Jodi and family drove up the night before and stayed at our house. The next day, the kids played at the park, and then we split up the kids and hit the road.
We made it to camp later than the other families, but just in time for dinner. Here are the kids outside the lodge playing on the rocks.
After dinner, we headed off to set up camp. Since we were the last ones to arrive, our camp was the furthest away. We skipped the opening campfire because there was a lot to do.
We all survived the first night in our tents. Everyone was super tired and I think everyone slept well. The next morning we set off on the walk to the lodge. Before each meal, we sang some silly songs (it is a scout camp after all, and there were a few boy scout troops there) and then we each had to do a cheer or song to try and "earn" our food. Let me just say this - the food was pretty incredible. Not that it was the most amazing stuff ever, but they fed us three huge meals a day - probably more than I would have eaten at home. It's a good thing we had to walk so much!
These pictures were taken the first morning singing the Baby Shark song.
After breakfast, we split into groups and headed in each different directions. Our first stage was the BB gun range. Unfortunately, the moment we got there, Pierscen pooped his pants. This is incredibly rare and the whole thing was really strange. Of course, I wasn't prepared at all! I had to strip him down and wipe him down (thank goodness Jodi had wipes with her!). After than, we really didn't have an option but to head back to camp. But here are some pictures of the rest of the gang having a great time.
In the mean time... P and I on our mile long walk back to camp. Yes, it really was a mile (one direction). Good thing his shirt and jacket was long enough to hide the fact that he was pantless from the people we passed on the way.
We finally met back up with the group after BBs and part of the way through the nature stage.
The picture below was P standing on a tree stump showing off his muscles.
Following lunch, Ryan and his parents constructed a "boat" for the Duck Tape boat race. (Forgot to mention that this year's theme was Myth Busters). Friday afternoon there was going to be a big race at the pond. Ryan volunteered to be the captain of our boat for one. (It was just a box with Duct Tape all over it) and paddles made to fit his hands.
Then we headed off to make tie dye shirts for the family. Everyone else in camp made theirs the first day, but since we got in so late, we did it during free time.
That afternoon we headed down to the pond for our schedules waterfront time. I passed this sign on the way in and took a picture for my sister, Necia. She and her family were going to come but life happened and got in the way. :( The funny thing about it was that Bill, my bro-in-law was extra worried about bears and didn't want to come if there was a chance there might be one. I told Necia to lie to him and she had him convinced enough to come until some things came up that prevented it from happened. Anyway, there was no way he could have stayed fooled for long because bear precautions are a HUGE part of camp as it IS bear country. (We did not see any bears, but it's serious enough anything smelly had to go in the bear boxes and we weren't supposed to have food in camp.)
The waterfront time was a blast. Pierscen loved sitting in the boat and "helping" to paddle.
We had lots of fun back at camp too. We played frisby, catch, and hung a ball from the tree for the kids to swing at. (This is always a great source of entertainment, though one of the times the ball came back and hit Pierscen square in his healing head wound from the week before. It split it again and there was blood running down his face. Thank goodness it didn't burst completely open, but that was still sad.)
That evening as we were in line for dinner, Pierscen was super excited to eat hamburgers and oranges. He must have been super hungry because he was devouring the bun as we went to find a seat. However, a few bites into the meal he was passed out in my arms. It was cute, but sad. If he missed dinner, that was it. We can't have food at the camp and they don't have an open kitchen. Ryan and figured we at least had snacks in the car. The real sad thing about it was that the next day, all he could talk about was how much he wanted a hamburger and oranges. Poor kiddo.
At least they had popcorn and root beer floats that night as they watched the Duck Tape episode from Myth Busters.
The next day was close to a repeat of day one. Many of the same activities, plus a few new ones. The area was gorgeous. It made the very long walk back and forth enjoyable. And each consecutive trip seemed shorter and shorter.
We started off with the archery range - which P was thrilled about.
And we finally made it to the BB gun range.
The big adventure for the day was the climbing wall. I think all of the kids gave it a shot. Some of them were pretty good!
Pierscen was not to be left out of this one! Even though he was the tiniest kid there, and the smallest one any of the staff had ever helped, they let him give it a go. It was so dang cute!
Look how high he made it! It was at this point that he finally looked down and realized just how far up he was - and how scary it was.
However, instead of crying or screaming, he "politely panicked" by saying, "I come down now, please?!" His voice was rather strained and you could tell he was scared out of his mind, but he was so good!
He was a little too afraid to let go, so they sent one of the staff up to hold his hand on the way down. That's all he needed.
And when he reached the ground, he was very proud of himself. He loved it.
I have never been rock climbing before. But being 20 weeks preggo apparently didn't get me out of it. I'll admit it - it is WAY harder than I thought it would be. My father-in-law was teasing me about how much faster Pierscen went up the wall - and with much less huffing and puffing. I told him that the next time he was 20 weeks pregnant I expected to see him up there. All in good fun.
After climbing the wall, we had another Duct Tape activity where we split into two groups to see who could make a net that would catch and hold a huge rock using only Duct Tape, and the least amount of tape possible.
With some adjustments, our net did hold the rock, but we used a lot more tape than the other team. So we just change the purpose of our net. ;)
On the way back to our camp, Pierscen stopped to play hide and seek. No one knew he was playing except for Ryan who captured these super cute photos.
I think he intended to jump out and scare us, but he got tired of waiting. :)
Down at the pond things were serene... for a moment.
We all changed into our tie dye shirts so we could cheer Ryan on.
I loved the sign Ryan put on it - This side up. Good luck dude!
Ryan's box sunk shortly after he got in, but as long as he held onto it, it counted. He did amazing!
He was the first one across the pond and we thought that he had won, but apparently you had to go back again. The team next to him switched swimmers at the far side of the bank - something we didn't know you could do, so he didn't win on the other side. However, that being said - the rules were all pretty shifty and there was no real "winner" anyway. It was just fun to watch. :) I am super proud of Ryan. I would have died!
The next morning was breakfast, clean up, a mini birthday party for Natalie, and then the drive home.
We had such a fantastic time! The cousins were in heaven. It was such a great experience and I think we will definitely do it again in the future. Thanks to Ryan for doing the research and thanks to my amazing in-laws for making it happen. Thanks Camp Buffalo Bill!
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