Last Day of Camp

Today was H's last day of camp. She didn't feel real good when she left so I expected a call to pick her up early. Thankfully that call never came. Instead, our we all went to the closing celebration where the campers sang a couple of songs then we were shown a video of camp highlights.

After the celebration H showed us around camp. Families were invited to use the camp facilities for some family fun. A rain storm had just moved through so everything was wet but we still had a good time.

H singing during the celebration.

It's a tradition for the campers to sign the wall of their cabin. H was happy to participate. (She was excited to find Sarah Herbert's name on her wall TWO times. Between being a camper and working there, I'm sure Sarah's name is on every wall!)

Dad took H and E out on a canoe.

B had a turn in the canoe as well. He never let go of the sides! C decided she would pass on the canoe ride. Her feet were getting dirty and she didn't like that. :)

New Life Camp was such a good experience for H this year. We're so glad she had the opportunity to attend.

Play Day

While H enjoyed her second day of camp, B went bowling and to lunch with two of his friends. I invited the twins' friend, Lily, over to play for the day. Her big sister was at camp with H and her big brother was bowling with B. It turned out to be a very fun day for the three girls.

C, Lily and E

E has a matching swimsuit as well but she chose to "wear her red swimsuit". And before you think that C has grown taller really fast this summer, she hasn't. She's standing on the step. :) Lastly, I had the pool almost full but they bumped the plug while playing. Before I noticed it, over half their water had drained out. (Actually, I think the plug is broken now just because it's worn out. This pool is at least six years old. It was a hand-me-down from the Pease family in Virginia Beach.)

C going down the slide backwards.

E going down backwards. What one does, the other does!

There was plenty of indoor fun too. They played restaurant, school, babies, play do*gh, and games. They also watched a couple of videos (chosen by our guest of honor) and were just silly girls. It was a fun day!

First Day of Camp

H is at camp. She was sooooooooooooo excited this morning! She was awake at 6:30am (I told her to go back to sleep but I don't think she did.) For anyone who knows H, you know that's EARLY for her.

The cabin

For anyone who ever went to GA Camp or any other camp in Newton, TX...this is SO MUCH like Newton!!!! I was having flash backs of GA Camp when I was H's age. (I wonder if the Newton camp is still there?)

H by her bunk.

There was a brief period of time when we thought she wouldn't be with her friends. Thanks to some kind camp workers and one of the moms of her friends, they were all together when I left.

Elizabeth, Alexa and H..."okay, Mom, bye!"

The Countdown

Tomorrow H will go to her first day camp. She has been excited about going since we registered her waayyyyyyy back in January. However, since we returned from vacation she has been counting the days until camp begins.

Yesterday, the countdown went from days to hours when she asked, "How many more hours until camp?" It was about 36 hours when she asked. This morning she asked the same question and it was 24 hours. Being the brilliant child that she is, she found a timer and set it. All day long we've heard her announce the time remaining. And now we're 13 hours away from the start of camp.

She is in bed...excited...wondering what the first day will hold. Two of her friends are going but there's no guarantee they'll be assigned to the same group/cabin. We're not worried about her making friends. We're not worried about her having fun.

But I remember so well being the oldest...the first one in the family to do something...the unknown. My brothers knew every teacher by the time they got to the next school (jr high, sr high, college) and they knew what to expect where ever they went. They had it easy, if you ask me! Being the oldest is hard.

And so tomorrow the other kids and I will take H to camp. When it's their turn to go, they'll know all about it. There will be little "unknown" to them. But I think maybe that takes some of the fun, the adventure out of experiencing something for the first time.

So H is off to camp...and Mom and Dad will spend our day wondering what she's doing all day. It's going to be a long day! :)

Vacation Photos Posted!

I think I have posted all the photos I'm going to share on the blog. They are on the dates they happened (for the most part) so just look at the Blog Archive and read each post. Or scroll down to the beginning of July and start at the beginning.

VBS photos are posted too...but that was in June! Our summer is flying by!!

Vacation Adventures

On the 11th we were at Uncle Shawn and Aunt Heathers to play with Ethan, Mia, Ella Kate and Ava. Right when we got there Ethan showed me. . . . .the Wii. And all day Ethan wanted me to play. . . .so i did. We slept there 2 nights we went to Church with them. The day before we left we had pizza for lunch. Me and Ethan played a game with his cars called ''Crash Cars''. Then on Monday we left for Ashville to our hotel. The next day we climed Chimey Rock. After that we went to the Biltmore. And after that we went to The Billy Graham Center and and after 3 days of vacation we headed for home. We ate lunch at Cracker Barrell and we went the rest of the way home.

-by B

Chimney Rock

I don't know what's going on with Blogger but I can't get it to let me move my photos in the right order. The first five photos should be at the bottom. Hopefully, I'll get them straight later.

Riding "the bear"

Animal drawings on the rocks like "in the old days"

Today we rode the elevator to the top of Chimney Rock then walked down. We took a trail to the 404 ft waterfall. By the time we got to the van, we were all tired!

With Grammy at the top of Chimney Rock

On our way down there was one rather narrow passage.

We walked all the way to the foot of the waterfall. Some people wore swimsuits and stood under the water but we just let it spray us a little to cool us off.

My mom and me at the bottom of the waterfall.

Tennessee Times

Last Thursday we loaded up the van and headed to Tenn to visit Dad's parents. Thanks to a thoughtful and sharing friend it was a rather uneventful trip. Our only stop was in Asheville for lunch. I attached the shared portable DVD player while we were stopped and for six hours the kids watched L*ttle Hou*e and other various videos provided courtesy of Mrs. Campbell (who has reached sainthood in my book!:) We didn't stop again until we parked by Pawpaw and Nana's house.

And the fun began the moment we arrived. Pawpaw had a full tank of gas in the 4-wheeler. The hammock and swing were ready as well as croquet, horseshoes and other various games. The neighbors next door have a swimming pool that they generously allow us to use when we're visiting. We found out their daughter, who was home from college, was available to teach swim lessons so on Friday we signed up all four kids. Miss Morgan now has her own fan club!

Saturday we played around the house and waited for Brian, Debbie and Jessica to arrive. Later that afternoon we went to Nana's family 4th of July get-together for dinner. Our children ate more homemade ice cream than I would have thought possible. There were a few tummy aches later but everyone recovered fairly quickly.

Sunday Dad preached at his parents' church. We always enjoy going back to visit Mt. Carmel Baptist in Cross Plains. That is the church where Dad grew up. After church Stephen and Connie joined us at the house for lunch. Shawn, Heather and their 4 children drove up to spend the afternoon with us. We tried to swim but the rain came so we had to move the fun inside. The cousins played where ever we were and I had fun lovin' on my 6 week old niece, Ava.

Hangin' in the Barn waiting for the rain to pass.

H and Baby Ava with the doll H made for her the day before we left for Tenn.

The fun didn't stop once we went inside.

The sunshine finally returned so the kids headed outside for some croquet and riding the 4 wheeler. I like this photo because Stephen's barn is in the background. Anyone who knows B knows that "thinking" look on his face. Every shot counts!

Our sweet E.
These 5 photos courtesy of Uncle Shawn's Photography. :)

Monday came and we had to get Dad ready to fly back to NC. After lunch at Cr*cker B*rrell and one more fishin' trip to Uncle Stephen's pond, Uncle Stephen drove Dad to the airport while I took the kids to the pool for another round of swim lessons. Debbie had driven Jessica up to spend the night with her cousins so the kids enjoyed playing with her that day and Tuesday.

Jessica went home Tuesday evening after another busy day of playing outside and swimming. My 4 were exhausted! But they woke up the next morning recharged and ready to go again.

Wednesday morning the twins stayed with Pawpaw and Nana "all by ourselves" while I took H and B to visit Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage. We'll be studying about him this year so it was a good field trip ("Mom always finds a way to do school...even on vacation!" -B) My longtime friend, Betsy, met us for lunch with her daughter, Tara. Her son, Jake, stopped by and so we saw him too briefly. Betsy and I don't see each other very often so it was good to see her if only for lunch. We had enough time for swimming again when we got home. I put the kids in bed an hour early and I think they were asleep before I had left the room.

We had planned to go to Jessica's house Thursday but she had a fever so we stayed at Pawpaw and Nana's to avoid any unwanted germs. We went swimming one last time then the kids had an afternoon LHOP marathon. I think they were too tired to do anything else. Let's just say that we all needed a break from "doing".

Friday morning I took the kids to Purity Dairy in Nashville for a short field trip (see B's comment above!) then we walked across the pedestrian bridge by the Titan's football stadium. It goes over the Cumberland River. We ate lunch then went to the state capitol building. There were lots of statues and monuments to see outside. When we went inside, a tour was beginning and the guide asked if we wanted to join them. Naturally, I said "yes!" (much to B's dismay) and so we learned much more in that 45 minutes than we would have alone. The highlight of the afternoon for the kids was walking through "the tunnel". Ask them about it and they'll tell you all you need to know...plus a little more, I'm sure.

We said our "goodbyes" to Pawpaw and Nana this morning and headed south of Nashville to Shawn and Heather's house. Grammy is here too. The cousins are all playing upstairs, Ava is sleeping and I'm checking email. (Pawpaw and Nana don't have internet so I've been "offline" for over a week now.) We'll be here for 2 nights then head toward Ridgecrest with Grammy.

More adventures await...

Photos to follow when I get home and upload them to my desktop.

A Day in Nashville

We had planned to drive to Murfreesboro to spend a few nights with Jessica. However, she had a fever after she left Pawpaw and Nana's so I decided we would stay in Cross Plains and not "share the joy" with Jessica. With tips from family we found plenty to keep us busy for a day.

You can't go to Music City USA without having your picture made in front of a guitar. This one was at Purity Dairy. Michael W. Smith was the "famous person" on it.

We did a quick field trip to the Purity Dairy. Unfortunately, they don't make ice cream at this plant anymore. However, we saw a movie about the process plus got to sample some. (I'm still a Blue Bell girl!)

The Cumberland River is between downtown Nashville and the Titans' stadium. We walked to the top of the pedestrian bridge so the kids could see the view.

There is the Titans' stadium (LP Field) in the background from the top of the bridge.

After a quick lunch we headed downtown to see the Tenn state capital.

This is the front of the Tennessee State Capital building. Underneath this statue is a tunnel that goes into the capital. After we walked all the way around the building to see the monuments and graves, we went through the tunnel to get inside the building. I think that was more exciting to the kids than anything else!

Although Andrew Jackson is buried at The Hermitage, there is this massive monument in memory of him at the capital.

This is the grave of James Polk and his wife.

When we got inside the capital, an aide was beginning a tour with two other families. He asked if we'd like to join them. Naturally, I said "yes". This is a shot of the first and second floors as the kids were walking up with our group.

Swimming

Kenny and Lori Swann are always generous to allow us to use their pool when we're visiting Pawpaw and Nana. This year we used it alot as their daughter gave the kids swim lessons. By the end of the week, Miss Morgan had H and B jumping off the side of the pool into deep water and swimming to her (although sometimes reluctantly). She also had all four kids going under water with their eyes open (salt water pool) to pick up diving sticks. It was a highlight of our trip for the kids. They are still talking about it.

H practicing her kicking.

Everyone trying to splash B.

Miss E...future Olympian? At least she has "the look"!

H could swim all the way across the pool by her last day of lessons.

Just "horsing" around.

I don't have photos of jumping off the side of the pool because I was videoing. I also didn't think to take photos of Morgan diving for the sticks after each day of lessons. She was very good with the kids. And she has a fan club now! :)

The Hermitage

I took H and B to the Hermitage one morning. The twins stayed with Pawpaw and Nana to get spoiled some more. :)

Hey look! Mom got in a photo (thanks to the nice guide at the Hermitage).

H and B at the graves of President Andrew Jackson and Rachel Jackson. I thought it was sad that she died just before he went into office. He almost didn't take the job because of her death. However, history reveals that he did go to Washington and returned to the Hermitage eight years later to live the rest of his life missing her.

The gardens were beautiful. (The kids were hot!)

What makes H smile? A trail to hike! We walked beside the creek to see where the slaves lived. That's the springhouse in the background.

Photos were not allowed inside the Hermitage. This is inside one of the houses for the slaves. Up to 20 people would share a two room house with a loft. And if a slave was very tall, he/she would have to bend over to walk around. The ceiling was very low.

The back of the Hermitage. Tired and hungry kids being silly...next stop, lunch!

Fishin' and Swimmin'

Dad had promised to take the kids fishin' so we headed to the pond just before he had to leave. Although none of these photos show evidence of my presence, I was there too (as I was at all the other events posted on this trip!)

Riding to the pond behind Uncle Stephen's house. Pawpaw is such a good driver! (Disclaimer: Two adults were in the back with the kids and it was all on farmland at a walking speed.)

Okay, five kids, two poles, live bait. Who wants to go first?

B was the first one to catch something.

C's big catch.

Jessica's catch. That's as close as she would get to it...and only with H hugging her! :)

E's got a big one!

H caught a few too while we were in Tenn.

After Dad left for the airport, we headed next door for some swimming and swim lessons.

B: "Mom, mom, MOM! I'm NOT going under water!"

Mom: "Okay, that's fine. Just tell Miss Morgan."

B: "MOM! I AM NOT going under water!"

Mom: "Okay, okay. That's fine. Just tell Miss Morgan when it's your turn."

A few minutes later...

B was under water! Yea Miss Morgan! (The girl deserves some kind medal!)