I'll let the pictures do the talking, but we recently got back from the best week we have ever spent as a family! What we experienced at Pine Cove Family Camp is hard to put into words. It's a week of intentional family time away from the stresses of life. Away from work. Away from the daily grind. Away from being exhausted from caring for three kids. Away from cooking meals. (OK...maybe I shouldn't include that one since I haven't cooked a real meal in I can't tell you how long. Do PB&Js and corn dogs count?) Away from the IPhones and Internet. Simply AWAY. It was heaven on earth for our family. Was it hot? ABSOLUTELY! Was it tiring? SURE! All of that was outweighed by the incredible time I spent with my kids, with Brad and with new friends. We spent time as a family worshiping God and learning more about Him. We were reminded of His goodness and had a chance to refocus our crazy lives back on what matters. I can wrap up the week in one sentence. "I left feeling exhausted but full!" There is truly nothing like it. We have our spot saved for next year and are already counting down the days.
OK - I said I would let the pictures do the talking, and I have written a paragraph instead. I'll shut up and let you see for yourself! SORRY FOR THE PICTURE OVERLOAD!
We got in the spirit by decking out the Brown Mobile before heading out of town!
Each kid decorated his/her own window.
Welcome to Crier Creek!
Pine Cove Family Camp
Daddy and Payton waiting to enter
The cars were brought in one by one and welcomed by some of the enthusiastic counselors.
They then got you out, took your car to your cabin and UNLOADED IT!
The first morning there, Brad and the kids tried to catch a fish. Things didn't exactly go as planned. The fish weren't hungry! (Or the fishermen weren't up on their game!)
Sweet Reagan helping her little sister
The next time LP and Brad went out, they were successful!
Fish #1
#2!
Later in the week, Mr. Stephen showed LP how it was done. Landon loved learning exactly how to fish, get the hook out of the mouth and toss the little dude back in. Thank you, Mr. Stephen, for your patience and your skills! Brad appreciates it! :-)
Two Happy Fisherman!
Landon wore Mr. Stephen's special glasses while they fished!
We loved the mustaches (even though they left a lovely sticky residue on the lips)!
Mr. Stephen and Hudson fit the part well!
This is Theodor-de-luche-dor (or something like that).
He's one of those "had to have been there" things. Basically, he was the camp villain.
My Three Amigos heading to the rodeo on a hayride.
For a portion of the night my camera was on manual focus.
Not good for someone who has no clue how to use her nice camera.
Time for the kids to chase some calves and try to pull a ribbon off their tails!
Now it's the adults' turn!
Brad and Stephen got a ribbon! Shannon - not so much.
This is Reed. He is one of Brad's dear friends. (They were fraternity brothers.) Reed is the director of the camps there in Columbus and convinced us that our family needed to be there this summer! Because of that, he hung the moon in my book! Thank you, Reed, for the push to get us there.
Tuesday morning Brad and I had a counselor come to the cabin bright and early to take care of the kids. (They call this a "camper call" and boy was it a treat! The counselor would wake up the kids, get them ready for the day and take them to breakfast! SO NICE!) We went on a trail ride and had a real cowboy's breakfast cooked over the campfire. It was awesome! My booty was a little sore for a couple of days, but it was well worth it!
Here I am on my horse, Preacher.
Julie (Reed's wife/Stephen's and Jenise's sister-in-law), me and Jenise
There were a couple of nights that Payton and I headed back to the cabin for a bath while Daddy and the big kids stayed out later. This particular night, she wanted to put her pajamas on by herself! Oh, she keeps me laughing!
Wednesday night was Beach Party Palooza!
The Browns and our family's counselor, Yo-Do (Melissa) We LOVE her!
Our Littlest Beach Babe
Reagan and Yo-DoThey had to move the party indoors because it starting pouring!
Payton's attitude took a turn for the worse that night. She wanted nothing to do with Daddy and didn't want me to put her down.
After the rain slowed down and the dance party was over, it was time for the Camp Talent Show! Sweet Hudson sang Holy, Holy, Holy. Goodness Gracious...it was precious.
Brad thought it would be a fun little joke (because Stephen can REALLY SING!) to sign him up for the talent show without him knowing. Stephen and Reed used to be in a band back in college and Brad wanted him to play a song from that! He was a trooper and did an awesome job on the spot!
Reagan and her group did a dance.
On Wednesday, Brad and I drove to little nearby town for a lunch date. We ate at this highly-recommended hamburger joint. It was YUMMY!
PICKLE BALL!
This is a big deal at Pine Cove. It's sort of a mixture between tennis and ping pong. Brad and I played a few games together, but he was way out of my league. He spent the rest of the week playing with people who knew what they were doing! I think he's playing Reed in this picture.
THE LAGOON!
This was my kids' favorite thing! All three of them (including Payton) went down the big water slide! The blob, climbing igloo and water trampoline were also a huge hit!
Enjoying time with Daddy
The Snack Shack was visited every single day. LP always seemed to come back with the $3.50 Dibs. This day he picked one up for his sister as well. We decided at the beginning of the week that this would sort of be a free for all. If they wanted a snack, they got a snack. You only go to camp once a year, right?
Time for the Breathtaker!
The Breathtaker is basically a "feel-like-you're-flying" swing that I hope to never have to experience again. Here are Reagan and LP getting suited up. This took forever because of all the safety precautions they take. Thank goodness!
Nothing says attractive quite like a turtle shell helmet on your head.
This picture makes me look like I totally know what I'm about to do and that I am ready to take on the Breathtaker. Pictures can be so deceiving! Is there a part of my body that isn't strapped in? Lovely, I know!
I hung like this for about 8 minutes while they figured out what was wrong with the cable that was going to be pulling me up. Comforting, huh? Nice view of my backside, Brad!
Reagan taking flight!
LP was not so sure about the whole thing. He was being pulled up in this shot. Once he was up and they let him go, he loved it!
Crazy Daddy
(I think he will also be on the sidelines with me next year. This was a little too much for our out-of-shape, old bodies!)
Reagan and her precious counselor, Candy Mountain (Nicole)
Landon's counselor, Zam-boo-boo (Andy)
Sweet P's counselors Rocka (Kalina) and Happy Holidays (Sydney)
P and UMA (Hannah)
Friday night was Disco Fever 70s night!
Check out the pants on my hottie of a husband!
Jenise and Stephen looked awesome!
The last night there the older kids and parents met at the Supa Hupla (what they called this area) for their awards ceremony. Brad enjoyed a little game of four square before it started.
The counselors wrote out qualities they had seen in each camper that week. They were so thoughtful and spent so much time on each award.
Reagan's group doing a cheer
Zam-boo-boo telling us about Landon
That night we stayed out extra late just hanging out with friends. A frog was found and LP wouldn't let it go! Such a boy!
Major and Payton lovin' on each other
Looks like she was a little too agressive for him! Sorry, Maj! We'll work on it!
This group is what made the camp so incredible. There is not a single person in this picture that I wouldn't want my child to grow up modeling. Pine Cove does an awesome job finding the best of the best college kids around. (Even though half of them were Aggies!)
And this, my friends, is what my laundry room looked like after we returned home. I had already done three loads before even taking this picture!
Until Next Year, Pine Cove! What an amazing week we had!
1 comment:
That's awesome! I loved reading this post. Hope you survived the laundry!
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