Bi-Annually the Shrum family, or at least a branch off the huge family tree, gets together to visit, play, and meet cousins. This year it was the Maine families turn to host (the family is spread out in to Maine, Texas, Washington, Kansas, North Carolina, and back) in Stomper's Great-Great Grammies back yard. The family stretches five generations (six if you count Ma and Pa Shrum who went on to Heaven a long time ago) ! Stomper is not the youngest cousin, but he is the only one in his generation.
We saw cousins, aunts, and uncles that Stomper and I have never seen before. Stomper played with cousins he usually only sees a few times a year, and I got to meet all the cousins from "away" that my MIL is always talking about. We had a lot of fun catching up and getting to know each other.
About 70 people gathered in a little out of the woods, back of the woods town. The plan was to play in the sunshine, go on a canoe trip, and have campfires. Unfortunately we entered into another four day spread of rain, thunderstorms, and rain on the first day. For three days we played games inside and pined for the sun.
Then, Saturday afternoon, the clouds broke, the sun came out, and for a brief moment Stomper and Papa were able to throw rocks in the swollen river. The rain returned after a few hours but that didn't stop us from visiting a playground during a break in the rain and spying a rainbow (Stomper's first!). Of course, as luck would have it, the sun came out and stayed out to wish us farewell as we packed campers and cars to head home.
Stomper fell asleep in a rare morning nap in the truck, I'm sure he was dreaming about two years from now when we all meet again in Kansas.
Posts
