These are a few of our favorite things

Every year (for the past 18 years) the Wilson family heads to the High Hampton Inn for Memorial Day weekend. And every year we do the same thing, stay in the same rooms in Oak cottage, and even eat the same foods. Sometimes we even take the same pictures. 

200920102011 Sometimes in the same outfits.

Anne Louise (2009)Spencer (2011)We have it all down to a science really. so, instead of the normal recap of what we did (like I did here), I thought I'd let everyone else do the talking. At least in terms of what their favorite part was this year.

Cue Julie Andrews, here are a few of our favorite things .....

THE MARCUS WILSONS

Marcus:  After such a good trip, I've got way more than one or two favorite memories - golf with Marcus, Andrew, Patrick, Kris and KB (including watching KB's cart careen down the mountain with his Daddy still in it); table time and the encouraging and edifying devotions by Patrick, Kris and Ross;  walking/running to the T and sitting next to the waterfall with Martha, Sara Frances, Hill, Denise and Ross; jumping in the freezing lake with Marcus, Andrew, Hill and KB; winning corn hole with my favorite partner (Martha!); driving golf balls at no. 8 green; kayaking with Sara Frances, et al. (including coordinating the rescue operation for KB and Kris with Andrew, Patrick and Marcus); watching Marcus, Andrew, Tricia, Caroline, Denise, Joan and Kris "clog"; having 6 days with Little Man; sitting in front of the lodge fireplace at 6:30 am with Andrew, Ross and Hill; eating Denise's pound cake; attending Whiteside Presbyterian, listening to Patrick strumming and singing and on and on - I wish we were back there now getting ready for dinner.

Martha:   My favorite part of the trip was Sunday...beginning with church, lunch and Sunny Silver pie, followed by a hike to the "T," watching the guys dive into the freezing lake, Tea time, the devotional by Ross, the picnic, watching all of the Wilsons clog, meeting someone from Mississippi and winding down to Patrick playing the guitar in the cool mountain air ....the perfect HH Day!

Marcus, Jr.

Andrew:  A few memories: (1) the cold dip in the lake and almost tipping over that platform, (2) hitting the 8th green from the lawn.

Baby Andrew:  I’m guessing he would say, “playing with the family.”Or maybe just “Playing with Five Hour Energy.” 

Sara Frances:  Still waiting to hear from her once she gets a chance to take a break from doing an AWESOME job at her internship! 

THE ROSS WILSONS

Ross: Sam Forrester (at Whiteside Presbyterian Church)

Denise: The canoe trip.  The next generation of Wilsons @ the table @ HH.  Clogging – if the one woman is still going strong @ 78, just think how many more years we have to look forward to.  The many memories of Grandmother and Uncle Sam HH brings back.

Hill: Still waiting to hear from him, but I’m sure he had a great time meeting a new friend, KB. 

Anne:  Denise said that Anne started clapping her hands as soon as we turned down the driveway @ HH on Friday night (in the dark).  Just another indication of how much HH means to her and how much she really understands, but can’t tell us! 

THE SAM WILSONS (and MAGEES and special guests, the BAUERS)

Patrick: Spending time with my family. Dancing on stage with Anne Louise.

Tricia:  My favorite part was being outside with the family in amazing weather and taking lots of pictures of everyone having so much fun.

Anne Louise:  Dancing on stage.And eating things I’m not normally allowed to eat.

Spencer: Doing anything anywhere as long as my big sister is paying attention to me.

Caroline: I think one of my favorite parts was when Annie Lou started singing that Friday song. But I also liked hanging out with the fam listening to Patrick
and Lauren sing. Lauren singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow is the best I've ever heard it sung. I also really enjoyed spending time and hanging out with KB & Kelsey.

Joan: Canoeing with Kelsey and avoiding all trees/spiders. Might be the first time I’ve done the canoe trip and not had to yell at someone in my canoe. BBQ/Clogging/Patrick singing – eating, acting like a fool and relaxing.  Also loved the family/kid time at the dinner table. It was nice to smile every morning when Anne Louise would say “mama, don’t let her take my food away” and “Jenna may I peas have chocky miiilk” and then cringe as she got yogurt all over the place. KB ordering cocoa puffs at every meal also made me laugh. HAPPY VACATION!! J I was proud of the variety of things that Kelsey tried which were out of her comfort zone (no, the desserts were not out of anyone’s comfort zone!) as well as what an awesome help she was with AL. I imagine that if AL could type emails, she would mention sitting next to Kelsey at meals and “sharing” desserts. Spencer resting her bottle on the table but still drinking it, was priceless. I so appreciated the conversations with Ross and Denise about how to try and improve things at work. The Titus 2 and 1 Thessalonians readings were practical reminders of how we are to live – I have a new favorite with Titus.

Kris: Playing two holes of golf (before KB an unauthorized driver accidentally drove let the golf cart roll down the hill).  Clogging.

Kelsey:  My favorite memory was just hanging out with the family, but if I had to pick it would be watching Marcus clog.

KB: The canoe trip.

As Martha noted in the early hours of Monday morning before everyone hit the road heading in different directions, we are ALL looking forward to next year.