If you’re a long-term blog reader you know that my family goes to Pilot Knob State Park in Iowa each August for a family picnic. It’s in honor of my Johnson grandparents. They are the ones I stitched the cross stitch piece, We Live in Hope for.
They came to the US in the early 1900s…
A fun fact about them is that Grandma’s sister came to America and Grandpa’s brother came to America. They ended up getting married so brothers married sisters. Even more fun is that my Grandma’s name was Elsa and her sister was Anna…Like Else and Anna from Disney’s Frozen movie. HA!!
The picnic was started so the family could get together with the cousins. The state park where we meet was considered about 1/2 way between each of the families. My side of the family had settled in New Richland Minnesota area and the other family settled in Pocahontas County Iowa. So we still meet.
Here is a picture of me and my siblings…Left to right, youngest to oldest…me, Jim, Jay, Jule, and my sister Judy.
We didn’t have a huge turnout but MUCH bigger than the year before. My son Karl was disappointed last year…He said he thought it was petering out. He almost didn’t come this year but in the end, he had a great time.
There is a trail to walk to get to the tallest place in Iowa…there is a “tower” there for a lookout. There is a long trail and a shorter halfway part you can start at. It had rained and the trail was slippery so a bunch opted to jump in the truck and drive to the shorter spot. It was only 1/4 a mile at the most with everyone in the truck. YES, they drove slowly.
I stayed behind so I’m stealing pictures from family to write this post. (thanks family!!)
Here is the tower. My son, Karl is in the middle in the blue shirt.
My daughter Kelli and her two boys Eli and Emmett went with Karl and me. We just took one vehicle. Kelli’s daughter Georgia was with friends and didn’t come. They were taking her to a rodeo and that is totally a Georgie thing.
As I said it was sprinkling…the grass was wet so what did Eli and Emmett do…played in the sand- AKA the ashes that were left from a long ago fire.
Thankfully Kelli had extra clothes along.
Here we all are…
On the way home we looked more like this…I was the driver and everyone else was sleeping. HA!
I had a great time…I always do. I think all of the Kramers who went had a good time. I know on the way home Karl said, I really do need to see these people more often. He is such a good sport.
As for me…I’m already looking forward to next year’s picnic.
So important to keep close to family and a picnic reunion is such a good way. Each year my family has a “cousin’s reunion.” My hubby doesn’t understand why we need to do that each and every year. We cousins grew up pretty close to each other and like doing this. Hubby was only child and he hardly knows his cousins. So glad you all do this. I love the way so relaxed about the twins playing in the “sand” – that’s the way it should be!
how cool. are there any special dishes that always MUST show up at your cousin reunions???
also. unable to see what occurred with your trees. gobbledy gook again.
Fun location to visit, close to me!
Fun location to visit, close to me!
What a wonderful family event and it looked like everyone had a full day. (They are all asleep coming home).
It’s so good when families get together. My in-laws used to have a garden party here on the farm, every August, and all the aunts, uncles and cousins used to come. My father-in-law had 10 brothers and sisters, so you can imagine the size of the crowd!