Messy

I don't know any kid who doesn't like a smore's. William absolutely loves them. At least for a bite or two, then he's done. This particular smore's was particularly enjoyable especially since it was all over his face when he was done.

Bike

After 7 years of going to school, one class at a time, Ben finally graduated. With all his hard work, it was finally time for a reward. He treated himself to a nice new bike. He got a pretty good deal on it too because he agreed to assemble it himself. When it was finally delivered he was like a kid in a candy store. He couldn't wait to open it. Sadly he had to wait : (. Just because he's done with school hasn't changed his schedule. He's still just as busy, just not with school.

New bikes

With Ben getting his new bike, we decided that it was time for the boys to get something. 

We went to the store and picked out the buggy car for William and a bike for Owen. After picking out a helmet for Owen, William really wanted on, so we got one for him too and when we got home he insisted that he wear it while riding in his car. 

After getting the boys car and bike going, Ben tuned up Gabbi's bike and the kids rode around the patio and driveway. The did so for hours without stopping.

6-23-2016 more softball

The season (6 weeks) is now half over. They haven't won a game yet, but they have constantly said its not about winning or losing, it about having fun.

This particular game made me laugh. The ref was awesome. Ben was up to bat and he was determined to hit the ball. He literally swung at everything. The poor ref had pity on him and by the time Ben sat back down he had had 5 strikes and 2 foul balls. The ref said something along the lines of "at least you gave it your best effort." Ben just laughed and told him thanks and went back to the dugout.

They again lost, but at least the ref made it entertaining.

Bruise

At the Camp Kiesel adventure the leaders had a chance to shoot with the bow and arrows. I knew as soon as I shot off that first arrow that I had either done it wrong or just had bad luck. Apparently I over extended my elbow and the string from the bow bounced off my forearm and left its mark. It instantly bruised and slowly got bigger as the day went on. 

Even the days that followed it continued to grow and change colors. Even with Ben's bruise gel, it continued to show how unlucky I was while shooting a bow and arrow.

Its crazy that you can see exactly where the string had originally hit and how much it grew.

Activity days day camp

Primary has had some fun aspects, its not all work. 

Our Activity day girls were going to day camp at Camp Kiesel and they were short one leader. Our Activity Days Leader asked me if I would go as a substitute. I happily agreed and found a sitter for the boys. Gabbi was really excited and so was I. This was her first time at day camp and only her second time attending an Activity days activity. 

We got up bright and early and met at the church. Once all the girls were there we headed up to the camp. It was a longer then necessary ride, if you know what I mean, and I was not excited to see that we had to stop because of some construction. I was grateful when we finally got there and weren't confined to the van.

We followed the directions of the camp leaders and headed to the giant field filled with picnic table and and open area to play games. Some of the groups there were playing games while we waited for further instruction. Once we were given our instructions we headed to our first activity.

Our first activity was a nature walk. We were directed by a few of the camp leaders to go up the hill and start our walk at the top. They talked about different types of plants and animals that we could possibly encounter in nature. The girls weren't huge fans of the nature walk, but were excited when they found out were it led.

It led us to our next activity down on the water. I was in one boat with half of our girls and Aimee was in the other with the rest. Some of them were very apprehensive about getting in the boats, but were helped in with some encouragement from the rest of the girls. I was so proud of them. They each seemed to have a lot of fun. I was just glad that we didn't tip over.

After getting off the water, we then headed to the outpost or the camp's store. Each of the girls were told that they could bring money, as long as it was okay with their parents, to purchase something at the store. They had treats, necklaces, shirts, stones, gems, etc. Gabbi really wanted something to I ran to the van and let her pick one thing. She ended up picking a mood ring.

When our turn in the store was done we went out into the yard in front of the store to play a game. It was a name game where you had to repeat everyone before you and what they liked. (example; I'm Gabbi and I like gorillas, I'm Jerilyn and I like jaguars and she's Gabbi and she likes gorilla) They went around the whole circle of about 15 to 18 girls. I felt bad for the girl at the end. That one was hard, even for me.

Next we headed to the obstacle course. We met at the beginning of the course and the camp leader explained how the course went and what the girls were expected to do.

The first started with the rope bridge. I was surprised at how many girls this scared. It didn't seem like much to me, but to some of the young girls it was a great stumbling block, but all our girls were able to accomplish the bridge with no problems.

The they had to run across and wood beam without falling off.

Then they ran down the trail where they encountered tires. They had to crawl over a giant tractor tire, crawl through one, and then run through a course of tires. Once they had completed that they were all done. 

One by one each of the girls completed the course. When they exited the course it exited in the field where another camp leader helped them play a few games while we waited until it was time to rotate.

When it was time to rotate, it was the lunch rotation. When we first got there we had walked over to a long bench, all the picnic table were taken, and put our stuff down. That's where we ate out lunch. Most of the girls tried to fit on the bench, the rest of us just sat on the grass. When lunch was over we headed to our next activity.

Our next activity was the shooting range. They had it off into the woods a little so it there wouldn't be and chance of anyone getting hurt. The camp leader explained the rules of the shooting range and then broke the girls up into three groups. They took turns with the BB shot guns. They had many things to aim at and each of them did pretty good. Gabbi even manage to hit one of the targets.

Next we headed to the archery range. When we got there the camp leader showed them how to hold and shoot the arrows at the hula hoops. There was a giant wall of hay set up with hula hoops tied to the barrels of hay. Each of the girls were to aim at these hula hoops. They each got to shoot 5 arrows. Each of the girls had a hard time with their first one or two arrows, but the last few they had no problem. I don't think anyone made it in the hula hoops, but a few of them got close.

We leaders even got to have a turn. I regret it later, but I still had fun.

We then headed to a discussion room. We sat down and talked about the dangers of some animals in nature and some emergencies we might face. None of the girls enjoyed this rotation, but they were at least well behaved while there.

The he headed to our final and last activity, the craft.

The whole theme for camp that year was Neverland as in Peter Pan and Captain Hook. They had whole big story to go along with it. This last activity, the craft, was to make pixie dust from Tinker bell. Peter Pan was there explaining and helping all the girls with the pixie dust. Their pixie dust went into and small jar that they tied with a leather cord to make a necklace. They were pretty cute. The girls loved them.

When they were done with their craft, we headed back down to the bench and waited a few minutes to make sure things were done. Once we were given the go ahead, we headed to the vans and headed home.

Magic

Ben found an old magic show that we used to watch when we were in high school, Magic's Biggest Mysteries finally Revealed. The kids have fallen in love with it. They love to watch the performed magic tricks and then they try their best to see if they can guess how its actually done. It's quite entertaining to hear them and their possible answers.

The best part with this new discovery of magic is the new game the kids have to play. They have now started to perform their own magic tricks. They are based on the ones they have seen on the show, but how they perform them is hilarious. Its an awesome show of their imagination, I love it.

Ta-Da

Splash pad

With the kids complaining that they are bored at the park, we mom's decided we would try something a little differently. We planned on going to the Riverdale splash pad. There were four of us mom's planning on going.

We ate lunch at the school and then headed to Riverdale. When we got there the kids quickly got into their swimsuits and then ran to the water. It was hot enough that I would have joined them, but opted to just walk around the outside stretch of the water.

In the past the kids have been apprehensive about running through the water, it always took some enticing and bribing, especially Owen. Ironically enough this time Gabbi and Owen had no problem at all. They got in there and ran around like champs. It probably helped that they had friends to run through the water with. 

William on the other wasn't sure about it. I had to walk around with him to show him that the water wouldn't hurt him. We started with some of the small stuff and then I tried to see if he would expand to the bigger water features. He refused, he wanted to stay on the outskirts. He would touch the water with his hands and feet, but that's about it.

When I walked back to our spot in the park he wasn't far behind him. He told me he was done. I changed him back into his regular clothes and he just sat on my lap the rest of the time.

Naps

William no longer takes the "mandatory" nap, but we often find him taking one anyways. We find him in the weirdest places and sometimes in the weirdest positions. He such a cutie to watch sleep.

Father's day

Father's day had finally approached and the kids were excited for Ben to open his gifts from them. 

First we made a special breakfast for him, waffles with Nutella on them. I can't stand Nutella, but he loves it. 

Ben had a lot of fun with his gifts. The kids wanted him to open them up right away, but Ben told them that he wanted to get ready for church first. So we all got ready for church. The kids got ready faster then they ever had before.

Once they were all ready we all gathered in the front room so he could open them up. Each of the kids got to pick out an outfit for him and then we added a pair of flip flops to top it off.

Once when all was said and done for an added treat we all walked to church.

Camping weekend with Nelson and Deann

The June get together was a mix of two different events; the fish fry and camping. When no one else came to the fish fry we tried again with a camp out at Willard. No one responded about the camping so we made plans and if they came they came, if not oh well. 

We weren't able to come and stay the night because Ben already had fishing plans for early Saturday morning, but we made the best of it. 

We went up Friday night after Ben got off work. When we got up there, Nelson and Deann weren't there. We weren't sure where they were, but assumed that they'd be back; after all their trailer was still there. We pulled out the Frisbee and the catch and release game. We took advantage of the space. The kids ran around chasing the Frisbee and the wiffle balls all over that field. 

After a little bit Nelson and Deann drove up. They had been at Smith and Edwards, just for the fun of it. We sat down and visited a little bit, then Nelson pulled out the Bean bag toss game. We all took turns playing. First it was Grandma and me against Nelson and Deann. Then it was Nelson and Deann against Ben and I. I don't think no matter what team I was on, we never seemed to win. Whether it was my bad our whoever I was partnered with, it never quite panned out. Nelson and Deann were on a roll.

The boys saw how much fun we were having with the bean bags, Nelson set up one for them. The sat there and took turns throwing their bean bags at the board. I was impressed how close they would get. They both managed to make a few in the hole.

While the boys were playing with the bean bags, Gabbi really wanted to play catch with Ben. After watching Miranda play a few games, Gabbi has really fallen in love with softball. She asked Ben to show her how to catch and throw the softball. I have to admit, I am impressed how quickly she caught on and how well she was doing. Not to mention how much fun she was having.

She was having so much fun that Owen ran and got his mitt to play catch as well. The softball barely fit in his mitt so Ben pulled out the baseball for him. He did okay, but I think it frustrated him more then it made him happy. He didn't last as long as Gabbi.

With the sun going down that meant there wasn't much to do. Deann told the kids they could walk the dogs. They each took turn walking Pooper and Tinker. Ben just gave me the look of "see our kids need a dog" and I just kept shaking my head. They were cute with them and they loved walking and playing with the dogs, but I just can't do it.

While the kids were walked the dogs, Nelson got the fire going so we could roast marshmallows before heading home. The kids each took turns with Ben roasting their marshmallows and once they were ready I had their graham crackers waiting and ready to go. They each had two, I couldn't believe it. I can't eat to without getting sick to my stomach. Once the kids were done with their s'mores we headed home for the night.

The next day Ben headed out fishing while the kids and I were still asleep. I was told to leave without him if he wasn't home by noon. So the kids and I took our time and once we were done with lunch we headed back to Willard with no word form dad. When we got there it was quiet. They were in the trailer resting, so the kids took advantage of the bean bag game. It was still sitting out from the night before.

Sadly it was hot and there wasn't much shade, so they didn't last very long. We pulled out the blanket and laid it on the ground in the on shade available. The kids surprisingly to a nap. All be it a small one.

They were all done napping when Nelson and Deann came out of the trailer. Not to mention Ben had finally called and said that he was on his way. Deann watched the kids for me while I headed to the parking lot to go get him. Halfway there I had to turned around when I saw him in the back of someones truck. So I turned around and headed back to the campsite. It had been Amanda and her boyfriend in a new truck which is why I didn't recognize who Ben was with. We all sat around the table and visited for a little bit.

It was still hot and the kids were going crazy. Nelson had gotten up to run a water hose from the trailer to the spigot to fill up the water take. In the process there was too much pressure and the hose broke. So Nelson took advantage of that and started a water fight. It was so fun to watch Nelson and the kids soak each other. Ironically enough, Deann had given the kids and small water gun full of candy. The kids had eaten the candy by now and had ran over to fill them up with water. They were no match for the hose, but they still had a blast trying to shoot Nelson. At one point Nelson had pyt the hose down and that turned the tables. Gabbi got him good. It was funny. 

Nelson had finally called it quits, but the kids kept going at it. I tried to get them to stop, but Ben stopped me. He said that they were fine, it was hot and this was finally cooling them down. Oh well. I was just glad that I keep extra clothes in the van, so they had something to change in to when they were done. I didn't however have extra shoes. None of them like walking around in wet shoes.

Before changing them into those dry clothes, we decided to go for a walk to let them air dry. They took turns walking the dogs up to the top of the bay. We walked up to the where they dock the boats. At the top there was a bathroom and some picnic tables. We sat the the picnic table while the boys and the kids explored. They went down to the waterfront and throw stones into the water. I was just waiting for one of them to fall in. Luckily that didn't happen.

When we got bag from our walk, the kids changed their clothes and then we all played the bean bag toss game again. This time round Ben and I did much better. We still got creamed, but not by as much as last time.

After we were done playing we got things going for dinner. We made simple and easy. Everyone brought their own meat and a side to share, like we do every time. We brought hot dogs for the kids, brats for us and a salad to share. Grandma asked for my jello salad, so that's what we brought. When we were done with dinner the kids again were able to make s'mores and then we headed home.