redneck high society

we aren't exactly rednecks. but once a year we come pretty stinkin' close.

last week we packed and headed up north for the annual Family Cabin Trip. 23 of us packed into the cabin and popped tents on the property. for three days sid town was never so loud as our band of gypsys passed through. six tents, numerous air mattresses, two pack-n-plays, at least 8 bikes, 4 trucks, 3 cars, 2 minivans, 1 boat, and a partridge in a pear tree.

my mom and i headed up super early. we left tuesday night b/c the ferrellgas guy was coming on wednesday to hook up the stove. we were also hoping to finish the floors. that would take a few hours of work off my dad at least. we got up north and headed straight to tawas for the super walmart. we had no food except connor's baby ravioli and jar food and in the words of a great scholar, "eh, eh! ain't gonna happen!" so we bought just enough to get through the next day. we finally got to the cabin around 11 and connor was wired. sleep wasn't the best that night, but that meant he would sleep well in the morning which would give us plenty of time to get crackin' on the floor. which we did. connor was once again banished to the tent and we got to work. can i just say i love power tools. we had a blast! it was one of the snap together floors and went together relatively easy. then spazzy mcghee came to hook up the stove. what a hoot that guy was. i have never met a person so happy who daily goes into crawl spaces. hoo! gives me the heeby jeebies just thinking about those spiders.


we finished the floor and knew we needed to head back to walmart for some supplies. but on the way we spotted papa's van. we turned around to meet them at the cabin and watch them admire our handiwork. oh, yes. i will be bragging about this one. from then on through friday more family was arriving daily. more tents popped up. more cars. more bikes. more fun!

my dad came wednesday night, so thursday he installed the sink and hooked up the hot water. hallelujah! my first shower in days! yeah, i'll admit it. didn't you notice the title? :) nathan came up early thursday morning. he wanted to get up to see us before he hit the links. yeah, he golfed. and yep, it was free. i don't know how this kid does it!! he took dainel and josh. now that brings me to another redneck moment.

from the moment the boys got up there, most of them were barefoot. you have to understand. the dirt at the cabin is special dirt. if you put any skin within two inches of it, the dirt will jump up and grab on for dear life. you can't rub it off. and it only multiplies. so the boys looked like they were all wearing black socks. i'm not exaggerating. ask anyone associated with my family. they may deny it at first out of embarrassment, but it's real...all too real.

so josh and daniel were filthy. nathan took one look at them and said, "you're not coming unless you wash up." joshua went in and wiped off his face. but when he came out there was just a circle of clean like a clown mask. it was hilarious. i personally can't stand the dirt at the cabin. which is why i typically wear tennis shoes. but keeping connor out of it proved difficult. the kids had a blanket on the ground with tons of toys on it. for the most part they stayed right on it. but once connor knew what that dirt felt like, he kept trying to grab it. at one point he had a handful and i picked him up to move him. of course he grabbed my face and gave me what i affectionately called the "adolph".

friday we had assembled most of the clan and hit the water. uncle paul kept asking if he could take connor tubing. whatever! but connor did have a great time swimming. that kid is a fish. i had to head back early for conman's snappy nappy so i missed out on the thrills and spills and synchronized tubing...that was my mom and aunt elaine. but i was glad to have a nice hot shower with no small children or high school boys saying, "who's in the bathroom???"

gramma was the phenom cook. feasts were made everyday. daniel was the handy man. seemed like everytime i turned around i heard my dad yell, "daniel!" then dan would go running to help out. dillon was his little slave boy. joshua fought everyone to hold the babies. david was the story teller....i won't tell any, davy. that way you won't get in trouble. but let me just say...hilarious! hope was the queen of kick the can. that's one little girl that isn't gonna take junk from anybody! :) austin was the mr. fixit of the ikea chair...super job, aus! collin wasn't feeling so hot but he was always up for a walk with me and ace. he rode his bike two miles while we rollerbladed. good job, buddy. aunt elaine was the pyro...'nuf said. papa found time to read his books. derek was the king of smoke bombs. mike was clean all weekend....he is still a mystery. nicole and ava were like twins. dirty little feet. uncle mitchell and aunt tina had a whirlwind trip. they made it up on friday and hit the road saturday. but it was good to have them there for that day. mom and dad were hard at work all weekend to finish the cabin. dad made a new picnic table for the dining area and mom woodburned all of our names into it. it looks sweet. and then there's nathan. my trouble maker. he thought it would be cool to jump the fire. of course the boys wanted to do it too. joshua almost lost his life. not from the fire. but from his mom. then nathan decided it would be fun to casually toss a few marshmallows. that started an all out war. as it was coming to an end, my dad gets everyone together and tells them to gang up on gramma. just not to hit her in the face. good idea dad. so they go flying at gramma and i see her head slink into her sweatshirt. but she got them back. a few minutes later, mallows still flying, she goes limping over to a tree and starts to cry and wince. "get papa" she says. so we all freak out and think she's really hurt. then my dad goes over to see what's wrong and she pelts him with mallows. it was a highlight.

so friday for dinner we headed into oscoda for g's pizza. it's all part of the tradition...kind of like spear fishing, right david? :) well, at g's they have tattoos in those gumball style machines. we loaded up on those things, and slapped them on right there in the restaurant. we must have looked like hillbillies. gramma was mortified. connor and ava got tattoos too...i mean also (that was for you collin).


a great time was had by all. the cabin looks great. i'm pretty sure i told mostly everything that happened, but hey, you didn't have to read it...did ya? :)

oh yeah, to whoever found connor's summer sweatshirt......THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!