We always stay with our friends who are in charge of the Catholic church's retreat center that is located on several acres of land that includes a small lake and lots of grass for kids to run and play through. In the summer, there is a pool and tennis courts but in the fall there is nothing to do except just relax and enjoy your family.
When I was growing up, there were three families that lived on the property and now there are two (with most of the kids having moved away). The two families that live there are some of the greatest people in the world, kind, caring and fun to be with. Between them they have raised 8 kids who are just like them. When we pulled in late Wednesday afternoon, Toni was already
waiting with soup and food for us. We sat down at the big family table and just talked for hours (gasp! I know but what else do you do when you have no cell phone service and no computers and little to no TV . . .now yes they do have internet and no cable but do have netflix but somehow when you enter the Twilight Zone known as Huttonsville, you just don't seem to care about that junk. You want to spend time talking and enjoying each other's company).
It is especially neat now because the kids that I grew up with are now having their own kids. One of my nearest and dearest friends (somehow the word best friend doesn't apply because while yes I would list Nanny as one of my best friends in the world, it doesn't seem to go far enough. We don't talk on the phone every day but it doesn't seem to matter. Once we meet up again, which is usually once or twice a year, everything falls away and we are just back to where we left off. ) has a son named Walter who is about 10-11 months younger than Chloe. He is however a giant and so is definitely taller than my own giant. LOL (He is def. on the husband material list along with Aidan). Shortly after our arrival Nanny and Walter arrived and the toddler hijinks ensued. Watching them play together sent my mind racing to years before as my brother and I would play with Nanny and her three brothers in those same exact hallways.
Then it was time for bed and there is nothing like falling asleep to the silence that is the country. Gorgeous stars light up the skies that are completely clear and beautiful without smog to cover them up and there are no horns honking, crazy people driving down our street way too fast, etc. Then we wake up into amazingly fresh crisp morning air and it is off to the Forest Festival with Nanny and Walter. We walked around downtown Elkins with mom, Nanny, Walter and the girls enjoying all Forest Festival had to offer - crafts, carnival rides, petting zoos, face painting, etc - while scoping out the area for the next day when we would return for the coronation of Queen Silvia. Chloe oohed and ahhed at the princesses and Queen during the coronation and if I was rich we would totally have Chloe be a princess or part of the Minor Court (apparently we "know" people who could get Chloe appointed to the court - you have to be appointed by senators, governors, heads of state - or whatever you call them at the state level -, etc.) but I don't have 8-16 grand to drop on dresses for that honor LOL.
After that it was finally time to head home to my grandmother's house. I am not the writer that most people who blog are so I don't believe that I have even come close to doing Huttonsville the justice that it deserves. Many of you might think that it sounds boring or dull . . .I, however, and most of my family think that it is truly heaven on earth. There is nothing more peaceful, calming or re-charging about just a few days in that place. I truly believe that everyone needs a place like that and I so thankful for the friends we have there who continue to make it so wonderful.
There are WAY too many pictures to even attempt to share. I will post a few but if you want to check out the rest here.
The rest of our week away was spent at two weddings (congrats Erica and Brittany - you both looked beautiful!) and at my grandmother's. We didn't do much while at my grandmother's - again just relaxed and enjoyed the company. I was able to assemble 4 of the 6 grandchildren and a few of the great-grandchildren and we had a wonderful day out at a Harvest Festival in Hurricane and then dinner out. Again, it was nice to see my daughter running around playing with my cousins' sons. I hope my cousins and grandmother enjoyed it as much as I did. I love you guys and thank you for coming in!
Some of the Thompson crew assembled in front of my grandmother's house. - Those Thompson genes run strong!! Chloe and Belle look like me, Layton def. has his mom's coloring and looks like a mini version of my brother and his uncle as kids and little mister Landen, while thankfully got most of the good looks from his mom, (sorry Scott but Missy is def. better looking than you!LOL) he most surely got the Thompson ears and I think his dad's faces. I grew up watching Megan and Scott playing in those same yards and it was quite surreal to see their little mini-me's doing the same. Thanks for the fun times - I know Chloe had a blast and I am sure Belle would have too if she had been old enough!!
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