NewLife Camping

This weekend, we enjoyed our first NewLife Camping trip at Webb's RV Park east of Hartford. Despite the cold and rain, we had six families join us in campers and two others in tents. We're hoping to have better weather next year, but that's not within our cont3rol...other than planning our trip a little earlier next year. It was a beautiful setting, and many enjoyed walking, golfing, fishing, playing on the playground equipment, and cozying up to a roaring fire.

Hannah and Allana

Scott

Craig and Noah; Scott, John, and Emma

John; Noel and Julie

Emma

Allana and Emma

Scott, John, and Noah

Boating Fun

We enjoyed camping at Prairie Flower (Saylorville Lake) for a few days with Craig and Sarah Johnson and their kids. John REALLY liked playing with Hannah and Noah, and that made life a lot easier for me! We were even able to go for a boat ride one beautiful evening...with life jackets handy, of course. =) Don't ask about what it was like for me to pack up the stuff outside in the middle of a torrential downpour and windstorm.

Freeze Pop

Dodge Ram vs. Coupe

Emma enjoyed opening and closing the door on the Coupe. However, when she stepped out into mud and then crawled back in, she (and the car) ended up a muddy mess.

Bounce House

John and Parker enjoyed playing in Parker's little bounce house. Between wrestling each other and throwing the balls out, the boys stayed occupied for a few moments at least. Emma wasn't too sure what to think of being in there with the boys.

Sparklers and Worms

Kristi and Charles brought some small fireworks, sparklers, and worms (or something like that) to the campground. John enjoyed any that didn't make loud noises.

Nighttime Fun

Parker and John had fun playing with Parker's classic coupe. They had fun taking turns pushing each other in it. Crazy that they were having to wear long sleeves in July!

Emma and Bella

When Charles and Kristi arrived at the campground on Friday night, it was all wet and rainy. Parker and Bella came in to our camper for awhile. Emma was completely enamored with Bella and kept patting her head. It's great for John and Emma to have cousins so close to their age.

Biking Buddies

While camping at Albert the Bull Campground in Audubon with Scott's family, Scott took the kids for a bike ride. Fortunately, they made it back before the rain started.

Video

So I was finally able to get some videos to load from Scott's Birthday Camping Trip. Check them out here.

Keep scrolling down for other new posts. I've been updating a lot lately.

Camping with the Johnsons

We enjoyed a fun time camping with friends from church. Craig, Sarah, Hannah, Noah, and Jonah (aka The Baby) joined us at Yellowbanks despite the heavy rain on Friday. The guys and the kids especially enjoyed their time which even included some fishing. And no, we didn't eat the fish.

These pictures were taken on Friday night after John had completely soaked all his other clothes. Scott had to go home to get more clothes for the rest of the weekend, and John had Scott's sweatshirt on over his clothes in order to stay warm. Hannah and John are playing with the glow sticks John received from Uncle Matt and Aunt Jackie for Christmas.

Here Emma's trying to get to Jonah when he was crying. She'd be jealous of him one minute and then she'd be giving him hugs and kisses. So cute.

Rainy Day Fun

Scott and I had our Dinner for 8 at the campgrounds on Thursday night while Mom watched the kiddos. Friday was a gorgeous day, until the rain hit. At least the kids had fun playing in it...

Our big kids loved sitting at the table eating breakfast

and playing in the rain while Mommy and Daddy did word searches. We tipped the awning to make the water all flow off the one side. Then we put a bucket there to "catch" some of the rain. Emma was the first one to discover the bucket.

Scott's Birthday = Camping!!!

Scott's birthday was on Friday, and we've made it a tradition to go camping on his birthday weekend. Thankfully, it was also his first day home for the summer. =) We packed up the camper and headed to Thomas Mitchell Park, which is east of Altoona. Grandma VM and Matt came for the campfire that night.

John had fun playing football with Scott and Uncle Matt. I think it was actually more a game of tackle keep-away.

Yes, that's Emma attempting to drink a wine cooler.

Emma had fun climbing in John's chair, and John had fun playing with the jumbo bubbles...even if he was putting them in his mouth like a walrus.


Can you say America's Funniest Home Videos anyone?

It's Camping Time Again!

Scott, John, Emma, Mom and I enjoyed a FABULOUS weekend of camping at Lake Ahquabi. Great weather, great food, and great company. The only downside was John waking up at 6:15 in the morning (thankfully he was in Mom's camper and she didn't let him come over to ours until 6:45...still too early though) and John not sleeping well on Saturday night (in our camper) because he came down with a double ear infection. Nice timing, John. Here are a few of the highlights from the weekend:

John and Grandma enjoyed looking for minnows in the lake. (Sorry Mom, but this picture worked better than the horizontal one. ) Actually, John REALLY enjoyed throwing rocks, sticks, and sand in the lake. He thought he needed to be pushed in the stroller.

Emma enjoyed playing in the sand...and eating it.

John going down the tunnel slide.

Now it's Emma's turn.

Emma started to climb up this by herself. She ended making it all the way up, with just a little assistance from me (after nearly having a heart attack).

Which way are you supposed to go on a slide?

That's a big step, Emma. Can you make it up yourself?

My hand is to the side of her, but I gave her absolutely no assistance.

Using the little holes on the platform, she made it all the way up!

Silly string...need I say more?



Bubble time! Mom took these pictures and captured some great ones of the kids' facial expressions.


Emma loved exploring. At least this rock was too big to go in her mouth.

No, the fire was not going at this point.

Mom bought the kids a BIG bubble blower. We pulled it out to try getting John in a better mood. It didn't work, but Emma LOVED them. John did too on Sunday.

Okay, so normally I'm the one who is absent from all the pictures, but I guess it was Scott this time. He WAS there and a big help throughout the weekend.