The day FINALLY came for us to go to Family Camp. This was something that I had been really looking forward to and praying about. Not to mention we had pulled the boys out of preschool in the spring to pay for camp. Jay pretty much thought I was crazy (although easily agreed) to reallocate our funds in such a way. All that being said I was really praying that it was just what we needed. And of course, as always, God is SO good! It was such a week of rejuvenation and family time. I swear Jay and I had more time alone that week than in the entire year prior combined. We both realized the extreme toll that lack of alone time takes on you. We’ve had a pretty trying year and had been working through some stuff and man, God knew exactly what we needed.
On a lighter note, I have been so scatterbrained lately (ok, since I got pregnant with Jackson) that I was set on not forgetting anything. After compiling a THREE PAGE excel spreadsheet containing any and everything we might ever need on the trip and taking a clue from Santa and checking it twice I didn’t forget a thing. And as you can imagine, the car was full to the brim.
Alright, without further ado, here’s Pine Cove, Day 1:
My dear friend Paddy is the one who suggested (many times) that we go to Pine Cove. She and her husband took their 3 kids there 12 years in a row. She called and gave me all kinds of tips a few weeks prior to the trip. One thing she said is that everyone decorates their vehicles. The boys enjoyed this so much! They loved telling us what to write, and they got a kick out of driving with decorated windows. It’s funny how small stuff is so hilarious to kids. Anyway, glad we did it.
We were supposed to be there by 2:30 to get in line because the gates open at 3. For all of you grandparents-when I know I have to be somewhere by a certain time and it’s a road trip. . .I always plan about a 60-90 minute buffer for food/potty/nursing stops. Hence the GPS saying that we’d get there by 12:57 and us actually arriving at 2:30. I’ll probably be early every where once Lincoln weans but for now we are right on time due to my buffer zone.
We’re here!
Once we got there (we were #2 in line) all of the cars were stopped and all of the kids were standing on top of them. You have NO idea how exciting this was for Jack and Bear. They were ecstatic at being allowed to do such a thing.
While we were all hanging out outside of the gate a counselor came and gave each of the men a root beer and the women a rose.
Once you go through gate (with kids hanging out of the car) craziness ensues. The counselors (oh, the amazing counselors! but more about them later) are going crazy yelling and jumping up and down and the kids just eat it up!
Another super cool thing is that they have a professional photographer who goes around taking pictures all week and then they give you a DVD of the pictures (and a video) at the end of the week. So, when you are reading my posts, if a picture looks far better than my normal shots. . .it’s probably b/c I didn’t take it.
Here we are driving in. . .kids going wild with excitement at the screams of the counselors!
See how relaxed and happy Jay looks. . .it’s like the gates are magic. . .
So fun!
I love this shot of Mia and Lennon coming through in Gaga’s car. Lennon’s look is priceless and Mia, well, I’m still baffled at how this sweet preteen is my baby niece.
Once inside the gates we got out of our cars and the counselors unloaded ALL of our stuff into our cabins. That’s right, we didn’t lift a finger. We went into register for activities (horseback riding, wave runners, boating, water rockets, pottery, golfing, zip line, rock climbing, zip swing, etc.) and then waited for Gaga, Mia and Lennon to arrive to take a tour of the premises together.
We were all so happy to see our cousins!
I love this girl SO much!
While Mia immediately gravitated to Lincoln Lennon wasted no time in playing body pile with the Adams dudes.
These guys are just my loves.
I’ve missed Mia and Lennon so much and it was just awesome to spend a week with them!
Registration welcome sign.
After all of that we went to dinner and the camp and activities directors did a hilarious skit that ended with an insanely funny dance. It definitely set the mood for silliness and got everyone relaxed for a week of fun.
The first day was great and we were just feeling so blessed by the end. We’d made it and all was good.
1 comment:
MORE, MORE!!! I so want to go to this and am so happy you had time to relax and have fun as a family.
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