Lake Martin, Alabama

It’s a Family Tradition: A Reunion in Lake Martin, Alabama

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This past weekend, we packed up my Altima and road-tripped it down south where we’d be celebrating the sequel to our inaugural Cousins Weekend. Only, this year, we realized that Destin, Florida was only convenient for two out of the 10 of us and so we chose a more central locale. That’s how we came to find ourselves somewhere in the middle—in Lake Martin, Alabama to be exact.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Now, while my father is from Alabama and I’ve spent a good amount of time exploring our southern neighbor, I’d never been to this particular part of the state. But gorgeous and peaceful it was.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Last year’s theme was such a hit, that we decided to keep it going. Why fix something that ain’t broken? Which is how neon, tanks and jorts came to be our uniform for the past four days (John so kindly gave every family member a pair of the most flattering jorts Goodwill had to offer last Christmas). It’s hard to look this pretty, y’all. #cousinsweekend2013 #peaceandjorts

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

We had some fresh meat at Cousins Weekend 2013, though: my sister’s boyfriend Josh and my cousin John’s girlfriend Allison. I’m not sure either knew what they were getting themselves into, but they adapted quickly. It was almost as if they were born to be a part of our wacky, neon-loving family.

Cousins-42

Cousins-57

The three days were full of doing a whole lot of nothing except sampling libations, to put it politely—um, beginning around 9am; each couple was tasked with creating a cocktail to share—and lounging lakeside, drink in hand.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

And also manscaping my cousin John. I don’t know why; it’s not like he needed it or anything.

Lake Martin, Alabama

John is known to many as “the Mayor of Nashville” in some circles, due to his ability to be front and center at every social gathering, bar or Honky Tonk in Music City, and as you might expect from someone who owns such a title, he has to keep in good standing with the brotherhood of Duck Dynasty.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

I’m not sure what made him think Saturday was the day, but he asked Allison to help change his image. Well, as much as removing a cloak of facial hair can do to a guy. (Too bad she stopped when she reached his sweater vest.)

Duck Dynasty beard

We also rented a boat because, duh, we were on a lake, but as luck would have it the ski boat we had booked broke the night before. So we got a pontoon instead that had seen better days and wound up tubing instead of skiing.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Also jumping off massive cliffs because we’re a competitive bunch. “You threw your bathing suit-clad body off a 20-foot rock? Fine, I’ll see you that and raise you 30!”

Lake Martin, Alabama

What we didn’t know is that my sister’s boyfriend Josh would one-up us all and do an inverted backflip into the water below. Show-off.

Lake Martin, Alabama

And that he also was a Jedi Master in both Ping Pong and cards (and probably anything else that involved competition). We told him, watch out and let us win a game or two or risk having your 2014 invitation rescinded!

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

The weather was odd all weekend long: It would be gorgeous and HOT and sunny one moment, then look like a tornado might make a cameo the next. With some wacky lightning storms thrown in for good measure.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

On Saturday night, we took a road trip into Auburn for a specific purpose: to eat at The Hound.

The Hound

One of my oldest friends, Jana, and her husband Matt left the Bay Area the month we did in 2011 to move to Auburn and open this amazing slice of culinary heaven. The food was worthy of a big city—Nashville or Charleston or even San Francisco—and not what you would expect to find in Auburn. The pork chop is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever put in my mouth, and don’t get me started on the bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce. I absolutely can’t wait to go back down there to eat again during football season this fall.

The Hound in Auburn

We got back to our rental cabin late, played a few more games of cards that night, had a few more shots and then all too soon Cousins Weekend ended on Sunday morning—but not without the token family photo shoot.

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

Lake Martin, Alabama

The planning for the next Cousins Weekend is already underway (though it’s likely going to be early fall due to my cousin Andrew’s deployment schedule). Asheville, North Carolina, watch out—here we come!

Lake Martin, Alabama

COMMENTS
  • July 15, 2013

    That looks like an awesome time, although even if the weekend sucked something tells me your storytelling and photos would make it look fab.

  • July 15, 2013

    What fun! Makes me wish for a family of cousins who were closer in age to me – they range from 8 to 25 years older – though I doubt we could pull off such coolness!

  • July 15, 2013

    Those are some beautiful American flag jorts!!!

  • July 16, 2013

    You guys are adorbs! I love all the neon. Nothing can go wrong when neon is involved!

  • July 16, 2013
    Brandy

    Looks like an awesome weekend! I have never heard of Lake Martin, Alabama, but it’s beautiful.

  • July 17, 2013

    You have some of the coolest adventures. I want to rent a house in Alabama!

  • July 18, 2013

    What FUN! Such a random, fun and exciting spot. You guys looked great, too!

  • July 19, 2013
    JeJeLuna

    Lucky Y’all!!! Looks like you had a GREAT time!!

  • July 22, 2013
    Haidang

    yay cousins weekend! doesnt matter where you go in the world the best place is always home w your loved ones ya? i particularly enjoy your domestic posts of the South bc never been- sounds like a lot of good times, laughter, amazing memories et al. or maybe thats just wherever w KL’s presence!

  • July 22, 2013

    Looks like you all had entirely too much fun, if there is such a thing! And I love, love the neon theme!

  • July 29, 2013

    Your family looks adorable and loads of fun! And although neon usually looks good on no one – you made it work!

  • January 6, 2019
    Sam

    Awesome fun vacation!!! good people Im sure

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