Camp Kulaqua - Round 2

Each May we go to Camp Kulaqua with the church for family church retreat. This year, we shook things up a bit by going again - - this time last weekend with Adventurers. In past years, Adventurers has gone to Pine Lake Retreat which is a much closer drive but that's the only thing I can think of that's better about it than Camp Kulaqua. I think the conference is selling Pine Lake or maybe people strongly suggested it would be nice to go to Camp Kulaqua - - I don't know - - but whatever the reason, we went there instead this year.

My enthusiasm for going was about the same as it would be if someone tied me to a chair and made me watch a soccer game. That is, it was non-existent. We had gotten back from our Myrtle Beach trip on Sunday evening and spent the next few days with my mom and all I really wanted to do was just be a homebody and get my house back in order, not pack for yet ANOTHER trip especially so soon. On Thursday I got this wild idea about Duncan going with the kids and letting me stay home. When I made the suggestion, he looked at me like I had three heads and said "You're kidding, right?" Well, yeah, I guess. But don't you wish you just had one day to get caught up on everything where you don't have to cook or watch the kids or whatever? I do have my Corey days, for which I am VERY grateful, but I obviously like to use those to go to Goodwill. I need a day with nobody in my house but me. How can I make that happen?!!

I knew once I got to camp I would be happy. And I was. We arrived in town about 6:30 (it's about a two hour drive), had some supper, and then headed to our cabin (#5) to unpack. We lucked out in that it was just us and the Bergherms in the mini-lodge. These were the same accommodations that we stay in for family camp. There were five other church groups staying at the camp for the weekend so we didn't have any other options of where to say. Most likely we would have picked the mini-lodge anyway although one of these days we are determined to try the "hotel."

The weekend went great. The weather was perfect - - 80's during the day and 60's at night. The kids did a bunch of stuff - - science experiments, bike riding, canoeing, visiting the zoo, hay ride, bouncy house in the gym, making smores, and finger painting. Fortunately, there was no swimming involved. Calleigh was looking forward to doing the blob in the spring like she did last year but when I saw that it wasn't going to happen until 11:00 am on Sunday morning, I was perturbed that we would be there that late. But alas, it was only going to be like 66 degrees at 11:00 am so they decided to keep it closed. Sorry Calleigh!

Calleigh leading in prayer. Notice Colby up there next to the microphone.

Helping out in an experiment.

One of the perks for bunking with the Bergs. Jennifer's cookies!!

Trying out Karis' bike to see if Colby would like the bike seat. He did!

Brady admiring the panther.

Colby was trying to mess with Brady's bike.

Brady tried to distract him with some food.

I think it might have worked.

Later on, watching the fish in the spring.

All was well for awhile...

It looked much worse than it actually was (hence why I took a picture instead of rushing to help).

I kept trying to take a picture of them on the hayride and EVERY SINGLE TIME, Aubree had her eyes closed so I gave up.

Bouncy house. I ended up going on with Colby, in my dress and all (I had to climb a wall to go down the final slide so that was fun).

Waiting for their turn to do s'mores.

The older three groups of Adventurers did s'mores first so Calleigh was in this group with Duncan accompanying her while I was with the younger three in the gym first.

Working on the finger painting honor.

The nice thing about being there with Adventurers rather than the church is that the meals were included in the cost of the weekend (which was cheaper too). I should have had the foresight to bring some extra food though for Brady, my picky eater. For breakfast they served biscuits and gravy (which was delicious), scrambled eggs, and I think oranges. Brady ate a biscuit. For lunch, it was spaghetti, bread, and salad. Brady ate bread. For supper, it was haystacks. Brady ate chips. So he ate a biscuit, bread, and chips as his three meals. I did have some snacks with me, including apples slices, so at least he got that but still! This kid....

There is a cafeteria there but since there were so many other church groups at the camp, this is where our meals were.

The girls helping to serve lunch.

The Little Lambs had to help with supper. Brady refused to help serve the food but finally found his passion - - the drinks!

We got back in the early afternoon and stuck around the house for the rest of the day. That evening was the big Patriots/Colts game. The kids were all excited about it so I said they could stay up and watch for awhile and we would make popcorn. At about 9:00 pm, just as the kids were finishing their popcorn, I see Brady make a beeline out of the movie room and he doesn't return. I thought maybe he was in his room playing or something. I had Duncan go check on him and this is what he found. I guess camp must wear you out.

As for the rest of the past week, the big news is that we have some new bikes in the family. Actually, Duncan got me a new bike a few weeks ago although I have yet to pose with it for a picture or really ride it! But I'm excited to finally have one. Aubree had outgrown her 16-inch bike so she inherited Calleigh's 20-incher while Calleigh got a new 24-inch ride. Duncan also got a new bike since his current bike was not conducive to pulling a trailer. Lastly, we got this cool Weehoo IGo bike trailer for the boys which came today. Duncan says it's much easier to pull than the regular trailer. The Grodack family is now set for riding bikes! Actually, we don't have a way to get them all somewhere but at least for now we can go on rides from our house.

With the weather, finally, sortof, cooling off (it's gotten cooler but then it was back in the high 80's today at yard sales and we were massively sweating), it's been nice to take walks in the afternoons around the neighborhood with Calaubra riding their bikes and me pushing Colby on his tricycle. He's able to do the tricycle on his own now (just pushing himself with his feet), so we have been hanging around in the front yard with all the kids on their bikes/trikes. Very enjoyable in the cooler afternoon temperatures.

They like to fall in the grass and pretend they've crashed.

Duncan took them on Brady's first ride ever on the West Orange Trail this afternoon.

On Wednesday the kids had their bi-annual dentist appointments. All went well and they are still cavity free although the hygienist did report that Brady and Calleigh both had a little plaque build up in certain parts of their mouth. The hygenist cracked me up because she said stuff like "When he's brushing, he seems to be missing this part." Or, "When she brushes, make sure she gets here." I found it very ironic that she was speaking like that as if the kids were brushing their own teeth when it very clearly states on their handout that parents should brush until age eight. So what's with the "he/she?" So I finally said "Don't you mean 'YOU' are missing these places since I'm the one brushing?" Perhaps she didn't want to outright accuse me of being a bad tooth brusher-er. But then I gladly took credit for Aubree whose mouth was in perfect condition. What am I doing differently with her?!

Conversations with the kids...

Aubree and I were sitting on the couch looking at books when she just randomly comes out with this.
Aubree: "I told Siri to show me a pictures of Venus and she showed me a picture of a penis."
Me: "What??!! Are you serious??
Aubree: "Yes, ask Calleigh."
Calleigh comes over.
Me:"Calleigh, is that true?"
Calleigh:"Yup."
Me:"Did you look?"
Calleigh: "NO!!!"

So yeah, that was a bit disturbing. I asked Siri specifically to show me a picture of a penis just to see what would happen and fortunately it didn't bring up any blatant pictures but it was still strange stuff. The kids mostly only use Siri in front of me but sometimes they steal my phone. Obviously I need to keep a better watch on this.

Wednesday evening we had Adventurers and I was able to get Brady to sit with his group in the beginning part where everyone is together, doing the song, devotional, etc. When we broke up into our groups afterwards, his leader told the kids to buddy up and hold hands as we walked across the parking lot.
Liani (one of the little girls in the group who Brady knows from his Sabbath School):"I want to hold Brady's hand."
Me: (Brady clearly doesn't want to hold her hand):"Brady, hold her hand while we walk to the class." He finally grabs it.
Brady (as we are walking over, whispers):"Can I let go now?"
Me: "No, wait until we get inside."
We get inside the church so I tell him that he can let go of her hand now. After about 20 or 30 seconds, I look down and notice that he's still hanging on to her hand.
Me: (thinking he didn't hear me the first time):"Brady, you can let go now."
Nothing happens. They are still holding hands.
Brady (looks up at me with a pained look on his face): "I AM letting go."

Someday you'll appreciate that more, my boy!

Colby has been an awful sleeper this week. Typically this is what happens when we get back from a trip but it's been especially bad. He's woken up every night and I've been up there sleeping in the chair in his room, on the floor in front of his door, etc. One night I was just going to bed at 1:30 when he started crying. I finally got him back to sleep and I started to sneak out of his room about 2:30 when he wakes up again to see me trying to leave. There went another hour of me trapped up there. I finally got into my own bed for the night at 3:30. Then it was up at 6:45 to go lie in his room again. At any rate, one of those mornings, Colby and I were cuddled sleeping on the floor when Brady comes in, having awoken for the day.
Brady:"Come on, Mom. When are we going to go down and get some breakfast?"
Me (glancing down and seeing Colby is still sound asleep): "Brady, I just don't think I can wake Colby up yet."
Brady:"Well I can. Do you want me to R-r-r-r-o-a-r in his face?"

Some other pictures of what we've been up to.

Sporting his new haircut at gymnastics.

A morning tea party.

Brady working on his "Jump" honor at Adventurers on Wednesday night. This is how ya'll jump, right?

What Colby does at home with Daddy while we are gone to Adventurers.

Finished up the United States in Geography class by making a New England Pumpkin Pie Cake.

It was delish!

How I found the kids sleeping one night.

Finished the United States, on to Mexico! I printed some fake plane tickets off the Internet, got some fake passports, cut out some Pesos, and they pretended this was a plane flying them to Mexico. It included an inflight movie of their destination and even beverage service. You should have seen their excitement when they realized they were being served juice boxes (which are typically reserved for special occasions.) Apparently AeroMexico is not a completely safe airline so Brady decided to wear a helmut for the flight.