bon weekend

A lovely, autumn-coffee-dancing-and-singing entwined weekend recently marked the 3rd homeschool alumni get together my family and I host yearly. I got to sleep in a log cabin, something my soul always thrills in--discover my sudden addiction to coffee (in any shape or form)--wear the golden yellow Civil War ballgown that we toiled on for a wretched two weeks beforehand--enjoy an adorable talent show--sit on a huge lifeguard chair on a rustic lake-beach--and basically just have a wonderful time amid the  peace, the friendship, and the Christian camaraderie that is the Ohio Summer Rendezvous.

Now, a huge photo dump to illustrate the weekend. For some reason I failed to use my camera a single minute during the entire experience, so thankfully I have a few friends with crazy-amazing photo skills who captured everything--and beautifully, too. Photo credit goes to Brandon P. and Hannah Michelle L.

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There were games and singing Friday night, which resulted in a whirl of tired, slap happy people collapsing and laughing and stealing chairs and knocking into each other. . . 

. . .a good test for our socialization abilities. =)

   

Oh yes, that little guy wearing the red overalls is Donald, my little sister Lidia's stuffed animal mouse who has someone become the OSR mascot. He's a pretty epic mouse, and also pretty famous. =)

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Saturday was the photo scavenger hunt. You and your team have to set out and do whatever the list given tells you, be as creative and original as you can, and photograph each scenario. The team with the highest points wins. 

Talent show prep. . .

My lovely sister Julia. 

And my sister Lidia. . .

There was no red curtain, but there were skits and songs and comedy and usual talent show amazingness. 

My friend Kate sang Taylor the Latte Boy, and my sister Michaela played My Heart Will Go On. 

      

Talent show coordinators Carrie and Hannah. Great job, ladies!

Caleb's Shakespeare skit was awesome. =)

So was my three younger sisters singing Matchmaker from Fiddler on the Roof. 

  

Rachael and Christina and their talented voices and fiddle. . . 

And a hilarious rendition of The Uglyfull Princess with Michaela as the maid, Travis as the Princes, Kate as the uglyful princess, Caleb as the mailman, Marissa as the fairy god mother, and Moriah as the narrator. . . 

  

"Oh, my darling. . ."

     

My gorgeous sister Lidia. . . 

And a gorgeous, colorful English Country Dance ball--in keeping with tradition of renaissance homeschoolers.  ; ) 

A sneak peek of my ballgown. . . 

Here's me, very red for some unknown reason, and feeling (though perhaps not looking it) like a queen.  I love hoop skirts majorly much. ♥ Quite amussingly many people thought I was portraying Belle from Beauty and the Beast ("well, nooo, but I'm a Southern Belle...) ;) Photo by my mom.

All my beautiful younger sisters looking fabulous and grown up in their 18th century costumes my mom made. 

    

  

 

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Lidia with Donald and his autograph page. Funny guy. . .

Sunday--time to say good-bye. There were girl hugs. . .

. . .and guy hugs.

Co-planners Hannah and Carrie!

   

I love Pleasant Hill camp. So many happy times, so many beautiful people and things and places and memories. . .

   

Hi, dad. =)

Michaela (right) and I with our "big" brother Ben, sad to be leaving, getting last minute pics, and eager for next year's OSR.

-anna