White Oak

"The Group"
(minus Scott & Alden who couldn't make it and Michelle who is in Africa for 2 years)

We had our annual reunion with our best friends from college last weekend! We started this tradition 6 years ago when we all graduated. We originally got together over New Years but as our families have grown it became harder and harder because it was so close to Christmas. 3 years ago we changed it to the summer and this year we added an extra night. For the past 6 years we have rotated between eachothers houses but we've decided White Oak will be home for our reunions from this point on. As long as David's parents are ok with it!

This is where we stayed! Looks like a resort huh? Nope, it's David's parents guest house! Yeah, that's right, guest house! It was David and Amy's turn to host this year. They are actually living here right now while their house is being built. They live in the apartment upstairs. We stayed downstairs with the Dane's. It was wonderful. They had their own bedroom and we had ours. Cooper slept in the workout room so that he would sleep. It was so nice to spread out and have our own rooms. Usually we are piled in our 'small' houses and it was getting harder and harder each year as we added kids. We had such a great time and loved getting to spend two nights with our dear friends!

This is the back of David's parents house

We arrived in White Oak on Thursday afternoon. David grilled hamburgers and hot dogs while we all visited. Right after dinner we headed straight out to the pool. We LOVED the pool. It has a beach walk in which was perfect for both of my kids. It has a very cool slide and a hot tub that got just as much use as the pool. The girls loved to go swimming in it.

THURSDAY NIGHT:




everyone visiting...


while Cooper sits alone eating a noodle...





The kids had a great time playing in the workout room too!

FRIDAY:
Friday we woke up and had breakfast. After breakfast we headed back out to the pool for several hours. We came in and had lunch and kids napped off and on throughout the day. It was so nice to just relax. Everyone kind of did what they wanted.



Cooper had fun going down the slide but Madison did not. She went down once with Trent and never wanted to go down again!

The Girls: Kate is 1 1/2, Madison is 3 and Kendall is 2 1/2


I LOVE how they are holding hands!



sweet, sweet friends!! Kendall is such a little swimmer. She had no fear in the water. She was going under water from the time we got there. Madison on the other hand took a long time to warm up. After watching Kendall for awhile she finally started putting her face in the water. By the end she was going under but only in the hot tub or on the beach part. She wanted to be able to reach at all times. I was proud of her though. She still didn't enjoy going out into the pool or going down the slide. I think our pool has ruined her.

Friday evening we got cleaned up and went out to eat for dinner!

Kendall wasn't in the picture taking mode. We never did get a picture of all 4 kids! :/

Group pictures, Family pictures and Bandit pictures before dinner:

David, Kate & Amy (with baby Mitchell #2), Our family, Ashley, Kendall (also with baby Dane #2) & Randy!

After dinner we drove around and looked at several of the houses David is building. We got to see where their new house will soon be. When we got home the kids played on the swing set and the girls jumped on the trampoline. Cooper and Kate went to bed shortly after that and Madison and Kendall swam until late that night.


We had such a great trip. We ate lots of good food, had lots of good talks, laughed a lot and stayed up way too late! We can't wait to do it all over next year. Then we'll have 6 little ones running around!!