Fear Factor Family Camp Edition

One of our summer highlights is FAMILY CAMP.  We've been doing family camp at our church for the last five years.  It's a unique experience and everyone gets to come and participate.  Our church isn't incredibly large so devoting an entire week to church camp is a bit taxing and costly.  Plus, our children can attend week-long camps with other congregations which is nice (and many of them do).  For us, a nice, long weekend of camp is do-able, and our church does it WELL.  

We have our camp at Whispering Pines in Castialian Springs, Tennessee.  Each year we have a theme, and this year's theme was FEAR FACTOR.  As you can tell from the picture above, Miles (not necessarily Karson) has a fear of getting his hair caked in shaving cream.  When we started our camp shopping, he told me he didn't want to get shaving cream and do the shaving cream fight this year because he didn't want to get it in his hair.  I told him we could solve that problem easily by getting some shower caps.  BEST. PURCHASE. EVER.  My kids have had more fun with those $1 shower caps this week.  I may have to buy them weekly from now on =).  After packing up our entire house, we took off for camp Friday afternoon.

Everyone usually arrives at camp in the late afternoon/early evening.  After dinner, we divide into teams and play our first team challenge.  I'll spare you ALL the details of the first challenge, but it basically involved phobias, reading clues that take you to the different areas of camp containing phobias and facing what the phobia consisted of--clowns, spiders, snakes, darkness, etc.

Karson and her "boy"friends playing some cards.  This four-pack went to a week-long church camp earlier in July with Greenwood Park. 

The girls all buried under the bunk beds with quilts, blankets and lots of sugary snacks.

I only took two pictures on Saturday (the one to the left and the one below).  I didn't want to keep up with my camera all day long.  My kids are constantly scattered in different directions, and I just want to plop down and relax, especially since I had gotten about 4-5 hours of sleep the night before.  Church camp = no sleep.  I grabbed my camera twice for two quick pics.  I really should've have taken more because our second team challenge would've provided some comic relief to you readers out there.  After lunch at the pavilion, we had another challenge which involved EATING.  It wasn't your normal kind of eating, it was FEAR FACTOR kind of eating.  In summary, Matt had marshmallows covered in mustard dropped in his mouth. I had to pick up whipped cream covered gummy worms and feed them to Miles.  Karson ate a variety of things:  bologna, M&M's covered in ketchup--with NO hands, a sour cream freeze dried cricket and a LIVE worm.  I want to hurl just thinking of it.  Isaac got to participate in the night crawlers challenge which involved searching through night crawlers to find hidden pennies.  The grossest challenge was called The Happy Meal.  This involved what we ate for lunch--a Diet Coke, bag of chips and a hot dog--all blended together into a drink.  Matt and his dad Colvin had signed up for this challenge.  It was D-I-S-G-U-S-T-I-N-G!  Matt said the mixture smelled (and looked) like vomit.  He and his dad only managed to drink about a 1/4 of it.  Only one team downed the entire cup.  YUCK!  The challenge also involved a gigantic slip-n-slide where you had to collect flags.  We had a blast on Saturday.

Andrew usually comes up for the day and brings some toys.  He took people out on the jet ski.  Somehow I ended up driving tubers around on the boat.  I think the men were ready for a break and wanted to do some fishing.  The kids weren't ready to stop tubing so I stepped up to the challenge.  I've driven boats before, but I don't do it often.  We had fun though, and no one got hurt thankfully =).  We ended Saturday with dinner and a campfire devotional down by the lake. On Saturday night, we like playing glow-in-the-dark dodgeball.  I'm not sure dodge ball and small children are necessarily a nice union, but the kids have a blast (tears and all).  I opted out of dodgeball and stayed close to the fire mainly because my brain shut off when smores were  mentioned.  Kids roasting marshmallows on a blazing hot fire isn't the best combination. We figured it would be good to let the fire die down and play dodgeball first.  However, I wasn't about to leave an area where SMORES where about to be assembled.  Are you kidding me?  I love smores! After eating not one, BUT TWO smores, I headed over to the dodgeball field and wanted to tell Miles and Karson I was heading up to the lodge.  I knew both of my lil chicks would want to come with me.  About the time we left the field, it started sprinkling outside.  We made our way over to grab some smores and headed up the hill to the lodge.  We hadn't been in the lodge 10 minutes before everyone started sprinting inside.  The clouds opened up and dumped gallons of rain water down on the camp.  We were nice and dry inside--AND we had gotten our yummy smores too.  Whew =)!

Sunday morning is usually a blur--breakfast, worship, camp clean-up.  Our kids are always super sad when the weekend is over and are wishing they had more time at camp.  I wish I agreed with them, but I'm usually worn completely out and ready to get home.  This year was so much fun though.  Each year gets better and better.  We're so thankful for such a wonderful church FAMILY.

First Tooth

This week has brought yet another milestone for MILES.  He lost his very first tooth on Thursday, July 25.  I thought he'd never lose one.  He was so excited about putting it under his pillow last night.  He peppered Matt with loads of questions about the tooth fairy.  She brought him a $5 dollar bill too (we usually give the kids "more than usual" for their first tooth).  

The cutest missing tooth ever! Love this boy!  

Along with going underwater and losing his first tooth, he also gained a fun little ear infection.  I'm not sure which caused it but am thinking it's water related.  I took him to see Dr. Chris on Friday because his right ear had been sensitive to the touch for two days AND we were heading to church camp that afternoon.  I wanted to make sure it wasn't serious.  The doc told me his eardrum looked fine, and that it was probably swimmers ear.  My little snaggle toothed fish has to stay above water for the the next few days and get ear drops.

July in Review

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY -- BEECH BEND PARK

Okay, so I know I titled this post JULY in review, but I HAVE to blog our trip to BB which was at the END of JUNE =).  Shannon, Lisa and I took the kids make the trek to BB.  We've had season passes in the past but have decided to nix that purchase the last two years.  Since the Maglingers have a beautiful pool for us to enjoy during the summer, we just hang out there most weeks.  Beech Bend has become a special summer treat for us.  We try to go at least once. I knew this year would be exciting because Isaac was tall enough to ride the Kentucky Rumbler--BB's huge wooden coaster.  Last year he rode his first roller coaster at Holiday World (The Raven) and was "shaken" when he got done.  I was surprised by his excitement to try the Rumbler.  

The bigger kids started out at the Tornado while the little kids rode on the motorcycles.  It's nice because these two rides are right next to each other.

After the kids got done with their first rides, the big kids headed over to the Flying Bobs, and the littles kids went behind the Bobs to Rainbow Rock (one of those climbing/sliding/tunneling free standing jungle gym of sorts).  I was keeping my eye on the older kids because I knew they would be heading to Rumbler which is about a football field length away from  Rainbow Rock.  When the Bobs was finished I couldn't really tell where the kids were--I was hoping they would get on the Sea Dragon Pirate Ship.  No luck, I saw them at quite a distance heading for the Rumbler running :/.  Yikes, I thought to myself.  I hadn't told Shannon that Isaac was wanting to ride, and it would be his first time.  I told my friend Lisa I need to get over there quick and start sprinting (swim bag, flip flops and all) toward them.  It was to late by the time I got up to the Rumbler.  The kids were already loaded in.  Thank goodness Karson was riding with him.  I didn't want him to ride alone (Evan doesn't do roller coasters).  I asked him if he was okay to ride, and he said yes.  The coaster didn't last long before they came back, and Isaac had that stunned look on his face again.  I asked him if he was okay again, he said no =).  The Rumbler is exciting, but it's super fast and wooden coasters beat you to death.  He wasn't about to go on it a SECOND time like the wild girls in our bunch.

Enjoying more rides at BB.  We like to pack a lunch and avoid eating at the park.  This year, BB stopped their free soft drink program which was a bummer.  Isaac loves infinite soft drinks. After lunch, we headed to the pool which was nice and refreshing.  We ran in to some friends there which was fun -- lots of our friends still have their BB passes.  

Season passes at BB are a really great deal for what you pay.  However, I think going once a summer is enough for me. BECAUSE....

Our family thoroughly enjoys Holiday World (as you can tell by our large group size) which is only an hour and a half from Bowling Green AND it costs about as much as BB AND there is WAY more to do. 

I decided not to load to pack my camera for the trip this year.  We spend a majority of the day at the waterpark, and I figured Matt could snap a couple of photos with his iPhone.

The little and big kids usually split up immediately because the big kids are ready to ride the coasters.  Matt took Miles to the lil' kids area, and I headed to The Raven to literally get beaten to death on the wooden coaster.  Isaac was a trooper and wanted to to ride it.  By the end of the day, he rode it three times.  I'm excited he likes roller coasters.  The older I get, the less my brain can keep up and I leave coasters feeling confused about what just happened.  It helps if I close my eyes and reopen them during the ride.  I'm sure it would look funny if someone saw me, but at 50 MPH who's looking right?  We spent about 1/4 of the day at the park rides and the rest of the day at the waterpark.  We usually end the night in Holidog's fun town.  We took off around 7 p.m. that night completely worn out.

We've frequented Chick Fil A for breakfast and lunch.  Nothing makes Isaac happier than a 12 count of nuggets and a Diet Dr. Pepper for breakfast or lunch.

We've celebrated lots of birthdays in July beginning with my brother-in-law's on July 2.  I never know how to shop for men, and Matt's usually zero help.  I figured since Paul's birthday was around the 4th, I'd go to the Thunderdome Fireworks tent and get him some fireworks.  Fireworks can be pricey little suckers, but I was able to get some of the ones that shoot up in the air and some parachute troopers for around $25, and I also picked up some lottery tickets for him.  When we went to celebrate that night, I think everyone was excited about the fireworks so a few people took off to Sam's Club to buy even more of them.  It was a fireworks extravaganza.  Speaking of fireworks, we took the kids to Alvaton Church's annual fireworks show.  What a wonderful ministry this church has for our community each year.  The show lasted over an hour, they had inflatables for the kids, there was free food, drinks, snow cones, popcorn, you name it.  We loved it and loved fellowshipping with our friends there.

One of Karson's dearest friends, Kaylee, also celebrated her birthday this month.  It was a nice opportunity for all of our girls to get together and hang out--what a sweet bunch.  Her birthday was at Spa Fabulous.  The girls decorated sleep masks, had facials, get mani/pedi's and then had a runway fashion show. Love this group!

The twins celebrated their 9th birthday on July 18.  I had to include the invitation since I designed it--love doing invites.  We took the kids to Nashville to the Aquarium and to see the movie Turbo.

Our lil creatures of the sea =).  I can't believe Evan and Elizabeth are already 9 years old.  Our kids are growing up in a flash.  It seems like yesterday when Shannon and I were both preggers with our three-pack.  Thankful our kids have such incredible cousins and their relationships are so strong.  They literally would spend every single day and night together if they could.

In other July news, I got rear-ended.  My poor "new" car has had more accidents than my old van every had.  I went to happy hour at Sonic one afternoon during my break at SKyPAC and was enjoying my mozzarella snack pack and 1/2 price cherry limeade when cars started merging into my lane on Louisville Road.  The truck that came over in front of me slammed on his brakes and almost came to a complete stop.  I almost ran into him but didn't.  Unfortunately I got the brunt of his wreckless driving and got rear ended.  I felt sorry for the poor teenager who ran into me.  It could've happened to anyone.  It was just poor timing especially during my HAPPY HOUR =(.  All of well though, and the car was fixed almost immediately.  Back to new and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this will be the LAST big event to my bionic car.  Sheesh.

Big Splash!!!

Miles, like all our children, has had a healthy fear of the water his entire life.  For years, he hasn't liked having water in his face.  He tolerated it but didn't care for it. He was constantly getting out of the pool/lake/ocean/bath and wiping his eyes on a towel.  Yesterday was MONUMENTAL for him.  He started going underwater.  I'm sure for the average 6 year old this isn't a big deal, but for him, it was HUGE! When we were at the pool yesterday, he started covering his eyes and putting his face underwater.

  I believe his buddy Trapper inspired him the last time they swam together.  Trap was explaining to him how to put his face underwater and showing him how =).  

Once he got comfortable, I told him that googles really help when you go underwater.  Somehow I convinced him to put a pair of dive googles on.  It's nice how dive googles cover your eyes and nose.  I think regular googles are tricky for "beginners".  My other two kids loved the dive googles and started out on them.  We had to purchase Miles his very own pair yesterday when we left the pool. I see lots of underwater swimming in Miles's future.

Taylor Christian Camp

When it comes to my children, I don't consider myself over protective where I need to be around my children all the time and make sure they are properly looked after =).  But...there is a part of me that cannot shut off (and quite frankly I don't think it ever will)  because even when I'm not with my kids, they are on my mind.  I wonder what they are doing, if they are making good choices, if they are happy, safe, eating to much sugar =) and so on. As they get older, they need to have experiences that allow them to grow and make decisions on their own.  Isaac and Miles are to young to fly away from the family nest, but Karson is at the right age to be "on her own" and make sound decisions.   I wrestled with the idea of talking to her about church camp because I knew she would want to go--she loves camps. 4th grade is the first year you can attend church camp at Greenwood Park's summer camp.  The idea of Karson being without me for an entire week made me nervous.  I grew up going to Taylor Christian Camp and have loads of memories from my time there as a camper and counselor.  The most memorable was getting baptized in the creek.  My first year wasn't scary at all because my older sister was there as a camper, and my mom was there as a camp cook.  All of my church friends were there which made the week extra fun!  I knew Karson's experience would be entirely different from mine.  I think that's what made me the most nervous. She wouldn't know anyone, she would be on her own, and I would have ZERO contact with her for a whole week.  I had pretty much written off even discussing it with her because I had decided I wasn't ready for that.  On top of that, she has literally been to camp the last three weeks of summer--bball, vball and theater.  Moving on....

I went into Plano to each lunch with the kids around the end of the school year and was signing myself in in the front office when Vonda Chalfant came to the desk.  Vonda is the health aide at Plano and a friend of mine and also attends GP.  She said, "hey, what grade is Karson in?  She's old enough to go to camp this time right?"  I told her my anxieties about it, and she told me that she was the 4th grade counselor.  It was like God handed me a special gift, one I didn't want to pass up.  I knew Karson would be in good hands that week (not that I ever doubted that but personally knowing her counselor made it MUCH easier for me).  It was settled, she was going to camp. 

We arrived at camp last Sunday and dropped our darling daughter off with an arsenal of camp supplies.  Preparing a child for camp is much like traveling with a newborn/toddler on vacation.  You literally have to pack the entire house--leaving no possible supply behind.  I can't imagine how packed our car will be when all three of our kids go to camp.  Sheesh, I can't even think about that--I will be a nervous wreck when all three of them are there.

Karson was in Cabin #9 sharing it with eleven new friends. The drop off day is later in the afternoon where lots of people attend, help their kids get set-up in their cabins, a potluck dinner is shared and the evening closed with a devotional, then parents/siblings/friends leave.

I know Karson wished her cousin Elizabeth could have stayed--I know she would have had so much fun and wanted to stay.  Both girls were sad to leave each other for an entire week--they're BFF's =).

All the kids had a great time breaking in the playground.  Who would've have know a giant metal post with a tethered ball would provide SO MUCH entertainment.  Makes me think we might need one of those in our backyard???

We had six members from Community attend camp:  Tanner, Kolby, Tucker, Karson & Haley (not pictured, Jordan). Ok, so Karson wasn't ENTIRELY alone, but she was the only girl her age from our church.

I didn't talk to Karson at all last week.  No electronic devices are allowed at camp.  Vonda texted (she had to sneak to do so) me a picture of  Karson and a friend on the playground on Wednesday.  She told me Karson was having a great week--whew, so glad to hear that she was alive and well and having fun--what a relief. The kids had a pleasant week weather-wise until Wednesday night when the avalanche of rain started.  It rained non-stop on Thursday.  I felt bad for all the campers and knew they were probably holed up in the lodge or their cabins--WRONG. Karson told me when I picked her up on Friday afternoon that they did everything in the rain.  I think everything she packed was wet.  Vonda told us that their cabin was so stinky from all the wet clothes, towels, shoes, etc.

Overall, Karson had a wonderful first year and can't wait to go back again next year. I'm proud of my lil' camper!