
and so...let it be written, let it be done...
Until NEXT YEAR when they will all get together and do it all over again,
making more memories, more stories to tell and more values to instill!
"How lucky I am to have something
that makes saying goodbye so hard."
Author: From the movie, ~Annie
Our drive was LONG anyway, BUT when you add in the fact that OUR AC stopped working a few weeks back and it IS THE SEASON for road construction...the RIDE was extremely LONG. We had an extra hour and a half ADDED onto our already long journey as we were stopped off and on throughout the trip by lovely flagmen dressed in bright orange jackets....I know they are just doing their jobs, but ORANGE quickly became a HATED color on our trip. It seemed we would just get up to speed and be making some progress, when out of the blue we would see bright orange signs and cones that gave us warning as to the "FLAGMEN" ahead and "PREPARE to STOP!" UHG!! 
