Grandpa Camp



Everybody in the Family

 Part of our vacation included Grandpa Camp.  I love that my parents put this together every year.  It was fun to see Natalia participate more this year and I know that she and Sienna will look forward to it each year as they get older.  It is also so much fun because it gets everyone in the family together at the same time.  I love to go back to my parents' house and see/spend time with my siblings and their families.

Grandpa camp started off with a yummy pancake breakfast (grandpa likes to hide little surprises in the pancakes).  Then all the kids got to check in to grandpa camp.  This included being weighed and measured, plus literally signing their name.  Natalia added a nice little scribble.  All the kids received their grandpa camp shirts and and necklaces.   After that we headed to Cabela's Outdoor store.  What a fun place this was for kids; tons of animals to check out and huge fish tanks. 


Garret, Natalia, Adele



Natalia also got to sport little (very little) pig tails for the first time.  I thought Sienna might beat her to it, but Natalia wins, she got the first pig tails.  Sienna's hair is long enough, but too thin.



Spencer, Naomi, Natalia, Garret, Adele



Natalia getting her beads



Adele, Ridge, Naomi, Spencer, Natalia, Garret




Grandpa, Garret, Adele, Natalia




Spencer, Natalia, Adele, Garret, Grandpa





Natalia, Hector, Leah, Naomi, Fishies



Naomi, Leah, Natalia

The kids had a blast at Cabela's.  When we got home the kids got to enjoy a yummy special lunch from Grandma's Goofy Garden. 

After nap time, we headed off to the beach.  My dad build a great row boat for the kids.  Natalia loved riding in the boat, but she wanted me by her side the whole time.  She would lean over and let her hand run through the water as we glided along.  She is still talking about the boat and the water and how she put her hand in.  I believe she thought she was pretty brave.  We tried to put her in the kid kayak, but she wanted nothing to do with that. 


Hector and Sienna

  

Me and Natalia



Natalia taking a break in the stroller with her fruit snacks

I am still convinced that Natalia's favorite part of the trip was the unlimited supply of fruit snacks that my mother provided.


Natalia and her "fout nacks"




Spencer, Dan, Natalia, Me




Spencer, Natalia, Me

 By time we walked back from the beach the kids were pretty dirty and hot, so the little pool that was out on the lawn became a makeshift tub.  The kids stripped down to their undies and played in the front yard in true redneck still.  My mom even had a tepee for them to play in (homemade of course). 

Natalia, Adele, Naomi

 The kids had a great first day of camp.  They all loved earning their beads.  Spencer got a special bead for being the first kid to tip over in the kayak.  Hopefully he will be the last one too.  The men all went off on a man night and us ladies stayed around the house and enjoyed some girl time after all the kids were in bed. 

Exhausted Sienna


 Day two of Grandpa continued with great fun.  Anna's family joined us at the park in the morning and we had everyone together finally.  It was so much fun to see my parents with all their grand kids.  What a fantastic family we have!  We had fun playing at the park, even the men enjoyed some Can Jam (who says grandpa camp is just for the grand kids).  In the afternoon there was a boat making wood project.  Natalia was surprisingly good with the hammer.  More playing in the pool for the little kids.  The older kids went on the zip line and the rope swing, used blow guns and BB guns and I am sure other unsafe piece of artillery, but they had fun.  The adults and kids alike had fun with grandma's guessing game and the kids had a blast with grandma's crafts.  The kids were quick to inform me that because they did three different crafts, they needed three craft beads.  Natalia wore her little coin purse that she made the entire trip home.  We practically had to pry it off her.  The big kids and grandpa slept in the cabin Saturday night, maybe in a couple of years Natalia will be ready for that.  Sienna still has quite a while before she is ready.

Tyler and Joe




Hector and Dan




Back: Nicole, Garret, Spencer, Hailey, Grandpa, Ramona, Sienna, Grandma, Titus, Ridge
Front: Lydia, Kyle, Naomi, Katie, Adele, Natalia





Popsicles! Yummy!




Hector and Katie playing the jar guessing game



Heather, Ridge, Katie, Hector

Natalia doing crafts

The last part of Grandpa camp ended on a spiritual note.  Since we were all together on Sunday morning, Rachel decided to bless Titus while we were all attending my parents' church.  It was so nice to have everyone there for his blessing.  He is the newest addition to the family and a good reason for everyone to be together.  I am so glad that we got to be a part of his special day.  Because we live so far away we miss most of the special occasions in the lives of our nieces and nephews.  It was really nice to be a part of this one.

Heather, Rachel, Mom, Anna, Leah, Stephanie

 



Rachel and Titus