Summer 2024 kickoff was a camping trip to celebrate Grandad’s big birthday. Each day, Grandad and Mamo’s campsite was abuzz with grandkids. Cousins of different ages and heights skipped rocks, rode scooters, and picked blackberries. They could always find an auntie’s hand to guide them, or a cousin’s plot to adventure into.
Everyone chipped in. You could make a dozen salami sandwiches, weave hair tinsel into your niece or nephew’s hair, stitch together an inner tube flotilla and pump whipped cream into any one’s mouth who was under 15 years old. If those things didn’t speak to your skill set, then you could play Codenames or crack glow sticks, supervise the scooter brigade, start the campfire, wash dishes or join the massage train. Really, you couldn’t go wrong with this group!
There were so many memories made on this trip. You could ask each person at the campsite and they’d all have different priceless moments. Watching my dad jump off a (small) rock and then have to find his glasses, stealing a moment with my sisters at the meadery, and seeing older cousins teach younger cousins the ways of the creek made my heart beam.
It made me smile to see the assembly lines for hot chocolate in the morning and marshmallows each night. In between, the meals were carefully crafted to ensure no repeats, and this group definitely has award-winning talents for consuming leftovers.
Grandad reminded us daily that there is nothing better than spending a week with loved ones under the redwood trees. I would 100% agree…with one addition: there is nothing better than spending a week with loved ones in the redwoods AND getting our first family photo under those redwoods with all the grandchildren! Happy Birthday, Dad!
Had to include love for The Town, where we bookended this trip!
Big thanks to BK and Meggie for sharing their home with us even though we missed the girls. We couldn’t be more grateful.
I wish we had more time to visit with Auntie Jo and Bachan but we made the most of the sunshine and good eats. October is around the corner and we’ll be able to celebrate again in Hawaii!
(PS: when all of Grandad’s photos are uploaded, there will be updates here, too)
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