Annual Walsh/Thuente Camping weekend...

This past weekend was the second annual Walsh/Thuente camping weekend. My siblings and our families (I can say that now because we have Josh!) get together with my Dad's sister's kids and their families. We grew up camping with their family and eventually our parents bought lake lots up north right next to eachother. Last year we decided we needed to start camping again. We had such a great time that we are going to make it an annual event. So this past weekend was the second annual trip and we found an awesome campground.

The planning was similar to last year. A ton of emails going back and forth between the 12 of us. Inevitably my brother Joe and my cousin Greg would get annoyed with the mass emails and just wait until someone called them to tell them what they were responsible for bringing. Jim and I put together a spreadsheet with what each and every person was assigned to bring, when people were expecting to arrive, what meals were going to be made and by whom. It was a bit ridiculous... but wouldn't be an event with the Kirkwoods without a spreadsheet!

The campground was wonderful. We were off in the Wilderness sites which allowed us to be as loud as we wanted to be. There was definitely a hike to the bathrooms but they did have running water and showers. Next year we are thinking about renting a porta-potty so we can have something close by to use... the woods looked pretty bad with T.P. everywhere from us squatting.

We had another keg this year and had absolutely no problem polishing it off by early Saturday evening. We played Tippy Cup, layed out by the pool, the boys played some basketball, and had some awesome food! It was a great time.

Josh did very well. He was pretty happy for the most part. And he slept so well... I think he likes the cooler weather! And yes - we got matching T-shirts - and they found a little red one and had that one printed just for Josh. It was hilarious!

A run down of the photos... obviously the first one is the group photo complete with keg and Hilo. Next is Joshua sporting this years shirt and a color coordinating sweatband thanks to my cousin Greg. It was hilarious - and he didn't mind wearing it for most of the morning. Then we have Josh and my brother Joe. I think he might be getting used to being an Uncle! Then Josh's godparents - Shannon and Steve. And finally - the parents to be - my cousin Pat and his wife Sarah. Pat insists that you need to talk to babies like they are adults - not use baby talk. So this picture captures his "adult" conversation with Josh.

Special shout out to my sister Shannon - Happy Birthday to you! She is a quarter of a century! We love you!