family reunion accomplished

This weekend was the annual family reunion in Binghamton. It was a fun time, and it was great to see everyone who was there. I don't know if anyone did an official count, but it seemed like we had a smaller crowd than usual this year. I was really glad my brother and his wife were able to make it; I don't see them nearly as often as I'd like. I was able to have actual conversations with some of my cousins, which was very nice. We've all known each other all our lives, and it's wonderful that we still like each other despite how different our lives have turned out. The next generation is starting to get old enough to have conversations with too, and they remind me so much of their older cousins (and parents) at that age that it's almost scary. There's something to that genetics stuff, you know?

We revived an old family tradition and tied my cousin Julie to a tree. Once upon a time, we did that to my Aunt Rose. Already there is talk of revenge, and who it will be next year. I gave the kids some advice and told them to skip a year, and nobody will suspect it next time. Also, we discovered that untangling the rope before grabbing the victim is probably a good thing. *g*

Of course I took lots of pictures, of actual people as well as Terry's beautiful horses and Sharon's wonderful flowers. This action shot of the kids being taught to fish is one of my faves:

We had wanted to do a cake last year for my mom's 80th birthday, but miscommunication scuttled that plan. So this year, my aunt got a cake for her, and we surprised her last night.

What she (and we) didn't know was that this was a fake cake, made of foam covered in frosting. Mom took a couple minutes to catch on, and was determined to cut that cake! Hilarity ensued, and then the real cake (an ice cream one from Friendly's) came out. She was tickled, despite the joke.

We managed to miss all the big storms on the way home today, thank goodness. Part of the highway in Worcester was underwater (on the other side from us, fortunately) and we watched cars throw up huge splashes as they drove through it, slowed down by cop cars at the edge of the water. The traffic on that side was backed up for a couple miles.

I'm completely knackered after all the traveling and gathering the past couple of weeks. I don't want to do anything for the next couple of weekends! What I'd really love to do (but not for a few weeks!) is go to a cabin somewhere with no TV or internet (or people) and just relax and do absolutely nothing. Well, I'd probably read, walk, photograph, and write, but that's it. Oh, and sleep.