fall camping

Have I told you people how much you rock lately??? That's right, you my friends. The ones reading this. Your sweet comments and encouragement from recent posts totally floor me. Everytime I get another one, it feels like a big ol' hug. I'm serious. What a network of friends that make me feel so special. I am blessed.

So wanna see what we were up to this weekend??

We were at a church campout at Camp Amigo in Sturgis, Michigan. Yup, the ol' stompin' grounds as Donovan likes to say. As a girl growing up our church (Locust Grove) would also have a church campout at the very same camp ground. So it was pretty neat to be at the same place some 20-25 years later. Our first night we shared a meal with friends/cousins Ben & Jen. How fun to set up camp and have our supper ready and waiting when we were all set up. Thanks Jen, it was delicious.
The next morning the fabulous 4 forgot to reset their internal clocks to weekend mode and were up at the crack of dawn. I lay there in our borrowed camper trying to "pretend" to be sleeping amidst all the noise. I kept thinking if I shut my eyes tight enough I could block them out. And this is how it went....

Donovan looked over and said, "really?... you think you're going to be able to sleep with all this racket?"
Me: "Well, really can't you just do some bonding with them and let me go back to sleep? It's not even 7 a.m."
Donovan: "Well, I could take them out fishing."
Me: "REALLY?" I wanted to go too, but can't we do that later? Like in an hour or so?"
Donovan: "Well, what else can we do for an hour?? I think I'll just take them. You just go ahead and sleep in."
I lay there after all the chaos left for a good 12 minutes solid. Thinking of how I should get my lazy *beep* out of bed and join these people who keep me from sleeping in. On a Saturday. Who I love despite the early hour of waking. I got dressed and headed out in search of a cup of coffee. Which I scored with a bonus long john. (Thanks Marlys & Loretta) I called Donovan on his cell to find out he had them all loaded up in a boat and would pick me up on the dock halfway across the lake from where he loaded them in.

Here is the part of the story that needs to be set straight. You see all these morning people and people with other small children were out and about, sitting around camp fires only saw one parent taking the sweet children out to go fishing. Which he technically did do all by his handsome little self. I know he did get Suzy dressed. He did get them all life jackets. He did get a snack for little ones to keep them occupied. But HELLO???!!!! Little Miss Guilt Ridden did get her lazy *beep-beep* out of bed. She did join the precious memories.
And she did get to see her firstborn son catch his very first fish. So to set the record straight for all those that for the rest of the weekend razzed me about "getting to sleep in" I was there. I did feel bad for getting to lay in bed. I only missed the hard part. (which was life jackets, loading 4 small children into a row boat, and rowing accross the lake to pick up lazy lady) I am blessed, I know it. And spoiled. I know.
We shared a breakfast with all of the church after our fishing. Which was about 180 people!!! It was hot, it was delicious. It was amazing. Kudo's to Aunt Cathy & Uncle Sam for planning the weekend.
The weekend also helped us get to know each other better. For us all.

Jack just may turn out to be a ladies man, like his daddy. William enjoyed some organized childrens games and bubbles with little friends.
Isabella had fun too....Here she is with some friends that are sisters- Whitney and Cassidy. There was a soft serve ice cream machine the church had brought with 3 flavors. Isabella said she lost count after 5 cups.


Suzy with her friend Kamryn, who happened to be wearing the same cute shirt. Great minds think alike, right Brooke??

And then there was some women's / men's tug of war compentions, and organized volleyball. Absolutely perfect weather for playing outside.
Here is a small group of some friends I got to know better. Just wish I would've gotten more pictures of all the fun people we were with!!! There was lots of fun hours spent around the camp fire after all the kids were tucked into bed, just having fun.
What an awesome weekend spent with great people. I'm already looking forward to next year's church campout.

Quote of the day:
from this past week....
Jack sneezes, while putting dishes away.
Me: "Bless you Jack. I wonder if you are developing allergies."
Jack: Yeah, I'm allergic to dishes"
Me: laughing out loud.
Jack: "I'm serious!"