GFR: Paddle Boards and Peaches

This was my favorite day of the reunion. Tom and Sandy graciously opened up their stunning home to us and rented paddle boards, kayaks and a boat for a day of play. The day was really laid back and perfect for good conversation with lots of family.

One of the greatest joys of a family reunion is watching others delight in your own kids. I got to see this again and again, as different people offered to watch them so that Rory and I could play a bit. It meant so much to me!

At one point, just as we were arriving, there were eight of us out on the deck eating peaches. These peaches were perfect, and super juicy. Conversations were had asking each other if this was the best peach of your life. And as we began to catch up, we each slurped our drippy peach...trying to act casual about it. We'd say things like, "so you're moving soon..." while trying to hide our slurpy sounds, quickly getting the napkin to our chins. It was a funny moment that felt similar to ordering ribs on a first date. A little awkward, but totally worth it.

(I know that's a random story. But it's a funny memory I wanted to write down...)

See what I mean about other family delighting in my kids?!!

And here are some of the ladies. It's such a great group of people. I just feel so grateful and blessed to have married into such an exceptional family.

Groves Family Reunion 2013

I remember the day in May when I was emailed the itinerary for the Groves Family Reunion. We were getting a foot of snow and I read the plans for each day with hope and excitement, believing that winter might actually end. The plans included time with Grandma and a family dinner, a day of water play at Tom and Sandy's, a day at Disneyland and a day at Huntington Beach. It meant the weather would be warm. It meant that summer had to be on its way.

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know that I love family togetherness which makes a family reunion my favorite kind of gathering. Our last Groves Family Reunion was in 2009, so it was time to get together! (Remember these little movies Rory and Jack made?)

Since the last reunion, Ivar and Elsie have joined our family making this the first time they meet many of their extended family, including their great grandma Bernice. It was precious time together.

...one day Elsie will recognize this.

a magical vacation

It's a Small World from Becca Groves on Vimeo.

We just got back from the Groves Family Reunion out in California. It was fantastic. I love family reunions more than anything. For me, you just can't beat family togetherness. The entire Groves family is quality and it made for some awesome days together. So get ready. There will be many a picture posted here of our time together.

But I had to share this little video very first. Elsie was asleep in Rory's arms when we boarded our little boat into It's a Small World. We were worried she might wake up terrified. Instead she woke up absolutely delighted by the happy world around her. Sara and Troy were right behind us in our boat and got to watch the joy of Elsie experiencing the magic of disney for her very first time. 

We're home now and exhausted. And so sad that the reunion is over. Ivar wailed tonight as we walked in our kitchen, "I need the elevators! I want to go to the elevators!" This was his way of saying he was so sad that fun adventure in California, the swimming and playing with cousins, riding on airplanes, trains and flying elephants is over. I feel it too. It's always so hard to come off of a vacation like that.

uncle don's barn

Uncle Don gave Ivar a very precious gift. After we were together at The Landing, he asked if Ivar needed any more farm toys. And then he showed us his barn. Uncle Don made this barn for his boys, based off of the barn my mom had on her farm growing up. That barn is gone now, but this one is getting more love and attention than ever.

On Friday morning, the day after we got the barn, Ivar called me into his room, unsteady on his feet in his crib and told me, "I need to play with my barn!" He went downstairs by himself (never happens) and played for 45 minutes while the rest of us slept.

I told Rory it was the closest we have come to a Christmas Morning with him. His first he was an infant, second we had the flu and this last year he cried the whole morning. He was out of sorts and it made for a memorable, but not picture perfect Christmas morning. But Friday morning held the same joy and anticipation we were expecting on December 25th.

And as you can see, the barn was intended for Ivar, but Elsie is just as interested. She takes all the hay bales and horses and puts on the upper level. And then she puts them all in the lower level. And again and again. Lots of "sibling sharing" teachable moments around here lately...

barley and alfalfa

The only thing more exciting than a tractor in our field?

Two tractors in our field.

Rory and I haven't been on this little hobby farm for even a year. And we are learning so much. We talk about this a lot late at night. There is a lot of trial and error and questions and research and phone calls and patience required for this sort of life shift. But we're learning and we're grateful to be here.

The biggest challenge for us so far has been our field.

We knew we didn't want to rent our four acres out again this year. Mostly because we're not sure what we want to do with it. But if we want to turn it into orchard, or if we want to ever graze animals out there then we wanted to start a few years of not using pesticides and planting something that can help replenish the nitrogen back into the soil.

So we researched tractors, but they are expensive. And we weren't confident enough in what we should buy in order to put that sort of money down. It's just too early to buy something.

Then we asked around to see if anyone in the area could be hired to plant our field. But this was a crazy-terrible year for all planting. Lots of fields in our area still aren't planted. There was snow in May and rain all throughout May and June. Any contacts that might have possibly been able to help us out on a normal year were trying their hardest to get their own fields planted on the rare sunny day when the fields might be dry enough.

It wasn't looking good for our field. I kept telling Rory that we could go out there and scatter seed Bible-style with bags over our shoulders, tossing it gently down the rows.

Finally one of the phone calls Rory had made returned our call. Two brothers from the area had all the equipment. We were overjoyed. This was a few weeks ago, and since then it rained every time they were scheduled to come out. But on July 3rd they came.

This might be the latest planting ever. It might mean our barley and alfalfa might not germinate. But we had to try. You can tell the field is dry, but it is supposed to rain this weekend. That would help.

But no matter how this first year turns out we 1)have our field planted! and 2)our country boys got to drive a tractor.

And Rory has found a tractor he really loves. He might have to get rid of his green cap though.