McCharen Reunion 2013

We had the McCharen family reunion at T Bar M Ranch and Resort again this year.  It was an easy drive coming from Sea World which is about an hour away.  Perfect when you have small kids!  T Bar M was a perfect location yet again.  The resort offers putt putt, swimming, a rec center, play areas, dinners, smores, outdoor movies, and so much more.  It is also close to the city of Gruene so the Guadalupe and country atmosphere is close by.  When we first arrived, the kids just played in the meeting room until cousins started to arrive and then everyone was awake with the chasing and screaming!  Gamee had bought some plungers for a family game, so those were a big hit for the kids.  Go figure.  The family enjoyed doing puzzles and catching up all afternoon before heading out to various locations for dinner.  Our clan went to Mamacitas while others explored New Braunsfels or Gruene Restaurants.  After dinner, we enjoyed smores, popcorn and another outdoor movie before heading off to bed (see a theme?).  It is nice just to relax and have no certain plans.  This is what summer is all about...no plans and relaxing with family!

Saturday morning, the real fun began.  Gamee was in charge of the reunion again this year and had games all set to go.  The artists of the family attempted play-dough faces of other family members, while others looked at old photos, played cards/dominoes, or bid on auction items.  No matter what you were doing, everyone was on deck for the fierce BINGO game that soon followed.  Winners were able to pick prizes or win free dinner passes for the family dinner that night.  Some were quite competitive, but everyone had a great time.  After that the four of us headed off to the Gristmill Restaurant in Gruene for lunch.  While we waited to be seated, we had fun listening to a singer on stage and dancing around.  When we were seated it was a nice shady spot with a view of the hill country.  PERFECT for a relaxing lunch.  After lunch we headed off to the General Store to get Lollipops before heading back to the relay races.  We knew Gamee had something up her sleeve, and we didn't want to miss it!  First we split up into 4 teams.  The games included a toilet paper roll out relay, an Oreo contest where you had to get a cookie from your forehead to your mouth and eat it, a suction game where team members had to use a straw to suction an M&M while they walked across the room to place it in a cup, solo cup stacking contests, and much more.  We laughed so hard, and eventually the winning team came out to be Team 4 (Charles' Team).  So, I guess he has bragging rights for another year!  After the relays we played an "optional" game where the wives had plungers between their legs and the husbands held toilet paper between their legs.  The wives would then run across the room and try to put the toilet paper from between their husbands knees onto their plunger.  Let's just say I only got a few pics from laughing so hard, but everyone was eventually successful.  I really cannot say much more than that!  Great Job Gamee on a well planned reunion and relays!  That night was filled with a family BBQ dinner, Auction winners announced, and a family church service.  What a day we had.

Sunday morning meant breakfast in the dining hall with everyone before we started to all part ways.  It is bittersweet, but I know we will see everyone next year.  We are so blessed to have family like we do.  Many families complain about the planning, pricing, and/or never commit to seeing each other every year.  Not the McCharen Clan!  The original founders, William and Elizabeth McCharen, would be so blessed to know we have this annually.  In fact, we even had 4 new family members step up to plan it for next year together!  No matter what, we always know we will see everyone at the family reunion.  Thanks to God for all the memories of this past reunion and the family members involved.  We pray for those who couldn't make it this year and for the health of everyone.  See yall next year!

A genealogy note: William and Elizabeth McCharen had 10 children.  One of those 10 children was Elam Beatty McCharen, who Charles and Cade are named after.  Elam married Vergys (who we call Mamee).  Although Elam Beatty went to be with the Lord years ago, Mamee is 99 years old and still enjoying life in Virginia.  Mamee is Cade/Caelin's Great-Great-Grandma.  What a legacy of life and family!

Sea World Vacation

This is our second year to visit Sea World in San Antonio, and we had a blast yet again.  I love being with my favorite 3 people and having "no plans" but to have fun.  We designated the first day to the "Sesame Street Bay at Play".  The rain was pouring as we ran with the stroller to the Park entrance that morning.  We laughed about it saying, "I guess we are gonna get wet anyway!".  I was a little skeptical, but as it turned out, the weather was PERFECT!  It was overcast so no one got burned and due to the nasty looking clouds, the park was relatively empty.  We played, got wet, met new friends, ate lunch, and even made it to a few shows!  The kids liked the Sesame Street show the best when they all came out to dance.  Caelin made me laugh cause she was so excited, but would NOT sacrifice putting down her lunchable.  So, she watched the whole show while standing and eating.  My favorite part with Cade was how he was convinced he needed to ride a rollarcoaster.  So, thinking it would be sufficient, I rode the Shamu Kiddy Coaster with him.  Let's just say our man needed a little bit more adrenaline.  So, he chose the Atlantis log ride which not only has a backward drop, but a HUGE forward drop.  I was so nervous that I let Charles do it with him.  I just KNEW he would be crying with fear afterward.  Instead, he came running around the corner and made me do it again with him!  Ha!  I think we have a little daredevil folks!  On our way out, the kids had to get something from the gift shop, so Caelin of course picked a pink dolphin hat, and Cade picked an Ocean action figure set.  Before we were even out of the Park, Caelin was snoring in her seat!  She did not wake up until after we had gotten back to the hotel, unpacked and she had her 2 hour nap in.  Our little Princess needs her sleep like her Mommy.  :)  After naps and showers, we headed out to eat BBQ at Bill Millers and then back to the hotel for smores and an outdoor movie.  The weather was awesome and we had a blast hanging out by the fire and watching "Valiant".  Both Cade and Caelin watched the entire movie.  Finally everyone was in bed by 10:30 (late night for all of us)...but luckily we slept in till 9am!

Our second day at Sea World was dedicated to just seeing the shows and animals.  Since you can no longer feed the dolphins, we watched them interact with the trainers before heading over to feed the Sea Lions.  This was a big hit.  Cade gladly picked up the slimy fish and would toss it into the water.  Caelin took a little coaching and then with the TIPS of her fingers would reluctantly pick up the fish and drop it to the Sea Lions.  I think she was worried at first that the fish were alive, but once she knew they were dead, she was good to go.  We also visited the Penguins, Sharks, Coral Reef/Fish, and of course SHAMU!  Caelin was amazed at Shamu.  We sat about half way up and her eyes were pretty big the entire time.  When the whales would jump or pose, Caelin cheered them on with her clapping.  Cade was more quiet and just watched.  He would ask a few questions, but he seemed pretty intent with listening to all the facts and watching the show.  Even though Shamu was amazing, I think the kids both enjoyed the "Pets Ahoy" show best (show with all different kinds of animals doing tricks) and/or the "Elmo Rocks" concert.  During the concert, they both watched the stage lights, characters and danced up front.  It was funny to watch them, and Cade kept trying to hold Caelin's hand as if to protect her.  Such a great big brother.  Of course, no visit would be complete without cotton candy and a family ride.  So, we chose some spinning fish ride.  Cade loved it.  Cade screamed with laughter and had his hands up the whole time.  Caelin however, did not enjoy it one bit.  As we spun around, she had the most worried look on her face.  I know she was probably thinking, "What in the world are yall making me do!"  We laughed pretty hard when she wasn't looking!  As soon as we got into the car, both kids fell asleep which was the perfect opportunity for Mommy and Daddy to find a Starbucks and drive around a bit.  The house I grew up in as a child was quite a drive away, so we did not visit that, but enjoyed the hill country.  For dinner we stopped at a new Mexican Restaurant before turning back to the hotel for another smores/outdoor movie adventure.  The smores were loved by all, but the Outdoor movie was called "Flushed Away" and didn't really hold our attention.  So, we headed off to bed a little earlier than the night before.

It was such an awesome vacation and I loved spending time with my babies.  Seeing their facial expressions and excitement makes my heart smile bigger than I ever thought possible.  You just can't put a price on that!