Three's Company!: Adventurer's Campout

1 Year, 27 Weeks.

Alas, we are currently in the final prep days and stages for our big annual event, PumpkinFEST, which will happen this Saturday night, so this blog post will be short and sweet, and will resume normal structure and length next week.

I will, however, share our adventure with the Adventurer's Campout this last weekend. I just wanted to use the word adventure twice in one sentence! Anyway, it was held at the lesser known SDA retreat, Pine Lake, as opposed to Camp Kulaqua up in High Springs. Pine Lake is situated just west of Clermont, so very close and only about a 35 minute drive from our home in Ocoee. It was just going to be Braelyn and myself, since Tangie was in the middle of a very busy 2 week closing deadline and couldn't afford to take any time off during the weekend. Along with us 2 that were going to spend the weekend bunked together in the same cabin were: The Grodacks (5), Holloways (5), Deiningers (4), and the Bergherms (2), so it was a packed house! We all met as a group at the Crackel Barrel in Winter Garden for supper before we headed out. We were assigned to the "Bambi" house, and I would share what went on inside during the weekend, but we all decided what happens in the "Bambi" stays in the "Bambi!" But I did take some pictures, so you can see for yourself.

Brae and Daniel love the rocking chairs at Cracker Barrel!

Our group's table at CB. There was an older couple that saw us come in and sit down and they got up and moved to another table on the other side of the restaurant!

Kohlden trying to pick up the jelly container with his teeth!

Nothing better than eating mac 'n cheese with your hands!

Braelyn got excited when she saw the pumpkins.

The pink shoe club. Also, for breast cancer awareness. Save the tatas!

My body's relaxed.

Braelyn preps her inflatable sleeping bag between the bunks in the kids' room. She would later go to my room and crawl in bed around 5 AM.

Lisa Deininger reads the bedtime story. "...and God was not happy and caused the earth to open up and swallow them and their families...The End." Okay, kids! Time for bed!

Sabbath Tangie and the twins, along with my parents, joined us for service and lunch. The weather was just gorgeous and we were able to spend a lot of time riding our bikes back and forth from the cabin to the meetings, and around the campgrounds. Braelyn seemed to get more confident each time she would get on, and it helped that many of the kids had their bikes and zooming around all over the place. After lunch they left for home and naps and Braelyn and I joined a few parents and their kids to go canoeing. We ended up driving almost 45 minutes to get to Lake Louise on the Butler Chain of Lakes and only spent about 30 minutes actually on the canoe and paddling. Duncan and I did most of the work as Braelyn and Calleigh were really slacking and got tired paddling! No, but the girls had lots of fun and enjoyed their time together on the ride to and from the lake. That evening Braelyn helped serve a supper of haystacks after which we enjoyed a hay ride. How ironic. We topped the evening off with a camp fire and s'mores, winding down after exerting lots of energy in the inflatable boucy house obstacle course in the gym. And after the kids were all down for bed the adults got together for some card games "Aw Shucks!" and Dutch Blitz, where Corey Grodack spanked all of us good and healthy. She truly is, the Queen of Dutch Blitz.

The convoy of cars parked outside the "Bambi" house. We were the talk of camp!

I know I left my bicycle here somewhere...

An early morning slide.

Braelyn and Calleigh ride the trail.

Working on the family shield to show what we stand for.

A moving photo of Lolo and the twins.

The children in our cabin minus Aubree and Brady.

We rode in the Grodack's van to the lake, as the girls giggle with anticipation.

This calf was outside the fence and cut across our path as we were driving to the lake. Veal: It's what's for dinner!

Brae joins Lisa and Calleigh while we wait for our canoes.

And, of course, I couldn't pass up a photo op.

They could almost pass off as football players with all that padding. "Put me in, Coach! I'm ready!"

Aubs stands up to lookout for any alligators.

Braelyn partners with Danika to serve the Doritos.

Getting ready for our hayride.

Megan, Cal, and Brae in line for the bouncy house.

She loved the running start to the obstacle course.

She was so excited to make her and Daddy some more s'mores.

Ah, reliving the nights of a past life. "Aw Shucks!" How appropriate!

My parents took care of Maddy and Kohl while Tangie worked over the weekend. They were also kind enough to take Zoe down with them as we exchanged ownership with my Aunt Esther. Tangie had dropped her off to PetSmart earlier to get bathed and groomed, so they picked her up en route back to Avon Park. It was a bittersweet moment, as I realized that I was giving away my first "child" and how we got her for companionship and preparation for eventual parenthood. But in weighing the risks, we knew this was the best decision for all of us. Now I know how Jacob must have felt when he banished his first born Esau from the family dwelling. But she's in a happier place now, without the restrictions of gates and muzzles. I'm sure the 2 ladies are enjoying getting to know each other and spending time together. Thanks Auntie Es!