Henry's Lake Finale

At almost 10:00 pm, coming home from our long day in Yellowstone, we were greeted by the crackling sounds and earthy smells of a campfire. That smell… I could bottle it. Nana, in the flickering light of the fire, with the voice of a seasoned teacher and reader extraordinaire, was narrating “The Lake Never Gives Up Its Dead,” from a compilation of ghost stories based in Yellowstone.

This sparked a wave of storytelling among the kids, each tale adding to the cozy, fireside atmosphere. As the evening drew to a close, Mollie shared her spine-tingling story, leaving us all with a shiver and a cautious glance over our shoulders as we headed to bed.

Years ago, I swore to myself I’d never get back on a horse—literally, not proverbially—after a memorable encounter with a giant Clydesdale named Budweiser at Camp Tockwogh left me with a sprained arm and a bruised ego. Despite this vow, I’ve continued to break that promise time and time again.

So, this is where I found myself one dry dusty morning in a barn at Harriman State Park. With 25 people on 25 horses, all talking at once, I’m sure the horses (with names like Pablo, Rony, Swede, Drifter, Cinco, and Sandman) were thrilled with the situation.

“I used to be more flexible,” I mused, as I awkwardly hooked my foot in the stirrup and swung my leg over the saddle of my new best friend for the next two hours: Cinco. Cinco was clearly best friends with Pablo. If Cinco had been any closer to Pablo’s rear end, he would’ve had a new hairstyle.

Two hours on a horse doesn’t sound like much, but my bruised tailbone would beg to differ. The cousins, effortlessly handling their horses with a mere tug of the reins, navigated the increasingly steep, boulder-strewn paths while I wished for a return to simpler modes of transportation—like a couch.

At the top, we dismounted for a rest and to take in the sweeping view and a few photos. We all walked with a noticeable cowboy swagger until our natural stride returned.

But, as they say, what goes up must come down. The hour-long descent had us leaning back and digging our heels into the stirrups while our horses gingerly made their way down the trail. By the time the barn came back into view, I promised myself—yet again—that this might be the last horse ride for me. It's a promise I most likely won't keep. On the other hand, the horseback riding was a highlight for all four of my kids Go figure!

Happy 19th Birthday to Jade! To celebrate, the cousins came together for an evening filled with creativity and fun. They spent the night drawing portraits of Jade, crafting personalized cards, and baking a delicious cake—all while eagerly anticipating the highlight of the birthday festivities.

Jade’s fervent wish was to experience yet another rodeo (right, Jade?), and we were more than ready to indulge her passion.

As we strolled into the Wild West Rodeo of Yellowstone, we could all proudly proclaim, “This ain’t our first rodeo!” Our previous experiences had given us a taste for the excitement, and though we thought we were seasoned rodeo-goers, the event still held plenty of surprises and was perfectly suited to Jade's birthday celebration and our growing rodeo expertise.

While there was no “Lamb Trample” at this rodeo, we didn't expect the activities to include a mud-filled ring where the older kids lost their shoes to a well-orchestrated game of footwear frisbee. Not pictured because I could barely look at it myself.

And, seeing as it was Jade’s 19th birthday, what better way to celebrate…erm…embarrass her than to have her participate in the evening's activities. But when it was Jade’s turn to shine, that’s exactly what she did. She stole the show with her fearless dance moves. And the crowd went wild.

We rode home, windows down, and thankfully left the shoes and socks at the front door.

A week at Henry’s Lake yielded only a couple of minnows on the end of our lines, so we spent our last day renting a pontoon boat to explore the lake’s widest expanse where, hopefully, the fishing was more fruitful.

John, our enthusiastic captain, ferried kids back and forth between the dock and the boat, and while our fishing efforts were futile, the kids had a blast jumping and diving into the refreshing water. The rest of us simply enjoyed the serene atmosphere and talked.

What makes these trips beautiful is how they give cousins a chance to connect and bond over shared adventures. When families finally get together with no work emails or daily routines to worry about, it’s like hitting the refresh button on relationships. Suddenly, everyone’s talking, and maybe even discovering that their cousin who once seemed a lot older or more like a stranger is someone you connect with on a lot of levels. That's just good old-fashioned time spent together at work.

In this setting, cousins get the chance to talk about stuff that matters to them. Whether they’re discussing their latest interests, playing soccer in the front yard (so loud that the neighbors complain), building dino homes in the dirt, starting volleyball bump circles, playing pool, fishing, kayaking, or making smoothies, they have the time and space to connect.

Each day of the trip, as the kids felt more comfortable, you watch relationships morph and change as cousins seek each other out. As an observer, you can watch that surface-level connection transform into something much deeper. It’s all pretty significant, even if it doesn’t always seem that way. But, that's why we do these trips: For the next generation.

Here's a prime example: Quinn, who has a deep fascination with Asian culture and language, eagerly spent time with Kaya, soaking up her insights about her recent experiences in Taiwan. Kaya, prior to college at Puget Sound, lived in Hawaii her whole life and, in some ways, felt like a stranger to Quinn. And, it doesn't help that she's 9 years older. But, distance and age difference didn't stop him. He peppered her with questions, keen to learn from her firsthand knowledge and seek advice for his own burgeoning interests. In the end, Quinn commented that his time spent with Kaya was a highlight of his trip.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Kaya is set to embark on a two-year adventure back in Taiwan, and her journey has sparked a sense of excitement in all of us. We can’t wait to follow her experiences and share in the discoveries she’ll make along the way.

The connections our kids made became most evident when, at the end of the week, we all went our separate ways and the six of us arrived in Jackson, MT. Gaelan cried himself to sleep that night, missing his cousins.