Parkmanville Pile-In

Cousins + Summer = GREAT!

Thanks for the great photo of the kids at the creek, Laura!

Last weekend, my sister Jill visited from Starkville, Mississippi.  She and I haven't seen each other since the half marathon in April.  Benjamin hasn't seen her kids since before Thanksgiving!  They haven't been to Ann's in several months.  Needless to say, everyone was excited that they were coming to Parkmanville for a long weekend.  Combined with the fact that it was the first weekend since the last day of school, my kids figured life doesn't get any better! 

The boys spent Friday evening wading and swimming in the gravel pit.  A number of years ago, when the land where Ann lives belonged to my grandfather Richard Lewis Parkman, the county "borrowed" gravel from the site.  A pond now exists in the shallow pit; we've called the pond the "gravel pit" since I was a little girl.  We walked a pretty good piece from Ann's house, down the dirt road, around the horse pasture, past the 10-year old planted pines, and through the food plot to get there.  Jill and I talked the entire time.  It doesn't seem that long ago since she and I were the same age as our kids, wanting to do the same type of things.  (Well, at least I did - I was such a tomboy.  I am not sure Jill really wanted to do these things when we were little.  Turns out, Jill was blessed with boys so she gets to do these things now, whether she wants to or not!)

Wading into the gravel pit, captured in photo by Jill

On Saturday, we spent the day at Callaway Gardens.  The Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, and Mr. Cason's Vegetable Garden may never be the same!  We packed a picnic lunch as well as a lot of activities into our time at Callaway.  More fun was had at Ann's upon returning to Parkmanville.

"We promise to behave in church - just let us sit together!" begged Ann's grandsons.

All Ann's daughters and grandkids joined her for church at Crawford Baptist Church on Sunday.  (Brother Steve Williamson preached a really good sermon!)  We went back to her house for lunch and spent the afternoon on the Uchee Creek, which weaves its way through the lower part of her place.  Later, we sat in the swing in the shade of the wrap-around porch - it's one of my favorite ways to spend time at her house.   

Ann, her girls, and the grandkids on her porch

Super job getting so many smiles, Joseph!