Family Affair Part 2

     

Zoe:
    The road was long and grey. The podcast was depressing. The banana chips were gone and the only candy we owned had liquefied. We were losing hope, but then there was light (and a pool); Saint George at last. The locals greeted us with smiling faces and flower leis, the sun kissed our cheeks (not recommended), and the air conditioning cured our home sickness with blasts of air from New England. Well, we got sun burn, dragged all our stuff up from the car to the house as the kids waved from the pool. Same difference, right? Throughout the week we jet skied with dolphins, ate delicious family made meals, paddle boarded, kyacked, practiced synchronized swimming, played the hilarious hat game, took 100 family pictures, discussed quantum physics, opened a spa,  and swam in the pool and the ocean!

Kat:

For seven years Ry's family has been going to St. George Island for a week each summer. SGI is a slip of a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico just south of Tallahassee. His parents get a big house on the beach and we spend our time hanging out in the house, by the pool and of course, on the beach. We rarely get to see our Florida family so the trip is an important part of our summer. We missed it last year due to our cross country trek and so we were very happy to be back again this year. One of my favorite activities is heading out on the kayak and SUP with Zoe to hang with the dolphins. Each year we try and make a point of getting out on the water and communing with our favorite water mammals. Two years ago we had a threesome hang out with us for an extended time and then escort us back in to the beach. This year we weren't quite so lucky but we still did have some close encounters. Unfortunately that was on our first trips out when I didn't have my phone to take pics. When I did remember to take it with me, the dolphins were conspicuously absent. Sigh. 

Kinsey:

St. George Island sure was as fun as it always is. This year we made a spa called "Sea Side Spa & Salon" in our room. We had mostly all of the cousins involved besides Ella and Jake who are the eldest. For the spa we had two twin beds and a king bed, the smaller ones for one person to get a massage and the bigger one for a couple. For the salon part we had Caleb, Alexa, Zoe and me do hair and all of us except Caleb did make-up. We made $49 enough for each of us to earn $7. We earned more but we spent $27 on supplies. Other than the spa I spent most of my time in the pool. Zoe, Alexa and I made a synchronized swimming routine that we showed everybody on the last night. I think we did pretty well. 

me jumping off of Jason's back.

I gave up on a race because I had gotten so exhausted 

Yup.

Ryan:

     As Kat mentioned, last year was the first in seven years that we missed with my family on St. George Island.  While I wouldn't have done it differently, we did miss being there last year.  I truly love this way of catching up with my family.  My favorite part of Florida life has always been the on the water, whether on the beach or river.  When we are on the island, my family is away from their respective lives, just as we are.  This makes it the perfect place for all of us to slow down and hang out.
     I see this crew so rarely, the first thing I'm always struck by is how much the kids have all changed, and this time was no exception.  The faces of the oldest kids have started to develop more adult features. They have gotten a bit quieter; not serious, just maybe more thoughtful.  There was a lot of talk about college, as Ella will be entering her senior year in high school in August.  I'll say it again, "Hey Ella, we have some great schools near us. You should visit and check them out." (wouldn't it be nice for her to have a support structure nearby, Jason [Dad])  The youngest of the bunch have really come out of their shells, even if the very youngest, Landon, never really had one.  It was lots of fun talking with, hanging out, and playing with all of them.  My girls, of course, love being with them all. There was the usual swimming in the ocean and pool, shell hunting and sand playing, kayaking and paddle boarding, but this year there was the spa.  Instigated by Zoe (as it often is with the northern cousins), I'm always amazed at the near universal appeal of this activity.   They all enthusiastically embraced their respective roles, some of which included customer outreach/recruiter/town crier , hair and makeup, chief tickler, deep tissue specialist, customer review coordinator, and some other less clearly defined but equally crucial ones.  All told, I think each employee netted $7 after operating costs (lotion and fruit shaped gummies), and it kept them out of the sun during the most brutal hours.
     The grown ups had their chances to play, too. There was general lounging as well as kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skis, and after dinner games like bocci, five crowns, and the hat game.  Along with all the fun, there were plenty of chances to hear about recent developments in each family, and upcoming plans.  Usually, this week is separated from the one with Kat's family by more than a month, but it was actually really fun having them back to back this year.  After spending a couple of weeks surrounded by the people who mean the most to you, you can't help but realize how lucky you are to a part of the clan.