Memorial Day Camping Trip

The annual Wray Family Montreat Camping Trip was a big success this year... despite there being a 100% chance of rain forecasted, and a 100% actuality of rain.

This year the girls and I actually stayed overnight!  We are such troopers, such hardy campers, such adventurers....  Not really.  We stayed in the Assembly Inn right next to the campground!  And we definitely stayed dry.

The real campers generally stayed pretty dry overnight, too... and only had to change clothes an average of 2.1 times a day if they were older than 12, and 16.3 times a day if they were younger than 12.

The main points of entertainment this year were Lillian training all of her fans....

.... and the traditional Lookout Hike (when Miles did his best to fall off the top)

...Oh, and Dad getting locked out of his tent:

Other than that it was just a lot of sitting around and eating for the adults and a lot of running around and eating for the kids.

Ti, Mi, and Kai all in red shirts

So, as I said, a big success!

Birthday Tea Party

Jinna Rai had her very first birthday party with friends this year!  She invited her classmates from CC and they came over for a "make-your-own tea party."  I set them to work in the kitchen, and they prepared all of the food:  cucumber sandwiches, fruit kabobs, cupcakes, candy stuff they called "Sprinkalicious" and colored popcorn.

Then they designed their own hats to wear.

Meanwhile the boys had a couple of the other brothers over and they prepared some entertainment for the tea party -- some pretty crazy dances in costumes!  (I told them they had to work for food)

At last it all came together for a fun little tea party. Jinna Rai had a great time!

Other Minnesota Adventures

It's not often that all 7 of us get to fly somewhere, so since we had all made the journey to Minneapolis/St. Paul, we decided to stick around for a few extra days and enjoy the time there.

At the top of the list of things to do was meet and spend time with new baby Henry!  (We can never remember what his actual relationship is to our kids... well Strider knows, but the rest of us keep forgetting... so we'll just call him cousin Henry.)

We also went to the zoo....

.... to the park....

...and to a shop with a lot of yo-yos and other fun toys at Mall of America!

We're thankful for the opportunity to go on this trip and to the Bains for their gracious hospitality!

Erik and Kat -- Wedding!!

Almost 20 years ago, Erik was one of the ring bearers in our wedding -- and he made a big hit as a smooth, and energetic dancer!  On May 12, he was the groom at his wedding, and Kat was the beautiful bride.

 In his speech at the reception, Erik said he remembers asking me at my wedding why people like to kiss on the lips.... and was there any other alternative that would be acceptable?  I apparently told him that he would never have to kiss someone on the lips, but he might want to someday.  As he announced, he has now found someone who he enjoys kissing on the lips.  :)

Their wedding was full of meaningful touches and symbols, and it was a joy to see a new couple stepping out in faith and starting this journey together.

Our family enjoyed the opportunity to get all dressed up.... and to dance with the fam.

Definitely a most beautiful day!