Like so much of life, the 16th gathering of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Ernest Hart Kemp is now a blur of memories. Once again, we enjoyed an abundance of food, games, and conversation in a beautiful mountain setting. Day One brought a lunch of Luanne's homemade grilled hamburgers with her special secret sauce. Daphne's spaghetti sauce was the highlight of dinner. The traditional cooking of Cousin O'Neill's Drunk Chickens came after Saturday's round of golf. In between the main courses were loads of "small plates" covered with sugary desserts as well as healthful salads. We even managed to save a spot for a Southern breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and sausage, cooked by Chef David.
Seventeen years ago, like most families, our close-knit yet far-flung group found ourselves grabbing an hour at Christmas and an afternoon at Easter together -- not nearly enough time for folks who consider each other friends as well as family. Thus came the idea of spending a long weekend together, a weekend filled with all the components we've come to love in The Great Kemp Sleepover. After all these years, we have our specially requested foods, like O'Neill's Grilled Drunk Chicken, Aunt Bettie's White Trash snack, Daphne's unbelievably delicious fudge pie, and Luanne's hamburgers. We usually ask Grandmama Wilma to make that Southern summer staple, fried apple pies, and we missed her presence this year.
We played Canasta, Boggle, Sequence, Family Feud, and other games, but our most memorable game was Catch-Phrase. Clues like "Child Dog" and answers like "Camping with Children" will indeed be family catch phrases for years to come, reminders of a glorious weekend of great weather in a beautiful setting with loving family members.
We are already planning the 17th Sleepover for 2010 though it will likely follow the pattern of being a Sleepover in name only. Sleep is the only thing in short supply at the Great Kemp Sleepover.
David and Giorgio in between hands of Canasta.
A rousing round of Family Feud reduces Team B to tears. I believe the question was Reasons some people fail to don undergarments? Hmmm.
The golfers head out for Patriot Hills.
Preparing to grill the Drunk Chickens.
The great-grandchildren watch the midnight movie and eat more snacks.
Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs -- a Southern breakfast!
Matthew, wearing the official Sleepover t-shirt, takes his first sip of coffee, made by yours truly who makes very strong coffee!
Another beautiful weekend with beautiful people.
This was certainly a great weekend for the Williams family. I don't remember when I've laughed so hard as during the Family Feud game. We needed the whole emotional release. I wish every family could/would do something like this. It's good for the soul and the mind.
Posted by: David Williams | June 11, 2009 at 08:48 PM