Cousin's Camp 2014

Last month, our family traveled up to New Jersey to visit family and friends. Dad, Mom, Anna-Rebekah, and Jenna Beth stayed with a cousin on my mom's side, and Timothy and Ethan stayed with Mee-mom and Uncle Jake's house. Matthew, Susannah, Elijah, and I stayed with my Grandfather and Grandma-Diane at their shore house. Each year they take some of the grandkids for a few days to fish, swim, climb the lighthouse, and just have a great time with our grandparents and cousins.
We drove up on Wednesday making pretty good time. We left around 7:30 am and reached New Jersey around 3:30 pm.
It was probably the quietest car ride we have ever had since Timothy, Ethan, Anna-Rebekah, and I had our earbuds in and the little ones listened to Doctor Doolittle.

Jenna Beth

Anna-Rebekah, myself, and Susannah 

(btw, that's Matthew photo-bombing in the background)

We stopped at the Stafford Diner in Manahawkin, NJ for dinner. 

Matthew, Jenna Beth, Elijah, and me

Dad and Ethan

Timothy

Anna-Rebekah and Susannah

Mom and Susannah

When we arrived in Waretown dad dropped off the four campers -- Matthew, Susannah, Elijah, and me.

         On Thursday, we woke up bright and early to get ready for a fishing trip. We packed lunch, ate breakfast, loaded the boat, and slathered everyone with sunscreen. 

Elijah caught the first fish of the day - a fluke! Sadly, it was not big enough to keep.

I caught a second fluke - also to small

I caught a small blue fish that was a keeper, but we did not get pictures.

On Friday, we visited the Judge's Shack on Long Beach Island State Park. 

Breakfast time

Ready to walk out to the shack

On the way to the shack

The Judge's Shack

Cousin Noelle, Susannah, me, Elijah, Matthew, Grandfather, and Cousin Evan

After visiting the shack, we drove over to the bathing beach

Back at the house, Matthew, Susannah, and Elijah went crabbing in the lagoon. Matthew caught four crabs in the trap.

Playing Michigan Rummy, a Cousin's Camp tradition

Friday was seafood night!

Saturday was the day we climbed Barnegat Lighthouse.

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Ol' Barney

We made it to the top!

Our family came back to retrieve us on Saturday evening.

Jenna Beth and Cousin Noelle

Family photo!

(Elijah, Grandfather, Jenna Beth, Dad, Matthew, Mom, Timothy, Susannah, me, Anna-Rebekah, Noelle, Evan, and Ethan

Sisters

Me and Noelle

Evan, Elijah, Timothy, Ethan, and Matthew

On Sunday, we visited a church in Sicklerville and met up with one of my mom's cousin.

Outside of the church with Mee-mom and Jake

Anna-Rebekah took this picture

I took this one

We spent the afternoon with some good friends, then drove home. We left Woolwich, NJ around 7:30ish and arrived home at 2:30 am. 

Thus ended our trip.