Pokyournose!

August is the month of the yearly gathering of the Garrity clan up in Split Rock. This was our 10th year in the Poconos and our eighth at the Split Rock condos. It really feels like "home away from home" since we know where everything is and where to eat (or not eat!) but we always try to do something new each year. This year that meant horseback riding for the girls. Both Rob and T.A. has to leave for a while to do work or pick up the groceries I left behind or whatever so we did make some other changes this year, too.

The one thing we didn't change was the FUN. We always laugh a lot in the Poconos and while there is a lake and a lagoon and karaoke and movies and bowling and an arcade and several pools... we really spend most of the week sitting outside the condos just talking to each other (and laughing). So here are the photos:

Fun at the Lagoon:

 They have turtle races (which go a lot faster than you'd think) and for the first year ever, I think all the kids won something (or were given a parents' winnings) So everyone was happy and got to spend money in the gift shop:

 A rare sighting of Uncle T.A. smiling:

 Lizzie learning to drive.  (Yes she's only 12. Yes she's probably better than me.)

Our annual photo at the Dam. I wouldn't be surprised if Hannah is taller than Rob in next year's photo:

 Dinner at the Boulder View over looking Big Boulder lake. Hannah had the shrimp and  both girls had a Shirley Temple which for them means a cup of maraschino cherries with just a splash of ginger ale.

 And so here we are at the farm for the riding. This is a huge shoutout to Aunt Tina who bravely sat where none of us wanted to sit -- atop the horse. Here she looks pretty happy.

The farm also had goats and chickens and other things with wings. And bunnies, too. Here's Lizzie feeding a goat. (Which she can do at our neighbors, but it's more fun on vacation!)

 And here they are ready to ride, left to right, Aunt Tina, Hannah, Lizzie and Brenna:

 Lizzie desperately wants to take riding lessons, so she was thrilled with this part of the vacation:

Here's Hannah with her horse:

 Lizzie on the trail, thanks to my long lens. I was sitting under a tree watching the chickens at this point:

We always go to the Sunset Grill for a big family dinner. And while our family was a little smaller this year, all the important people were here (ha, ha!) So here are the younger cousins:

And here is my beautiful family (thanks to Ann for snapping the photo!)

We also spent time at the Waterpark. The other cousins didn't join us this year, so Hannah and Lizzie had to run around with each other or else make new friends. Here's Hannah's new friend:

Lizzie through the water mushroom:

 The girls on one of the water slides. I am so happy they no longer need me to go down the slide with them. Or really do anything except for sign into the free wifi and go in the wave pool every once in a while.

 Oh, and here's my favorite photo. It's Grandpa and the younger cousins and Grandpa's actually smiling (because we were all going home the next day???)

 Lizzie trying to be incognito as she sucks down her 4,000th Shirley Temple of the week:

This is why they call it Sunset Grill ... lovely scene for photos!

Rob and Tommy often coordinate their wardrobes for family gatherings:

 We finished off the week with Hannah singing "Jar of Hearts" at the karaoke night. She was awesome and so was the ice cream we bought to celebrate her success!