Well, even though Amy is not wild about camping, we had the opportunity to go twice over the last few weeks. Both times, we ended up staying only one night because the first time, it started to rain cats and dogs and the tent was leaking on all 5 beds - no thank you!! So even Karis conceded and we packed up and went home.
However, while it was only for one night, it was super fun! We went to Alexander Springs and had a lovely time there. There was a spring which the kids swam in and then there was the ability to take a canoe ride as well which was lovely.
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| The men sitting around chatting |
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| While the women stayed over watching the kids |
The springs were cool as you'd expect, but the kids had fun throwing a football and playing monkey in the middle throughout the day.
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| Only Cole and David decided to get into the water first thing in the morning - Zach decided he still needed a coat on! So true! |
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| jaruSuper clear water! |
As always the kids had fun with the campfire, burning sticks and throwing things into it.
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| The whole group - Zs, Js, Cs, Hilliards, Biris, |
Zachary decided that he didn't want to go canoeing, so it was only the four of us. Amy eventually moved back in the canoe as Addison wanted to canoe - but then she'd wave the paddle around to the point where Amy was sure that she'd catch it in the face at some point!
Capturing a moment with the Z-parents! Addison ended up falling asleep as we canoed, so Amy pulled her back onto her lap and thus Karis became the only one paddling! :) He is an expert though!
The very next weekend, we headed off to Adventurer campout. This year, many of the boys that Zach and Kaleb liked to play with had moved up to Pathfinders but we were lucky - Pathfinders and Adventurers went on the same campout! Blake also came with Zachary, so he was in high heaven!
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| Already out on the soccer field in the dark. |
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| Eating their breakfast |
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| Kelli is trying to not be in the picture....but Karis never mentioned that she was still in the frame! :) |
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| While the men chat |
They had some science experiments for the worship talk that morning - the kids LOVED it and still talk about it now several weeks later!
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| Addison and Kaleb both got to be helpers |
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| Friday night vespers they also had other experiments and the kids all got sunglasses! Cool dudes! |
Amy usually signs up to help prepare the lunch meal, and she had two little girl helpers this time with the olives! Don't grow up so fast girls!
During some downtime the kids played the animal version of "heads up" which was super fun - even the adults got in on it eventually!
By the afternoon, Zachery was exhausted and didn't have much excitement for anything - and Blake's feet were starting to hurt from running around so much so Amy started to consider going home. About 6P, she realized when Zachary asked to lay down that something was wrong....and took his temperature only to find that it was 101-102! so, she packed them up and took them home to get Zachary into his own bed and some good rest that night. Karis ended up coming home as well after the day's festivities were done.
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| Such good friends! |
The activities at campout are always fun, and you never know when you will see an adult participating!
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| Kent trying his hand at jump-roping |
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| And of course the campfire is like a magnet! |
Random picture:
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| Apparently Kaleb is now strong enough to hold his sister on his shoulders! Although not when Mom catches him! :) |
