Remember us filming our RE: campaign a couple of months ago? Well, this past weekend was the culmination of those few months of promoting our annual retreat for the church, and we headed up for a fun filled weekend at Camp Kulaqua.
It was a great weekend, with incredible weather and temperatures, we were very lucky. Usually it's either too hot or too cold...scratch that. It's never too cold from what I can remember. But there's usually some sort of precipitation involved, either in a sporadic sprinkle or all out rain for the entire weekend, but this year it was perfect. I would say it was a perfect weekend, but then I would be fibbing just a bit.
The one downside of the weekend was that our family was the only one in the mini-lodge this year because both of our usual family companions ditched us!! The nerve!! But, before you start judging, let me just say it was for good reason! The Bergs had to go to Collegedale to attend Bruce's younger brother's graduation (although Jennifer and the boys kept wishing they could not go and instead attend the church retreat and have Bruce drive up to TN himself!) and the Grodacks made a last minute decision to not come up on Friday due to Colby experiencing the effects of the stomach bug, and they didn't want re-distribute it back to us (bless you!), as we had had it last month. They did, however, come up on Saturday and stayed in a room at one of the lodges. So it was very quiet and quite lonesome having a 4 bedroom/3 bath lodge all to yourself, and especially so when you baked 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies to share! And I forgot to mention, since Tangie couldn't leave work when she had planned she told us to go ahead and drive up and she would meet us, which actually worked out since we really didn't have any room for her with all the stuff we were bringing for our 2 day expedition. I even had to leave several things for her to pick up and take up with her in her car; she arrived at the camp around 9 that night. So we ended up having both cars up there for the weekend.
Aside from that though (and the fact that since Florida hasn't had any rain in forever and the entire state was under a fire ban, hence no bonfire for the s'mores roast) it was a perfect weekend. We let all the kids ride their bikes around camp with their friends, and they did well being responsible to show up for meals, Sabbath school and church, and the weekend activities. We also did something new this year and joined 152 church members on the tube float down the Ichetucknee River; it was very serene and relaxing, the water chilly but refreshing. We enjoyed the lazy current as we floated under the oak and cypress canopy, singing and catching up with friends and experiencing the natural beauty before returning back to camp for the usual large group supper coordinated by Amy Z. Evening festivities were to follow, ending with a movie in the chapel that took us to bed past midnight.
Sunday morning was also fun in that Brae and Kohl decided they wanted to experience the blob at the spring, so they went with Mommy while I finished up packing for our drive back. They had a lot of fun doing the blob and swimming with their friends; Maddy opted to just wade beachside and play with the sand with some other kids. We met up with the Drapers for lunch at The Great Outdoors restaurant and then found a couple of wildflower fields to do our traditional photo shoot on the way home.
On the drive up, Brae and Kohl promptly fall asleep!
Our sad, forlorn Mini-lodge #8.
Usual Friday evening supper at The Diner with friends.
Kohl and the Whitaker trips along with a panda.
Attending Friday night vespers at the fire bowl.
Taking them on a late night bike ride to get them tired for bed!
Alone with the Mrs. enjoying conversation and 4 dozen cookies!!
We even brought a whole spread for the coffee shop.
Success! Tuckered out.
She slept hard!
Traipsed over to the chalets to join our friends for breakfast.
Taking a photo of Pastor Barb taking a photo of me!
And here was her photo of me taking a photo of her!
The kids sitting up front for Sabbath School.
Kohl hanging out with the Cochran boys.
Maddy sitting pretty.
Sitting with Mommy and Daddy during service.
We had a beautiful baptism in the spring immediately following church.
Kids table at the cafeteria eating lunch.
Eating cookies on the front porch before we head out with the tubing group.
In line to pick up our tubes.
Getting dropped off by the tram at the start of the tubing part of the river.
But first a trek through the forest.
Kohl and Mommy bringing up the rear.
Finally on the river, we lashed our tubes together with bungees to create one big float.
The kids enjoyed drifting along...
But not as much as they enjoyed the snacks Daddy brought along!
We hooked up with the Drapers on the river and we all hung out together for the majority of the float.
Maddy joined Abbie on her tube and hung out together.
Finally made it back to join the big group already feasting on supper.
We missed out on the big group photo though.
Everyone brought something and it was all delicious!
Looked like Kohl was devouring all the "fireless" s'mores!
Saturday night activities in the gym, Maddy joins the Grodack and Z kids for a race with a spoon on monster feet stilts!
Kohl getting dragged around by Malcolm on the sleeping bag race.
Enjoying the night hayride with friends.
Maddy wades in the water while Brae warms up in the sun.
Kohl and Mommy watching others do the blob.
Enjoying a nice lunch with the Drapers, we sat inside since it was pretty warm outside on the patio,
but it is their patio that has a better ambiance.
Captured some
individual portraits of the
kids in the wildflower fields.
It's one of my favorite traditions of this trip!
We found this nice big one full of yellow flowers!
The girls picking some among white sprinkles.
Kohl getting some for Mommy.
Here was our week:
Friday morning, baking the 4 dozen cookies!!!
Dropping Tux off at the hospital for boarding, he was so excited and jumping around,
here it looks like he's biting the handler on the arm!
But first a quick stop at the park for lunch and play.
The twins chose to eat their lunch here.
Can't get over lost tooth smile!
Monday after Kulaqua, the 2nd and final cavity filling dentist appointment.
Picking up some smoothies afterwards, for her and her siblings at school.
A quick trip to the Science Center for an hour to kill time Tuesday afternoon.
Kohl working on building a race car.
Braelyn and her magic floating balls!
I didn't make a mess!
But apparently this one did!
Supper out in College Park.
They opted for Chinese and sushi, and this restaurant had both!
Back to the school for the Spring Concert program.
Maddy and her girlfriends.
The twins and their buddies.
Brae and Allyssa before the concert began.
Braelyn was inducted into the National Elementary Honor Society, she being one of 6 fourth graders out of 24 in her class! Requirements included outstanding scholarship and responsibility, and a commitment to excellence in service and leadership. So in essence, be a really good kid and get good grades!
With her 4th Grade teacher who is also the NHS sponsor, Mrs. Braga.
Super proud of this girl. Congrats Brae, way to go!!
A very proud and happy family. Well done to all the kids!
The girls fashioning their matching outfits from Deeda!
Swinging by Chick-fil-a for a mid week treat!
Not too thrilled about her soft serve ice cream.
Buddy destroyed his yogurt parfait.
Working on some Mother's Day cards.
Randoms:
Brae 10 year old stats in height
and weight compared to others in her age group.
Package arrived that was compensation for a job I did several weeks ago.
Brand new full body zero gravity massage chair! Massage envy much?
But apparently the kids thought they needed it more than the parents did.
Kohl laughing because it tickled him instead of massaging!
Biker gangs at Kulaqua.
"Fireless" s'mores don't look that appetizing, unfortunately.
Goodness! It's only May!!!
Nice parking job!
Beautiful eggs from our egg supplier!! Love these fresh organic farm eggs!!
Our beautiful bougainvillea and Confederate jasmine on the pergola.
Wow, what a week! I loved the music at the spring concert and the award that Braelyn received. The bright pink dresses from Deeda looked great! The tubing looked like so much fun that I want to go! Love Nana
Such an amazing week, you guys! Like Nana, I enjoyed all the activities you had and specially the music. So glad to see the kids growing beautifully and developing their talents! Congrats to the children for a successful school year, and to the parents for providing a positive learning environment! I love you all! Lala
Wow, what a week! I loved the music at the spring concert and the award that Braelyn received. The bright pink dresses from Deeda looked great! The tubing looked like so much fun that I want to go! Love Nana
ReplyDeleteSuch an amazing week, you guys! Like Nana, I enjoyed all the activities you had and specially the music. So glad to see the kids growing beautifully and developing their talents! Congrats to the children for a successful school year, and to the parents for providing a positive learning environment! I love you all! Lala
ReplyDelete