Family Camp, Final

Make sure to check many lovely photos on Number Six's blog here! 

Family Camp 2016, continued

Sunday morning beauty, girls choir at mass, volleyball, hanging out with friends, more campfire time...

Family Camp 2016

It has become a personal tradition to wake up and go outside for the sunrise all these years at family camp...

Pepinos joined us again!

with Hope S.

Campfire Rosary and Salve Regina

Late night guitar

Jannell's "compliments"

Every year at Family Camp, Jannell brings a craft for the kids to work on at her cabin. Or two. The kids come in and out of their cabin, happy to work on their own project. Over the years they have done a myriad of different things, from Popsicle-stick dolls to fun headbands. This year she brought little notebooks and pencils that they could decorate/personalize, and also the "compliments": strings of yarn made out of old cut-up t-shirts that the kids could tie on someone as they paid them a kind compliment.

What a simple and lovely idea! All through the long weekend one saw kids finding others and telling them a nice, kind compliment and tying them around their wrist. I couldn't take mine off even for Sunday mass. I received many art-related and food-related ones, but also some "greatest mom ever" and "best godmother". It was touching to see the smaller, shy kids having the courage to come to you and to find the words to accompany their action. Just a wonderful way to spread love, kindness, and to promote interaction in a group of growing families!

But that is just like my friend Jannell. She does the beautiful, loving and quiet things. Thinking, planning, and bringing all of those projects ideas and items for the kids, every year at Family Camp. While I shout out any achievement to the four winds, she keeps on quietly, consistently, spreading kindness and promoting love. She is so much of I would like to "grow up" to be. She is not the center of attention, but she is a center and anchor for any wanting words of understanding and friendship. Truly Jannel is one of the most loving people I have ever met, and I am the richest for counting her as a loving and dear friend.

Family Camp 2015: Annual Photo after mass

Fr. Haggerty came to say mass and to visit with families at the camp afterwards. It was our most beautiful mass yet, with gorgeous music!

Family Camp 2015

Busy day at Family Camp today, starting with daybreak fishing with Dr. Pepino and Number Three, Stations of the cross, and Bean bag Tournament. (Later on I will post better photos taken by my friends Jannell and Sandy). 

Family Camp 2015

Every year on Labor Day weekend our home-school group rents the cabins at the Diocesan Retreat Center and we spend the days there amidst friends and fun! We say a campfire rosary every night and walk the Stations of the Cross. We leave today and I am cooking ahead quite a bit as I too want to enjoy the time especially as Numbers One and Three will join us! The garden tomatoes are coming in, so homemade salsa and sauce for lasagna are on the menu!

From Number Six' Blog

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Henebry Family Reunion

This past weekend the entirety of Dad's side of the family gathered at our house for a family reunion: the first one since 1999. A bunch of Gus's college friends also came. We had fun doing a zillion different activities, including taking young cousins to the Children's Museum, going swimming, doing crafts, taking pictures, and of course eating and drinking! Uncle Dave even brought family T-shirts for everyone.




It was amazing getting to see everyone after so long. I hadn't even met our littlest cousin, Aparcio, and he is five years old! He and his older sister Marisol are by far the two youngest of the family. Claudia, Isabel, Tessie, and I enjoyed getting to know them and playing with them.



On their last night we took them to the playground a few blocks away. Photo from Claudia.

It was also great to see Aunt Mary, whom I hadn't seen since I was seven, and cousins John Michael and Jacob. Mary and Jacob and his girlfriend came all the way from Alaska to spend time with us!
I'm not used to seeing relatives, especially all at once, since we all live so far apart. The time we spent together was exhausting and a little overwhelming, but a lot of fun anyway. It was a great summer weekend.



everyone went out for lunch on Saturday


Claudia, Othman, and I were artistic at the Children's Museum!


Our time at the Children's Museum seemed to be dinosaur-themed...




Posted by Maria B-H at 11:32 AM No comments:


Labels: Family, Fun Stuff, Summer


Monday, August 3, 2015

A Baby Grand Piano


...is now residing in our house! We bought it used from someone we know from church. It is the smallest baby grand you can have, but it makes an enormous difference when compared to an upright! The action is about 5000% better and the sound is nice and warm. It is taking a bit of getting used to, but after we tune it things will be considerably better. I'm so happy!


Thanks Mom and Dad!

Isn't it pretty?



Posted by Maria B-H at 2:36 PM No comments:


Labels: Dad, Mom, Music, Piano

More photos from family Camp!

Siblings!

Nighttime fun

Paddle-boat

To be by the water...

Canoeing!

 Swimming in the lake!

Campfire joy

Campfire singing

And of course, marshmallows

The magical time of dawn at the lake

Fishing

Last morning Scrabble game

Trying to hide the winning score

Now revealed. Aaaaaaaahhhh....