Month: July 2018

What a great vacation! We squeezed Teen Camp into a family vacation and also got a little family reunion!

Saturday dawned bright and early and we headed to Gulf Shores, Al. We were meeting my brother and his wife! We all haven’t been together in many years.

It was a great visit. We spent the day at the beach, then had dinner together then headed back to our hotel.

We got home late and were up early the next morning for church. We headed to the campus church, it was neat to be in the service.

Next stop, Petland! The kids had seen a billboard all week saying we could come in and play with puppies so off we went!

A mini dachshund…my heart wanted this baby so bad!!!

Lots more puppies we played with, then off to hamsters and finding Jack the tortoise!

We swam some more waiting for Staci to arrive to pick up Jack, then we had dinner together and then it was time for goodbyes.

The kids have had such a blast this week with Jack. It was so hard to see him go. We were so thankful for the great time with him!

Family is forever!

I woke this morning at 5:45 to get everyone else to the bus and on their way by 6:30. Ry stayed asleep and then we both hung out on campus for a bit before heading back to Alan and Bree at the hotel!

Bye Griffith Tower!!! We headed to the coffee shop and the commons before heading out. I had a Mullenix Mocha!

I have really enjoyed this time with Ry. She is growing up so quickly, I have about 6 years before she heads off to college and I’m gonna cherish every moment…even these crazy pre teen moments!

Next stop Pensacola Beach! I am in need of some sun and sand! When we got there it was very crowded! People everywhere, it was time for the blue angels dress rehearsal for Saturday’s Air show. It was so neat to stand on the sand and watch these amazing stunts! We played in the sand and water, boogie boarded and caught clams!

So today is the last day of camp! It’s been an exhausting week! I’ve walked a total 28 miles in 4 days, I’ve slept the same amount of hours in those 4 days and it’s been a blast!!

Today we rolled these girls out of bed, this crazy schedule has completely exhausted them!

Breakfast is my favorite meal on campus…the biscuits and gravy are still the same 19 years later!

This was in the morning service. This is my one of my best friends daughter and she really took Ry in and befriended her for this trip! Such a sweet heart!

After service we played some crazy competition! It was chaos!

Then it was off to free time!!

First up was a wacky photo contest! They had all these photo challenges they had to complete to get points for their team.

Then it was off to rock climbing. Ryanna has been afraid to climb all week so Alan came over to the campus to help motivate her. He got her all the way to the top. She did awesome!

Next up, Ashlyn! She was afraid to let go when she had climbed to the top. So getting down was hard for her! Uncle Alan to the rescue! He talked to her and helped her learn to trust the ropes.

Then off to dinner! Alan joined us and we were able to have dinner with friends of ours from college. They were in town picking their kids up from teen camp. It was so neat to be able to hang out in our old stomping grounds! 19 years later!

Meanwhile, Bree, Butter and Jack were enjoying the pool. Then they went to Pensacola beach to see the Blue Angels!

After the evening service at camp we took a group pic then had testimony time with our kids. It was so neat to listen to what they got out of camp. As a sponsor watching the kiddos I didn’t see or hear as much as what they did in their sessions. It was neat to hear how the Holy Spirit worked in their hearts.

The night however was not over! Off to the swim center! The girls flipped and dove and swam and twirled!

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Then it was off to the final team competition and to announce the team for the week that won!

It was absolute madness and pandemonium when it was announced that our team the red bulldozers had won! Our kids were so excited! It was crazy!

After collecting all the kiddos we headed back to pack up and be ready for our 5:45 AM wake up call!!!

Wowza, I am exhausted!!! Rise and Shine was early this morning, I could barely drag myself out of bed. Probably, because I had a late night visitor, the hall leaders woke her up during bed check so she came and snuggled with me!

or maybe having to deal with a toothpick in the bottom of the foot at 10:30 at night!

But I did and so the day began!

We headed to breakfast and morning sessions then off to a crazy team competition!

The kids had a great time playing and our team did awesome!

Then I headed off for lunch with Alan, Bree and Jack!

They are really enjoying the pool at the hotel!

Back at camp, it was time for girls swim! Ry loved the diving boards. We swam for about 15 minutes before an afternoon storm rolled in and we had to vacate the pool. We made thre best of it with more skating and bowling before dinner.

My adorable teen camper before dinner, where did the time go!

During dinner I ran to eat with the other half of the family! This has been a crazy day. Jack and Bree enjoyed incredible 2 on the afternoon and then Outback for dinner!

When I got back to campus the girls were hanging out in the dorm before souvenir shopping and then a Teen Extreme version of the Amazing Race which was crazy!

She pocked a stuffed animal, she’s still my little girl!

After a hall meeting we headed to bed it has been such a long day! 7.25 miles…my feet are done! 👣

Phew! Teen Camp is not for the faint of heart! My feet hurt, I have sweat off ten lbs and I’ve walked 6 1/2 miles today!

We started off getting the girls ready for breakfast! Ry and I are staying in my old dorm. She was so excited when she found out we would be in Griffith where I spent three of my four years in college at.

My baby girl sleeping in a college dorm! I snuck this pic at 6:30 am!

I just love this special time with her, I love her so much! 😘

Our next stop was breakfast at the four winds! I spent many a day there cooking away! We then had morning services. She looks so grown up sitting with the youth group!

I’m so the embarrassing mom taking all the pics!!

After that a CRAZY team competition game. I was terrified! But the kids loved it! When it was over one girl said to me with wide eyes, “Is this what college is like?” Um…no sweet girl not at all! 😂

Next up is lunch! How did the morning go by so quick!

Then off to free time!!! The water park was open for the girls so that was where they headed. Ry has been begging to do the flow rider. I was so proud of all she did even being the only girl in our group to attempt standing on it.

Next up, rock climbing! Then a pretzel for her first purchase on campus!

Shouldn’t this day be over already?!?! Nope! Dinner, then the evening services and some more free time of ice skating and bowling!

She had such a good day!

Can’t forget about Bree! She spent the day with dolphins!

And Jack!

We are having so much fun in Florida!!

What a day!!

The girls and I woke up early and headed to the beach! We swam, boogie boarded, built sand castles and gathered seashells. It was a great morning.

Bree has said all she wanted to do this week was to build a giant sandcastle! She was so excited when Ry and I decided to help her. We all pitched in and she was so excited!

I got soaked in the process from a rogue wave.

We stayed at the beach until lunch then headed to campus for Ry to meet up with the youth group. Bree was able to hang out for a bit while we got situated in the dorms and then went Roller blading! I didn’t take many pics, hopefully note tomorrow!

So fun to also have my niece Ashlyn here! The girls are having so much fun together!

Late to bed tonight and an early wale up call…not sure if I’m cut out for this!! I’m too old!

We woke up in the beautiful panhandle of Florida and the sun was shining! ☀️

We were headed to church this morning to see an old friend from our college days. We enjoyed the service, it was their 45th anniversary service, very neat to be a part of.

We had dinner on the grounds and then an afternoon service.

Afterwards we took the girls over to the campus of PCC, where Alan and I first met!

It was so neat being back with our children. We have not returned to campus in over 15 years. Changes have really been made but the core is still the same. We saw our dorms our old class buildings, the crowne center. Alan showed the girls where we used to live and hang out. It was so much fun!

As crazy as it was it was so special to think this was where it all started, gave me tears in my eyes to think without this place none of my life would exist!

And to add an even crazier twist…I drop my daughter off tomorrow here for teen camp and I’ll be spending the night in the dorms again as a chaperone! 😱

Our next stop was the beach, we grabbed Butter who had been hanging out at the hotel and headed out!

The sun was going down and the weather was beautiful! The girls were just gonna play in the sand, but eventually got soaking wet!

It was such a perfect ending to a beautiful Sunday!

Salty Hair, Sandy Toes and an Ocean Breeze

Finally, we are taking a summer vacation!!

We are headed to the Florida panhandle for the white beaches of Pensacola! Where our love story began almost 20 years ago!

Ry is going to teen camp at our old alma mater. Not sure how so many years passed by in the blink of an eye, but they did and our girl is headed to teen camp!

We loaded the car with everything we needed for the beach, the camp, and everything in between! We are packed in here!!

Butter is headed off with us…seeing as he is our only pup now he pretty much goes everywhere with us! We also had to drop our newest family member, Lola, off at her babysitters. She’s a quirky, little, pokey haired, guinea pig!

Daddy is forever the captain of our vessel!

Butter managed to break his toenail off right before we left today so he’s bandaged for a day but will be good as new soon! He loves car rides and sleeps so good on my lap!

Vacation, next exit ↗️🚘