We Love Camping

We had our fall camping trip with Adventurers Club on Nov 1st-2nd.  It was supposed to be outdoors but thanks to some very low temps we simply rearranged that plan.  We had our camping adventure in the church/school gym!

We started off with the guide award.  We mad a map of our area and put each of our homes and addresses on it.  Then we took turns blindfolding someone and giving them directions.  It was rather comical at times--- turn left, no your other left ;-)

Then we started working on the cooking award.  The kids would prepare a 4 course meal, serve it and clean up after it.  Each camper was assigned a task!

 First Natalie and Jayna prepared the soup with Mrs. Laura.  Then of course they serves it.  I was surprised how it was the first time some of our campers ever had tomato soup.  Every last drip was eaten!  In our household of 4 we can never even down 1 can of tomato soup!

Next we had the prayer award and our time of worship together.

The second course of our meal was walking taco salad.  The kids had to shred lettuce, shred cheese, dice tomatoes, DJ and Anthony were too eager to smash chips, and then they served the taco salad along with condiments of sour cream, salsa and taco sauce.  Mr. Alan supervised Alexus, Tabi, Jewell, Cameron, D.J. and Anthony.

Mr. Blair supervised Sage, Ariel and Alonza making what he called "Tube Steaks" and what normal... err I mean typical people commonly call Hotdogs!

I supervised Will and Mateo making drink

Everyone was eager and ready to play Sardines-- similar to hide and seek in the dark--- well everyone but the big people who were cozy by the fire.

While most the kids were still playing Sardines Lexi, Tabi and Diamond helped Mrs. Melanie and Mr. Scott make our dessert: smores in a cup.

 Then we worked on our 4th award: hand shadows and we let the kids play with glow sticks

We played a greatly fun hula hoop game--- but since I was playing, no pictures available.  The kids got about 15 mins more of free time.  It was about 11 then, so all the kids had to get ready for bed and a last bit of fun around the fire before bed.

All the kiddos crawled into the tents, zippered their doors and got into their sleeping bags.

 

Some lucky campers slept well--- and others heard lots of coughing and were cold.  I was in that cold group!

As kids woke up-and adults too we gathered around the fire to warm up and most enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.

Levi and Miko prepared and served everyone breakfast: apple slices, bananas, cheerios, mini-muffins and yogurt

 AND THEN--- THE EXCITEMENT I COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT...
We were starting to tear down camp-- take down tents, clean up, pack bags.... Anthony wanted to tear down our map poster---He came and asked Mrs. Melanie and me.  At first I said no.  Then Mrs Melanie said it would almost be worth it to see the smiles n their faces (the boys who wanted to tear it down) so we said ok go ahead.  Anthony didn't wait for any other boys to help.  No one was really thinking about the stuff behind the poster (gymnastics mats for about 2.5 feet then a wall), but I also think we thought he was going to do a karate chop or something to it.... run up to it then chop.... yeah that's not what happened.... he ran alright... and fell to the floor.  I thought he was being silly... then realized he was hurt but I still told him to get up and calm down.... and then the down pour of blood gushed from his nose and some from his mouth.  It took 2 blood drenched shirts before the flow stopped- but still it was bleeding some and it was clearly painful.  Pastor Mike drove us to the Urgent Care.  I showed great restraint in not taking 100 pictures of this accident, a is my norm when each kid got stitches to the head (5 and 8 yrs ago).  His nose was broken.  There was no magic cure.  We left with ice and a rx for a nasal spray to get the swelling down.

running into the mats/wall; and Anthony's face 4 hours after the injury happened

While we were there the adults had finished tearing down camp and Mrs. Melanie had taken most my crew back home to their houses.  So I just went straight home with Anthony and Alonza-- mom took Jayna to church.
Later on we headed to Mr. Goody's ice cream for their last day and because I hear ice cream can fix anything.  And I got to meet the most precious Miss Aliyah, my friend's daughter born in June <3
It is an understatement to say this was quite the memorable weekend :-)