It all started with Minecraft. Cousin Hannah was FaceTiming from Michigan with these guys while they played on the common server. They began tossing around the idea of her coming here for a week. The idea turned into reality, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa driving her here from there. We called it Camp Johanik.

We introduced Hannah and Alyssa to Nertz. And also to the fierce competitiveness of our family.

The timing of Hannah’s arrival coincided with Jake and Tiffany stopping here for almost a week on their way to their new home in Ohio. Everyone waited eagerly to see them pull up with the UHaul and the Kia.

Jake and Tiffany kept the option open to stop overnight somewhere in Nebraska, or even Iowa, since they were driving the long 15 hours separately. But as the hours ticked on, they continued to feel good and full of enough energy to make it all the way to West Chicago. We were all very impressed–and glad they made it!

The next morning, Jim came downstairs to this sad sight:

Was someone sick, he wondered. He asked the unknown sleeping person if they were alright. When he got no response, he quietly sat in his chair for devotions so as not to disturb her. When Derek came downstairs, he walked gingerly around her. When I saw her, I observed that some things didn’t look right–the bulge at the hip and the floppy sock among them. When I lifted the hood, lo and behold the “person” was stuffed with blankets and clothes. Hannah and Ruth had had some fun the night before and loved hearing how we all responded to their stuffed person.

The rest of the day, our new friend relaxed in the recliner.

For dinner, Jim went all out and made 19 rolls of sushi. Making food for others is a love language of his.

And eating such prepared food is the love language of many around this table!

Peter had workouts to complete for football, and Hannah joined him for a couple of them.

We did a lot of playing in the backyard.

One morning Ruth helped Hannah make delicious breakfast sandwiches for everyone.

The weather was quite hot that week, so we decided one day we would have a water balloon fight.

It took a half hour to fill 80 balloons,

and less than 5 minutes to launch them at each other.

The last night that Jake and Tiffany would be with us, we got a family picture: the first one since Tiffany joined the family!

The next day, it was time to move the newlyweds into their new home in Dayton. Derek held down the fort and took care of the animals; he was prevented from traveling with us because of work and the continuing military travel ban.

As soon as we arrived, the unloading of the truck commenced.

These guys were work horses.

Meanwhile, the girls unpacked and organized the kitchen.

First meal in the new house: pizza!

As we were getting ready for bed, Tiffany gifted Ruth and me with the robes she had bought for bridesmaids and mothers prior to the wedding. So sweet.

Then the kids blew up their air mattresses and settled in for the night.

The next morning, we had birthday pancakes to celebrate Jeremy’s 14th birthday!

This guy was a trouper, not only celebrating his birthday on the road, but also by working manual labor.

It wasn’t all hard work, however. Some of us found time to still be goofy.

Speaking of goofy, one piece of furniture in the kitchen–the drink station–lost some parts in the move and wasn’t holding together very well. The mission on Saturday for Jim and Jake was to figure out how to hold it together. To jury-rig it.

As irony would have it, the word of the day that happened to pop up on Jim’s watch on Saturday? Jury-rig.

It was fortuitous. They successfully jury-rigged the drink station, and now it’s sturdy as ever.

After accomplishing the Saturday goals, we packed up our car and headed out. First, a picture of the couple in front of their home.

We were so grateful to be able to lend a hand with the move and see their beautiful home.

We said our goodbyes and hit the road.

What a wonderful, whirlwind week it was! Not only was the house full of people, but it was full of love.