This past weekend we drove to West Virginia, where Sam's people are from, for a family reunion at his Aunt Janie's campground. It was quite a long drive for a short weekend, but we had a really good time and enjoyed visiting with Sam's family! Janie (Sam's mom, Elginia's sister, for those of you non-family members) has a really big campsite where she keeps her camper year round. It's a really nice set up; they've got a really large lot with a couple of campers and large awning built for shade!
Just hangin' out at the campsite, Rowan and her cousin Barrret enjoy the swings!
Rowan cuddles with "her Sam"!
Matthew and Barrett playing in the sand!
Now it's the girls' turn!
It's an "Elginia Sandwich"! Sam and Kevin pose with mom!
Jim is kept company by his new little buddy, Matthew!
Russ and Michele just relaxin'!
Sam's cousin Jeremy blows bubbles with Matthew! Jeremy's "quick feet" lessons helped Matthew catch the bubbles faster!
Matt has a sad moment, while dad, Mike, ties his shoe! Awwww! It's tough being two!
Next, Jim sees if he can perk up his new little buddy!
Yum!!! Russ grills up some great hot dogs and hamburgers!
You know you're on a good ole' down home country vacation when you go to sight-see at a dam! Actually, it was really cool to see such awesome water power! The dam separates Summersville Lake from the Gauley River, and every year after the fall season the whole lake (which is enormous!) is drained via this dam to prevent flooding in the spring from all the snow melting and to create better rapids for Gauley River, which is really well known for its white water rafting! The family from left to right: Michele, Russ, Ulaine, Rowan, Kevin, Alicia, Gwynne, Elginia, Matthew, Allison, MaryAnn, Mike, and Sam
Elginia and the kids: Sam, Michele, and Kevin
Sam & Em
Russ, Kevin & Sam
Russ being...Russ! Yum, how's all that bacteria tasting?
Take a gander at the power of the water!
This is impressive! In the late fall when they drain the lake completely, they open up ALL three of the water drains you see here. The one that's flowing here is the smallest of the three. People say that when all three drains are opened up it is an amazing sight to see!
The guys debate for like 3 seconds on racing to the top of the dam wall before common sense and the desire not to have a heart attack kicks in!
On the way back from a visit to the Kirkwood Winery (billed as the "best wine in southern West Virginia") we stop by the very scenic overlook of Summersville Lake!
Sam & Em
Kevin & Alicia
Even the cows are hot! Almost back to the campground we saw these cows cooling themselves in a pond. Now I know we have tons of cows in Indiana, but I thought these home grown West Virginia cows were awfully cute standing in the water! I especially like the third cow from the right that's kissing the cow next to her!
More cows!
Later on in the day we made a quick visit to Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park (just down the road from the campground), where on September 10, 1861 Union troops forced Confederate troops out of their entrenched position on the Henry Patterson farm, which overlooked Carnifex Ferry. Another picturesque overlook of the Gauley River canyon.
A little hazy, but here's looking down into the Gauley River canyon.
As the dusk is about to settle in, we load the kids up in the back of a pick-up and head down to the fishin' hole (really, is there any other way to get to a fishin' hole than in the back of a pick-up?)
The kids (Allison, Colton, Reagan, Sydney, and Gwynne) enjoy a bit of fishin'!
Rowan gets a fishing lesson from Mike!
Sam & Gwynne (uh-oh, watch out Rowan! :-)
We cap off the night with a lot of laughs and a little blackberry wine we bought earlier from the Kirkwood Winery! Ahhh, this is country campin' - wine in plastic cups! Nice!
Today we celebrated Grandma Jina's 82nd birthday (which also happens to be Sam and my 9th Anniversary!) with dinner at Pizza King and lemon cake and strawberry ice cream at home afterwards! Yum!
