Family Weekend With Pictures

My dad's side of the family had a reunion over Memorial Day weekend.  My Nana has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and is currently undergoing treatments, so it was especially important for us all to be able to spend some time together.  Zuzu got to meet a lot of family we don't see often--including Nana's sisters, my great-aunt Jo who lives in Georgia and my great-aunt Sue who lives in Arizona.  Zuzu took a little while to warm up to so many new faces, but I think she still won everyone over.

checking out the playground with Daddy

swinging with Mommy

We were able to rent out an entire camp for the weekend, which was really nice.  There were probably close to forty of us and we had access to a pontoon boat and a paddle boat and a swimming pool and there was a carousel and playground and a little chapel where we had a Sunday service.

the carousel was fun although the horses had really pointy backs

swinging with cousin Paige

She looks uncertain here, but she loved the slide!

The main lodge had a big kitchen and dining room, as well as a sitting room and several bedrooms.  We ate our meals there, and lots of the family stayed there.  My parents and brother and David and Zuzu and I were in another lodge (we thought that would help Zuzu sleep better to be away from the action--haha, not so much.  She did a lot of stroller napping.).  We weren't exactly roughing it (especially considering my dad's sisters did the meal preparation for everyone), but we had to pack our own sheets and towels, so that makes it camping as far as I'm concerned.

campfire = camping

My Crafty Cousin Amanda had planned to come visit me a couple of weekends ago, but then her work got really crazy and she couldn't make it.  No worries--I just insisted that she pack her sewing machine and get ready to get crafty during Family Weekend!

Zuzu and Crafty "Auntie" Amanda

So that's how we spent the weekend--crafting and sewing, walking to the lake (and getting ticks!), playing board games, swinging and sliding on the playground, eating, roasting s'mores, and taking it easy.  After a stressful end of the semester, it was really nice to get away for the weekend and slow down.

David and the "perfect" s'more

Swimming with Grammy!  Zuzu loved the pool even though the water was FREEZING (too cold for me!)

The funny thing about family is that no matter how many issues (political, religious, social) on which our opinions may differ, it's comforting to be surrounded by people who love you just because you're a branch on their family tree.  Being in St. Louis puts us four and half hours away from the majority of my family, and I do wish Zuzu got to see them more often.

It was bittersweet for me to spend time with my cousin's little girl, Lexi, who is just a couple months younger than Eliza would have been.  And look how big she is:

Zuzu and Lexi

It takes my breath away to think that I should have a little girl like her running around.  There was one point when Lexi and her big sister were arguing.  I playfully scooped up Lexi and said, "Oh, is everybody picking on you?"  She nodded and I cuddled her on my lap.  I was laughing and being silly, but suddenly I was holding her and she leaned her head back against me while her little legs dangled down off my lap and I felt a huge lump in my throat.  All I could think was, This is what it would feel like to hold Eliza now.  This is how big she would be.

Like a sneak-peek at a different life

Lexi didn't stay on my lap long (too busy!), and the moment passed, but that wasn't the only time that weekend that my heart ached for the little girl who wasn't there.  A family reunion can't help but highlight for me the baby who isn't with us, the baby who would have been so loved by her family.

As I said on IG, the pointy end of the marshmallow stick is not as close to Zuzu's eye as it appears in this photo.  And the fire is not burning her butt.

Of course, every moment missing Eliza is matched by a moment of being so grateful for and delighted by Zuzu.  I just said to David today, "How did we get so lucky?" and those are words I still can't believe come out of my mouth.

Zuzu was a crazy woman at the campfire, entertaining Uncle Bubs, herself, and everyone else.

Applauding for herself

Clapping for oneself is hilarious!

We ate a lot of sweets over the weekend (my aunts made fresh-baked cookies every single day, seriously) and we made some sweet memories.  I declare Family Weekend a success.