InsIde oUt and uPsideE Down

Family Camp at Whispering Pines never disappoints. This is our 3rd year of church camp. Matt and I have been working with small churches (200 or less) since we were at Western, and I have to admit I love it. I'm not knocking the large church, I grew up in one, but being part of a small church body allows us (as a church family) to do things like we did this weekend. I'm thankful that my kids will have memories of being at church camp and doing all the things I got to do as a kid.

Our theme this year...fix your attention on God and you will be changed from the inside, out. Love our red shirts--they've been blue the past two years. We ladies cried foul and chose another color this year =).

Since our camp is a weekend getaway, and we only have one full day on Saturday, we try to make the most of our time there even on Friday night. Bill always organizes some spectacular event, much like the Amazing Race, but it's called The Amazing Family Challenge. We divide up into teams and do all kinds events. It's to complicated to explain, but it's so much fun.

Shannon and I talked about having a spa night with all the girls up in the camp lodge on Friday--with facials, manicures and pedicures.

All you ladies know how popular that Crackle polish has become, and we're completely addicted to it. We had all colors of polish along with crackle, nail stencils, nail pens and everything in between. We did avocado and oatmeal facials. Larie did a sugar scrub pedicure. We were in heaven =). I believe every girl at camp did something--mainly polish--but we did do lots of facials. I heard a friend comment about what a great idea it was. I'm thinking we may have to do that every year!

Elizabeth and Karson de-puffing their eyes. I believe Karson told me she ate her cucumbers when she was finished. Angela, me and Larie joined in on the pampering.

Saturday we were up and running bright and early. After breakfast, I usually do the camp crafts. This year I decided to do sun catchers. I love the way they turned out and sparkled in the window. I found that many of the boys didn't do one so maybe this isn't ideal for them (although my boys did them)?

After crafts, the day was spent in the pool...in the lake...canoeing...tubing...mudding...water ballooning...shaving creaming...showering =).

I think Miles looks like a choir director in this picture. Maybe they were singing "Wade in the Water" ?

My camera fogged up when I took the picture of Karson and Annabel--such cute girls.

Spencer and Karson snuck away in a canoe. They have become buddies this summer.

We had some interesting visitors during lunchtime. Watching Matt and Weston improv is simply entertaining. I think their names were Cletus and Rufus? I especially like Weston's giant headphones =). Crazy fellas!

After lunch, it was time for the mud pit. I totally planned on getting in this year. I took one of my nicer bathing suits last year and didn't want to mess it up in the mud. This year, I brought an old one specifically for the mud pit. I felt like I got two days of spa treatments.

Karson and Elizabeth soaking it in.

As if mud isn't messy enough, we had a shaving cream fight afterwards. I guess that's one way to get a clean smell back.

Sunday is fast and furious. We eat breakfast, clean up the camp and end with worship. After worship, we have a giant group picture and head home. FOR US...something different was in store. See the next post.