Peace, Love and Community

No summer would be complete without church camp. We began a new tradition last summer at our church. We call it Family Camp. The camp is on Friday afternoon/evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning, basically the weekend =). It's just perfect for our small church. Family Camp is held at Whispering Pines on Old Hickory Lake (about an hour from Bowling Green). Our theme this year was Peace, Love and Community. Above is our family sport'n' the tie dyed camp shirts.

What does one do at family camp, you ask? Well, we spend a majority of our time in the water. The camp is on a lake. A few people bring boats, jet skis and tubes for entertainment. The camp also has canoes. If the lake isn't for you, there is also a swimming pool.

-OR-

you can cool off in THE MUD PIT

Who needs a spa when you can exfoliate here for free?

We also spend lots of time eating the delicious foods the cooks prepare for us. I supply all the snacking goodies for the kids (chips and cookies). We also have smores during our nighttime devotional. Smores have to be one of my favorite dessert EVER!

Clowning around with friends at camp is necessary. I think these kiddos will be pulling some major pranks in the future.

The crevice is a camp highlight. Isaac made his way down the hole this year. Look out Mountaineering and Marksmenship 101, Isaac is pro-fessional. He scaled that wall about as quickly as any 5 year old could.

Karson was a bit more hesitant, such a girl! She's definitely inherited my "cautious" trait. She's very careful about any and everything that may be potentially dangerous. She made it all the way down the crevice this year. Last year, she made it about half way and decided enough was enough.

Karson, Elizabeth, Annabel and Cassidy playing a couple of rounds of CRAZY 8's. I see some rook players here. I distinctly remember sneaking behind the cabins at church camp (with my buds) and playing spades during "quiet" time. Don't tell Karen Preston our counselor!!! Sheesh, who needs quiet time when your a kid (I know who needs it now).

Family camp is a time to love on and appreciate your family.

We've made some pretty wonderful memories in our two years at Family Camp.

I sure do love my family (related and non-related)!!!

July What?

Anyone know where in the world the month of July went? I'm shocked that it is already July 23 and school is rearing it's ugly head. Plano's open house is a week from tomorrow. It doesn't feel like the summer should be over yet. Don't get me wrong, I love getting back into the school routine, but I'm simply NOT ready for structure and sending not one, but TWO of my kids away daily. And, Miles will be starting preschool (sniff, sniff). My days as a stay-at-home-mom are numbered.

Here are our top ten events of the month:

#1. After working hard on her "behavior", Karson earned a pedicure at her favorite spa SOHO. Note to self, do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT ever go to Soho on a Saturday, BIG MISTAKE. We waited for almost an hour because of a wedding party. In Karson's eyes, totally worth the wait!

#2. Spending time with family and friends at Beech Bend. I am so happy we purchased season passes this year. It was money WELL SPENT. I cannot imagine a summer without Beech Bend now. It certainly broke up the monotony that the summer can bring. Plus, it's a great way to wear the kids out.

This picture was taken minutes before the ride broke down with US on it. After we cooked in the sun for about 10 minutes, it finally started working again. The Wild Mouse has been Karson and Isaac's favorite ride this summer. They've logged many hours on the ol' Mouse.

teacups, pirate ships, flying bobs = big smiles

#3. Birthday parties. Evan and Elizabeth celebrated their 6th birthday with a pool party at Indian Hills. It was a fun-in-the-sun kind of day. (Above) Elizabeth, Karson and Kennedy striking a pose. Kennedy wasn't a party guest but was at the pool that day. She was in my preschool class years ago and played on my basketball team last winter. She is such a sweetheart and so is her precious family who I got to catch up with.

Pinatas and cupcakes~superb!

Evan and Isaac making waves in the pool~BIG WAVES.

Karson also went to birthday party for her friend Kaylee (middle) at the Skate Box. Karson looks like she is cross country skiing (and racing) when skating. It's comical to watch. I decided to have the "skate tech" loosen up her skates even more. She glided a little easier but still looked the same =).

#4. After two long seasons, both of the kids earned trophies for their accomplishments. Isaac's team was treated to a McDonald's party after their last game. You can imagine how LOUD and WILD it was in that playland with 12 hot, hyper little boys.

Karson's team was treated to party at Gattiland. It's been a great ball season all around. I hope my kids continue in organized sports, it teaches them so much.

#5. Backpacks have been selected for the impending school year. Karson was excited about picking hers out. The boys, not so much. I had to pick their backpacks up on a Walmart run. I did manage to organize all of the kids school work from 3 year old preschool up until now. I highly doubt they will want to keep when they get older, but I want to give them that option.

#6. I've been trying to read more this month. I wish we could've made it to some of the library events this summer, but it never seemed to work out.

#7. I've been preparing for Community Camp at Whispering Pines which is this weekend. I love that our church does a family camp over the weekend. It's short, sweet and a great time. When you're part of a small church, small events seem just right (although it takes a lot of work and effort from many people to make these small events happen). I like being in charge of kids crafts and snacks. I also decided to start doing an optional preschool storytime during the nightly devotional.

#8. I've been sifting through the kids winter clothes and preparing for the Polka Dot Door's winter consignment sale in August. I love consigning. I feel like it's a small source of income which I turn around and spend on replacing clothes for the kids. The PDD's sale is great because the return is 70% and what I don't sell, I take over to Kiddo's~win, win.

#9. No summer is complete without a silly string fight. The kids enjoyed running around a spraying each other. We may have to do a shaving cream fight next week.

#10. Karson attended basketball camp this week with the Lady Toppers. I logged many hours at Lady Topper individual and team camps during my summer years. Karson really enjoys basketball. We may have to get some Lady Topper season tickets. I LOVED Lady Topper basketball games.

Karson's friend and fellow teammate Erin attended camp. Karson's team name was the Lady Rainbows (sounds intimidating, eh?).

The camp ended yesterday and Karson got a medal, basketball, photograph of all the girls at camp, certificate, AND she received a trophy for scoring the most free throws.

~Sooo, there you have it, our July in a nutshell!~

GWL = HAPPINESS

We decided to take the kids on an impromptu mini-vacation this week. OPTION 1: We toyed with the idea of going to Myrtle Beach (with our Maglinger family), but since it's 4th of July weekend, everywhere was booked. And, to be quite honest, Matt and I didn't feel like traveling that far. OPTION 2: Holiday World which is fairly close, and we've heard great things about. -Or- OPTION 3: A trip to Mason, Ohio to the Great Wolf Lodge. Option 3 it was, and it was one, GRRREAT vacation!

Day 1: We arrived at Great Wolf Lodge around noon. Isaac loved the huge, carved wolves on the front of the hotel and was howling at them.

After checking in and getting our wristbands, we spent the entire day at the waterpark. The wristbands at GWL are like being on a cruise ship. They do everything--open your hotel room, charge items to your account and even babysit your kids--HAH. I have to admit that the waterpark was nice but overwhelming. Being outnumbered by one child makes it tough sometimes because they all have different water interests if you know what I mean.

Can you believe this place?

The blue slide at the top of these photos is called the water coaster. You ride in a sturdy, rubber three person boat through it. It's one of the coolest slides I've ever been on. I think Karson rode it at least 10+ times.

The outdoor pool backed up to Kings Island Park.


Miles has gradually gotten braver as the summer has progressed, but he's no daredevil. Trying new things like the lazy river or family slides sends his anxiety out the roof.

After we were all water logged, we spent some time in the Cub Camp playing and doing arts and crafts. It's a nice place to relax and unwind. They also had games and extra crafts for a small cost.

I wish I could've gotten some better pictures of our room. It was very neatly decorated much like the rooms at Disney World. You can look at all the themed rooms on GWL's website. We went for the KID KAMP suite with a patio. The kids "camped" in a tent bunk bed with their own TV. Isaac opted for the fold out couch bed. I love how cuddly he gets at night--he likes being close to us =).

Day 2: we spent the morning and early afternoon at the waterpark. The kids thoroughly enjoyed an area which we liked to call the WIPE OUT ZONE (btw, love this show).
Karson maneuvering the wobbly lilly pads.


Isaac was TO cute on this course. He was to short to reach the ropes at the beginning so he'd hop onto the first log like a frog, plant, slowly stand up and grab the ropes. He's such a lil' shrimp. Sometimes the lifeguard would notice and pull the ropes down for him. I was amazed that both kids could do this quite simply. I do believe they have more upper body strength than me =).

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I tried to pack lightly with food and snacks since the kids aren't big eaters. Sausage biscuits, powdered donuts, chips, goldfish, uncrustables and chocolate milk went a long way. Matt and I also decided to bring a cooler with drinks and leftover pizza which satisfied us. I didn't spend much at the ol' grocery store thankfully. I always feel like I buy and plan way to much. So, lunch was boring but cheap which is my point.

After our fine dining, Karson and I headed to the Cincinnati Premium Outlets for some shopping. The boys were completely content staying behind. My main reason for wanting to go was to find Karson some new Crocs. She managed to break the strap on her yellow ways during our trip. I found some cute cotton candy Mary Jane's for her. We also stopped at some of my favorite stores like J.Crew, Gap and Banana Republic. They also had an Under Armour store which I liked.

When we got back to GWL, we surprised the kids with a trip to Kings Island. They are running a twilight special of $19.99 after 5 p.m. Five hours is PLENTY of time for us at an amusement park.

Family picture at the grand entrace. I love this place! I've logged some serious time at King's Island. I think we went there every year when I was in the youth group at Greenwood Park. I think we also went a couple of times in college. There is a new coaster called the DiamondBack that I cannot wait to ride (some day).

We spent most of our time at Planet Snoopy. Karson is starting to branch out and ride more "thrilling" rides. She loved the Flying Aces which is one of those feet dangling coasters. If we'd had more time, I probably could've convinced her to ride some more daring coasters.

I've heard the Beech Bend Retro Rock show at least a dozen times this season. I think Karson knows all the words to "Itsy, Bitsy, Teeny, Weeny, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini". It was nice hearing Signed, Sealed, Delivered for a change.

Family time on the choo choo train.

Day 3: our final day at GWL. We spent the morning packing up the car and then headed over to the waterpark for one last hurrah.

THREE

HAPPY

CAMPERS!!!

Matt and I took the kids through McDonald's on the way out and found a P.F. Chang's on the map for us. We got a $25 gift card for our anniversary and thought that would be the perfect way to end our trip. We look forward to making many more GWL memories!