Camp Hammer

The final stop on our trip was Traverse City, MI - waaaaaay up north.  We spent a weekend with Brandon's college roommates, plus all their wives and children.  Fifteen adults and five kids under one.  Thanks so much to our hosts - Brian, Jill and Lincoln Hammer - for pulling off such a fabulous weekend!!

The Crew:

And the kiddos:

Lincoln (11 months), Kate (8 months), Haven (6 months), Jonah (4 months), and Josiah (3 months)

Jill was the perfect person to host the weekend.  She planned all the meals, sleeping arrangements, and activities.  We were well taken care of all weekend.  For our entertainment, Brian came up with the 'Hammer Man Challenge' - a competition to see which guy was the most man.  Seems everyone was bitten by the Olympics bug.  Events included: bocce ball, sand volleyball, bags (corn hole), and a golf chipping competition.  Brandon made a solid effort and came in second.  The winner of the 'Hammer Man Challenge 2012' was Neal.

Neal giving his acceptance speech - and his prize:

We spent the weekend catching up with old friends and playing with babies.  On Saturday, the guys (and those ladies without napping babies) went to the beach for the sand volleyball game and a quick swim.  The plan was for the rest of us to pack up the kiddos once they all woke up and meet them at the beach.  Well, coordinating schedules of four babies and trying to get out the door turned out to be a bigger ordeal than we realized.  We finally got the van loaded, all four kids strapped down in their car seats, and started to back down the driveway...when the caravan of other beach-goers started pulling into the driveway.  Apparently we weren't fast enough.  'After all that work, we're still going to the beach!' we insisted.  So the boys obliged (not like it took a lot of convincing) and headed out to the beach as well.

It was such a great and refreshing weekend.  If you've never been to northern Michigan - it is beautiful!  I've only been in the summer, so perhaps my view is somewhat skewed.  Here are a few more pictures of our time in Traverse City:

This series of pictures makes me smile.  These boys love to have a goal.  The discovered a sunken log and decided to pick it up.  It took a lot of team work - that sucker was heavy!

And then, they threw it in the grass

This picture sums up a large part of the weekend: babies, eating, good conversation

Jonah made lots of new friends

Future Dutchmen

Neal's wife, Sara, is pregnant with twins!

Beach babies (look at how clear the water is!)

A little friendly competition

Family photo op

Waiting for his friends for the baby photo.  

It was difficult to time a photo when no babies were sleeping, eating or crying.

I am so thankful that Brandon has been able to maintain these relationships over the years - even though they are not able to get together as often as they would like.  Hopefully there are more weekends like this in our future...although I can only imagine things will just get crazier as everyone's families continue to expand.

Cal, Mark, Kyle, Brian, Matt, Brandon, Neal, Steve