Kober Family Blog 🏡

All the Shipley Aunts and Uncles and Cousins (minus Lori on her mission, she was an almost life sized cardboad cutout) got together in Gatlinburg TN for a Reuinion. It has been many years since the last one and I was in my mission so even longer for me. The theme was “Quilted Connections.” Here are some highlights.

We drove from Starkville to Gatlinburg at 4am so Eddie could be asleep most of the trip (6 hrs), it didn’t work.

Everyone stayed in a giant cabin in Sevierville, TN. all four of us shared a room, it wasn’t as bad I thought it’d be. The boys slept well.

We played the fav song reveal game. I put together the playlist by contacting everyone asking for their fav song then at the cabin I played a bit of each song and we guessed whose it was. Really fun! The Shipleys love music.

Brownies and ice cream at night.

Uncle Bob did a stand up comedy bit for us about getting older-

“When you’re a kid, you want to be older. ‘I’m gonna be 5!’ Then, ‘I’m 5 and a half!’ You round up! You’re never 36 and a half. But when you’re a kid, it’s like fractions matter.

Then you become a teenager and everything changes:

‘I’m gonna be 16!’ Big milestone.

Then you ‘turn’ 21, you just kind of arrive there.

But after that, the language shifts:

You ‘turn’ 30 — you’re not excited anymore.

You ‘push’ 40.

You ‘reach’ 50.

You ‘make it to’ 60.

And then it gets weird:

You ‘hit’ 70.

You ‘hit’ 80.

You ‘hit’ 90.

And finally — ‘they went’ at 100.

Like it’s a finish line.”

The cabin was dreamy with 3 stories, 2 giant dinning tables, rocking chairs on the wooden wrap around porch, queen sized bunk beds, and a racing car arcade game.

Dollywood was a blast! Scott lead most of the cousins to all the roller coasters. Stirling was too scared the first half of the day and took us to ride less thrilling rides, but then he got excited to ride bigger coasters. Eddie and Hansen were in the double stroller most of the time, but Eddie loved exploring the park. It was very kid friendly and had a splash pad. We took him to an amazing bubble/lights show in a AC room. He went in one ride but didn’t care for it. He took a 30 min nap of Jason while everyone went on a ride. Hansen was great, just very warm. I borrowed a stiller fan for him. Jason and I went on lots of rides. The fastest one was the 3 second free fall. Yummy dinner of brisket and pork. It was a good time.

Jason and Spencer woke left at 6am for a morning nature trail to the talked point of the Appalachian mts.

Back in Spring Hill- Lots of playing the game signs and mafia. Jason’s and most of the cousins played cops and robbers one hot humid night and all came back soaking in sweat.

Robin loved holding Hansen and smelling his head. Eddie was sometimes shy, but played with everyone. Papa Dave loved seeming him fold his arms during prayer.

Grammy & Papa Dave’s 50th wedding anniversary dinner at Puckett’s. Such a good venue. They had a room just for us, specialized menu with a few amazing choices, and peach cobbler for dessert (which I didn’t get any of bc I was nursing). Hansen and Eddie both pooped during the dinner and Grace and mom changed them. Scott hosted a trivia game all about Jan and Dave’s life. The siblings each gave a toast- dad teared up telling his first memory as a kid singing I am a child of god with his parents.

Craig put together clips of a ton of Grammy and papa Dave’s old and best friends wishing them a happy anniversary. It was so sweet! Grammy would blow a kiss and say I love you back (she said, “I know you can’t hear me, but thank you and I love you”) it was adorable. Such a sweet video of the important people on their lives who Jan and Dave have blessed with their friendship (and quilted crafts).

Craig also made a family reunion recap video with intro bits from everyone.

Family pictures in our matching shirts Scott designed.

It was an awesome family trip!