Take a house on the shores of the Chesapeake,

1 (highly) energetic Grandma,

7 (especially) crazy Little People,

2 summer (and cocktail) lovin’ Mamas,

and what do you get?!?

COUSIN CAMP!

Version 2018!

But I’m jumping ahead of myself.

Let me start at the beginning

with The-Cousins-Aren’t-Here-Yet-And-We-Have-Wiggles-To-Woggle

Activity.

Otherwise knows as, a…

PIRATE VOYAGE!

Thanks to Captain Nena!

ARRRRR, Maties!

Some of us were more ferocious looking than others…

We Buccaneers boarded our mighty Man-O-War and were off on a grand adventure!

We even found some LOOT!

Seadogs and Scallywags alike, we all had a swashbucklin’ good time.

Once we became Land Lubbers again,

it was time to shout “AHOY!” to our Cousins!

And head back out to the Big Blue.

For there were battles to wage,

castles to storm,

and doubloons to pilfer!

The waters were often treacherous,

with scurvy dogs who wanted to scuttle our ship

and turn our crew into shark bait.

The sandy shore offered some respite for our Little Pirates.

A time to gather at the scuttled butt, rest our weary bones, and plan for the next attack.

Or just take a nap.

Especially when you’re just a Wee Laddie Pirate.

Or a (tired) Pirate Mama Lass.

Mermaids graced our shores as well.

Mermaids, that is, with a special fondness for all things chocolate and volleyball.

Needing to rest our sea-weary bones a bit, we battened down the hatches and enjoyed some grog with the locals.

(Yay for a visit from Seafarers Uncle Jeff and Aunt Betty!!)

And then raised the union jack again and, led by the Fearless Captain Nena, set sail for another adventure!

Ever see a Pirate hike?

Well, at least some of them did.

Land-bound we may have been, but we were sure there was still enemy forts to storm and booty to be found!

And mosquitoes.  Lots and lots of mosquitoes.

They must have been drawn to our delightful (sweaty) Pirate aroma.

Even wobblin’ along on our sea legs, the hike was worth the effort!

That’s right, me hearties.

It’s a grand thing to get to be a PIRATE at Cousin Camp.

Especially when you have such a MERRY CREW to sail with!