Iron Lakes

We enjoyed a day trip to Iron Lakes with the staff.

The kids had fun wading the in the water.

It was a beautiful day.

 After spending most of the time in the sun by the upper lake, we found a shady spot to play by the lower lake on our hike back to the truck.

Paving

They repaved the parking lot and part of the road, and it was interesting to watch.

The kids also had fun riding their bikes on the smooth surface once it was done.

Last Weekend of Summer

Dave signed up for the final Friday dinner of summer, and Dad, Mom, and I helped him with the feast.

Saturday morning the Events team opened up the aerial adventure course for the staff. I got to try it for the first time and thought it was fun, but more nerve-wracking than I expected.

We had the summer celebration that evening, then Sunday was the final day of the summer season.

We finished summer off with a celebration lunch that Dave, Dad, and Mom helped me make.

Gayle had sent a box of stamps and ink pads with Dave, so the kids had fun trying them out.

Sunday evening, we went to a surprise birthday party for Sarah in Sherwood. We were pretty worn out after the weekend, but it was a fun evening.

Canning

The final week of summer is here. It was pretty jarring this year. I feel like the summer has been long already, but it's also surprising and hard to believe it's almost over. On Sunday, the kids had fun playing at the creek with Katy.

I took advantage of the cooler weather and an abundance of summer produce to have a couple canning days and make pickled jalapenos and peach and plum jam.

Visiting Dad and Mom

During the week of high school camp and Week in the Forest, the kids and I headed down to visit Dad and Mom. We had a productive shopping day and enjoyed going swimming. Michelle and the kids came to swim with us Thursday afternoon.

 We enjoyed a frozen treat after dinner that evening, then headed home Friday morning.

Sherwood Forest

This was a busy week. We had middle school camp, Sherwood, a new session of AIM, and outdoor adventure all running at once. The Trevinos came up for middle school and Sherwood, and Natalie came to be a junior cabin leader in Michelle's cabin. We spent a lot of time in Sherwood; Monday evening we went down for towne meeting to see the first part of the Robin Hood skit. Katy, one of Mary's favorite staffers, was playing Maid Marian. Afterwards, the kids were excited to get to pile into the Accommo car to drive back up to the staff area.

Wednesday morning we went to Reddingham to have breakfast burritos cooked over the fire by Samwhere Over the Rainbow. Jonah and the boys were in that hamlet, so it was fun to see them too.

Wednesday afternoon we went down during free time and made candles.

We went down during free time again on Thursday, and Hannah got to make her first Sherwood candle. She and David also had fun playing with their candles as they cooled in a tub of water.

Natalie came by every morning to visit for a few minutes before the cabin leader meeting, and it was fun to chat with her and hear about her week. Friday morning we went to Sherwood for the final towne meeting before the campers left.

Friday evening a group from Delhi Community Presbyterian Church came up to make dinner for the staff. It was a feast.

Hannah with her first Sherwood candle.

 We burned some of the candles during dinner this evening.

Fourth of July

Photo: Heather

We went to the Nickells' house to celebrate the fourth of July; as usual, it was quite the party. Isaac smoked ribs for dinner, and after dinner we went in the pool. David pretended to be a T-rex chomping off people's legs.

Mom helped me make a festive tart.

David and Mary got to try sparklers for the first time. They were hesitant at first, but with a little help they quickly got the hang of it.

Micah was excited about the enormous firework he bought. It was a good one.

Once David and Mary got going with the sparklers, they just kept doing more and more.

 

We were excited to get to see fireworks and celebrate.

Family Camp 2

Photo: Heather

Heather was the nurse for our second week of family camp, and Dad and Mom brought her up and stayed most of the week to volunteer around camp. It was fun to have all of them here.

Mary and David got to go to kids' club in the mornings, and loved being in Paul and Olivia's group. They had a ton of fun. Mom and I spent time altering, hanging, cutting, and sewing curtains. I was glad to have Mom's help as we finished up that project.

The theme Monday evening was "have a ball," and we dressed up and went down to the green after dinner for ball games and a ball.

Making art with marbles.

Dancing at the ball.

Tuesday was the Sherwood Faire, which the kids always enjoy.

Photo: Heather

 Wednesday we walked up to Eastview to see the projects Dad was working on up there. He spent most of his time working on a privacy fence by the bathroom.

Photo: Christina

A number of the family campers during the second week were people that Joshua and I were on staff with, including our good friends, Tyler and Christina. It's always nice to see them and their girls.