EFCE Cabin Weekend

This weekend we did something we have never done before.  We hosted a group of friends at my family’s cabin.  We had a blast, and it went pretty smoothly.  It’s absolutely something we would do again with this group, or another group of friends.

We started the weekend on Thursday, making the drive up a little ahead of everyone else so we could get the cabin all ready to go.  The kids did great on the drive, with one planned stop at a rest stop for getting out wiggles and eating some lunch.  Thursday and the first part of Friday were spent cutting the lawn, pulling weeds, setting up the pool, making all the beds, making caramel corn, sweeping and dusting. 

When our work was complete we headed to Battle Lake for a DQ lunch topped off with shakes. 

Friday afternoon our first guests started to arrive and continued to come into the evening hours.  The group we hosted was our ECFE friends.  The mamas all met in our first ECFE baby class about four years ago.  We did a cabin weekend last year and with its success we decided to do it again.  Total there are 5 families, so that means 10 adults, 5 kids around Olivia’s age, and a second round of 5 kidlets ranging from 22 months to 5 months.

The older kids played well together.  They played everything from boat rides, baseball, swimming, fishing, and sandbox play outside, to tractors, coloring and pretend inside.  One of the favorite activities for them was playing pretend doctor.  I think when they were getting tired from so much play this was a perfect way for them to take turns laying down being the patient.

 

The younger ones enjoyed much of the same, although they are still too little to actually play “with” each other. 

Catching them play doctor, although I was told her leg couldn't get better till I left.

The guys went for a few boat rides to do some fishing, and the moms took off at nap time to do some looking at shops in town.  We enjoyed some late night bon fires with s’mores and entertaining conversation.  Each family took a meal to prepare for everyone, so we also enjoyed some tasty meals. 

One highlight was when the daddies came back fishing with a few painter turtles they caught.  We put them in the pool so the kids could watch them swim around.  I really enjoyed observing them, and watching the kids get excited about holding or touching them.

 

 

Roasting left over hot dogs and pork burgers over the fire for a late night snack.  (For a few dads, not the kids!)

Lots of kids at the table!  And that's only half of them!

Everyone left sometime Sunday between breakfast and after lunch.  Again, Pat and I kept busy after everyone left with cleaning up a bit.  Still we enjoyed a bit more relaxation between then and when we headed out on Tuesday.  We went for a family paddle boat ride, each of us went on some canoe rides, and we checked out the Battle Lake beach and Granny’s Pantry (candy and ice cream shop). 

Pat's requested picture.  Him in the pool, on a lawn chair, holding a beer, and Henry. Classy.

Overall I would say the experience was quite successful. I hope everyone felt comfortable and had a fun, relaxing time.  Playing the role of hostess is always fun for me.  I like to think of what I can do for people to help them feel at home.  Knowing it went so well, especially with so many kids, it makes me excited to do it again someday with that group or another group of friends.