My grandma wanted to host our first Jones Family Reunion in over 30 years and it turned out absolutely fabulous! There are now 28 1/2 Jonesies and somehow we ALL made it to the middle of nowhere North Carolina for a week of family camp fun. Each little family had their own room but we were all next to each other. We had three meals a day together in the dining hall. We had daily cocktail hour at 5 pm and then nightly family time that was different each night. Then the days were filled with activities galore. The kiddos had their own camp during the day, so we were free to have adult fun. We all tried boating, fishing, archery, basket weaving, tennis, beach laying, hiking, yoga, labrynth walking (that was just me and baby b I think!), rocking chair sitting, and Lane, dad and I went white water rafting! There were also nightly activities that included a blue grass band, square dancing, bingo, a very competitive trivia night (that we won!), a big time carnival, and corn hole. Then our family would continue the party late into the night with board games, charades, cigars, sharing our favorite memories with Gram, watching the littlest generation bond, and winning corn hole tournaments.
My grandma's 7 granddaughters are now spread all over the country. It was a very special week for all of us to be together. Our husbands got to hang out. Our kids got to play. We laughed about old times but more importantly made new memories together. It was perfect.
Me, Liz (and almost ready Violet) at cocktail hour.
Breckin (1), Genevieve (2), and Felix (1)
Lane, Daddy, and me about to raft the French Broad River (the 2nd OLDEST river in the world!?) Dad said it was on his bucket list so we checked it off! It was BEAUTIFUL and so fun. So much fun! Dad sat in the rear of the raft with the guide, Lane and I in the front, and we could hear him belly laughing through every rapid. :)
The WHOLE clan!!!!
GG fishing with Uncle Chris. Sarah and Ben in the background checking out the ENORMOUS turtles that live under the dock.
Ben caught several! We were using live crickets as bait and it literally took 3 seconds to catch a fish! And check out that belly! I couldn't keep my hands off of it all week!
The talent show!!! They did the Macarena! :) Hudson (3) on the left, then Des (4) and Ben (6).
Macarena!
Most of the Jones women at basket weaving.
The beach (at the lake). It was cold, and we saw a snake in that swimming area but the kids still loved it!
Lots and Lots and Lots of this stuff...adults drinking in the common areas while watching loads of little kiddos acting silly.
Watching the fishermen on the dock.
My silly little girl.
I love this lady.
I'm not sure which genes make us weirder, the Phelps or the Jones. But we are definitely reprobates.
Sarah was incredible. All week she would basically keep the kids happy and entertained. They all LOVED her and she is just lovely...kinda like her little cousin gg. :)
Oh more talent show pics! I tried to get the family to enter doing our legs behind our heads bit but no one was as crazy as me.
Here's a little creek we played in one afternoon...
My little engineer and I built a dam while the rest of the littles stripped down to their scivvies. :)
One night we each took turns telling our Gram how much she means to us and our favorite memories of her. We went in order by age. By the time it got to me I had already cried exactly 427 times and could barely make it through my turn. But I love this pic because it means I made her laugh at least once. :)
late, LATE night with the Royalls and Rayas.
The gorgeous matriarchs of our family.
boating! Doesn't Hazel crack you up? I know she made me laugh the entire week. That girl is hilarious (and gorgeous!)
Two very brave dads.
G and Breck having their own cocktail hour in the courtyard.
More beach time.
G and daddy in the courtyard and at the square dance party!
A huge group of nerds learning how to line dance. It was fantastic!
Bingo night! (and so many of us won prizes. it was so fun!) On the way to Bingo however was a completely different story. I had to put GG to sleep in our room and mom and dad were gonna stay with her. I was running late but stopped to make myself a drink in my family reunion tervis. As soon as I finished I took off running through my grandma's screen door thinking it was open. Well it wasn't and I ripped the entire door from it's hinges and went flying into the courtyard. The entire camp was at Bingo meaning the courtyard was empty for the first (and only) time that week and I laid there for a full 5 minutes crying and whimpering and talking to myself outloud and then laughing at the scenario of it all. It hurt so so so bad but I was so excited for Bingo that I rose, hobbled to my cup that had flown over 20 feet away, and somehow limped all the way across camp to join my fam.
More fishing fun.
This was a game the kids played a lot. Luggage Trolley! :)
And who knows...but they are cute as they stare in confusion at how weird Jones women are.
Jess, the hunter. :)
We all had just the best time and I really, really hope we are able to make it happen again. I love my family so much. We are all so different, and so unique, and bring so much to the table. Our kids are adorable together and we find a way to laugh and hug and support each other. We are lucky to have each other and just like to be together!