Ike and I fly out tonight at 8pm...we're goin home to California for 25 days. This is my first ever, long trip with a grandchild. It's a new and cherished event on my path. The trip will include Sonoma for 2 weeks to just hang with family and friends. Then we're packing it up in a rented van and 9 of us, and heading up to Vashon Island to a Summer Solstice weekend/family reunion. It's going to be a weekend of camping on my ex-sister-in-law's property on the island, and she has planned a full yet soul-nurturing schedule: bonfires, communal cooking and eating, dancing and drumming, hiking, a biographical art project for the adults led by a local artist, children's special activities, and I'm sure with our family, crazy fun. Brooke and Matt and the children are coming down from Vancouver to join us too. And then on Monday, we'll head back up to Vancouver for a week...5 of the 9....and be together some more. This week will be spent outdoors. I'm just brimming over to experience the glory of Vancouver in the summer. Here's our visit in Brooke's words from her blog:
"In three weeks, we are going to Vashon Island off of Seattle for a family reunion. A real reunion. With the Sonoma family and the Chicago family and the Vashon cousins. From there, my brother and his honey Heather, my sister Camille, my mom and my nephew Ike are all coming home with us to spend a week in Vancouver. A whole week. I can't wait. To have all of us here, wall to wall beds, with messy suitcases and tons of laughter and snoring and farting and jokes and love. I am excited already for the beautiful chaos."
It will all culminate when Brooke crosses the finish line of her half-marathon run on Sunday, June 28th. We'll be there cheering her in! But recently I told her I was wondering what she was so proud of...I mean...I ran 13 miles too. Easy, Granted, they began in 1989 and ended in 2009...
Then back to Seattle for the flight home to Chicago. Sound like fun? Stay tuned cause I do believe it's going to be "blog worthy" (which is now a family term that began a couple of Thanksgivings ago, when I told one family member that their plate was definitely "blog-worthy" and someone elses was NOT. I haven't lived that down and probably never will.) Adios!
Sounds like a TERRIFIC trip ahead -enjoy the family fun :)
Posted by: SusieH | June 04, 2009 at 08:28 AM
Looking forward to the stories!
Have a great time.
Kate
Posted by: Kate | June 04, 2009 at 06:54 PM
I have to share a story...we had a party to celebrate my sister and brother-in-law's 30th anniversary. My father, always the wise ass, said that he too had been married 30 years. "How is that when you have been married three times?" some asked. He smiled and answered, "If you add them all together, it is over 30 years!"
Posted by: angela | June 04, 2009 at 08:15 PM
Just tell me, are you bringing that cute dress in the previous post??? I need to know. Temple needs a new outfit!
Posted by: Matt | June 04, 2009 at 09:04 PM
Surely this remarkable family adventure needs to be memorialized in some way--linked blogs, picture book. Looking forward to all you'll have to tell...have a wonderful time.
Posted by: naomi dagen bloom | June 05, 2009 at 12:07 PM
The kids and I will be in the Bay area for my graduation (10 am Westin Hotel near SFO June 14) from the 12th through the 14th. Any chance I can see you????!!!! Grad Dinner Half Moon Bay the 14th at 4:30, Miramar Bar & Grille- you are invited!!! Enjoy your lovey time and give my love to Camille...
xoxoxo Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | June 06, 2009 at 05:43 PM