Hemlock Point Lodge 2013

A few years ago, a new family tradition of spending time together in the woods began with our family trip to Benezette when Joshua was about 2 1/2.  Ever since then, as the family has grown, we have been bursting at the seams at Winslow Meadow Lodge in Benezette.  This year, we tried to find a new spot for family memories, and really weren't sure what to expect.  Jason found an option in Hemlock Point Lodge in Thompson, PA, just a few miles from the PA/NY border and did some investigating.  He even went so far as to make the 2+ hour trip one weekend in April just to make sure that the pictures online were true to life.  He had assured us all that this lodge was beautiful, but we were all floored to walk through the doors of the lodge last Sunday afternoon to see the beauty that awaited us.  With plenty of space to spread our wings, a beautiful lake, a hot tub on the deck overlooking the lake, bedrooms and bathrooms aplenty, we were in for a fantastic week-- the kind where memories are made that we'll treasure forever.

While the grownups got busy unpacking and getting settled in for the week ,the kids didn't take long to get busy playing.  There were giggles and squeals echoing from the tall, tall rafters of this beautiful home as the cousins reconnected and looked forward to all of the things they were going to get to do while we were there.  They immediately fell in love with the game room-- its air hockey, pool and foosball tables, and figured out which of the bunk bed rooms they were going to claim as their headquarters for the week.

Mara got to spend a lot of time with her Nana and her Aunt Libby.  She had been asking for Nana for weeks, and when asked who we were going to see at the Lodge, she would always reply, "Nana!" with a huge smile.  I loved watching her to get to spend time with them, and them getting to spend good quality time with her, enjoying her quirky personality and silliness.  There was no shortage of enjoyment of her antics, her tricks and her goofy facial expressions.

Although the weather was a little less than awesome the first few days we were there, it didn't stop anyone from enjoying the beautiful deck on the back of the house that overlooked the lake.  The kids spent as much time as they could being outside blowing bubbles and exploring nature.  We were slightly panicked about them being near the weeds as we encountered one small milk snake that Lauren discovered while standing near the lake.  Zig quickly took care of him, and I believe with the way he was smashing at the snake with my Dad's walking stick, alerted all other snakes in the greater northeast PA region that we weren't interested in meeting them.

Joshua's new found love of fishing was certainly nurtured this week.  Every day, Josh and Jason, along with Brooke and Zig and sometimes my Dad, fished in the lake.  At one point we called Josh the "Fish Whisperer" because all he had to do was put his line in the water and he would pull out another fish.  He is now casting his own line, baiting his own hook and taking the fish off of the hook after he catches it.  I am just amazed at how much he seems to be loving it.

 

The lodge has a row boat, a paddle boat and kayaks that are available for the use of people who come there to stay, and we certainly took advantage of all of them.  The kids loved fishing from the row boat, and caught quite a few fish out there.  Jason and Zig got up for some early morning fishing one morning, even.  Jason and I took a spin on the paddleboat as well as spent about an hour in the kayaks one afternoon.  I hadn't been in a kayak since we were on our honeymoon in Alaska, and I forgot how much I loved it.  It was wonderful to have some time just for the two of us on the lake, knowing that the kids were having a blast with the rest of the family.

I absolutely could not get enough of sweet Hayden this week.  I swear, she is the most perfect baby there ever was.  She was content to be with anyone, smiled just about the whole week, and played so sweetly wherever you put her.  She napped like a champ, ate so well, and just all around was amazing.  I threatened on more than one occasion to bring her home with me, but Libby seemed not to like that idea so much.  Regardless, I snuggled with her every chance I got, and soaked up her gorgeous smile as much as possible.  The kids absolute adore her as well.

I will cherish this family time for ever.  I know that, just like the memories I have of Poe Valley as a child, our children are going to remember the time that we spend together as an extended family, and it will serve as the roots of their lives just like it did for me.  I feel like their smiles were bigger last week, their hearts were fuller and their giggles were louder than I have heard them for a long time.  I think that was because of the love that was abounding at the lodge.

When we were packing up to leave on Saturday morning, about to pull out of the lodge, I looked back to find Joshua in tears in the back of the van.  When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that he was afraid we would never get to come back to the Lodge again.  I assured him that we would be back, and that even though the trip was over, we could always remember it in our hearts.

And that's just what we will do.