We are back from our week long family camp trip to Mount Hermon in Northern California. This is our second year doing it and we had a great time!
Here were some highlights:
The time in the car actually turned out so fun!
Sunglasses, "blankie" and her thumb make ANY trip even more special!
Ryder got new sunglasses just for the trip. He felt so old!
We looked for deer on our way and saw three. Ryder was thrilled!
Eden passed her time in the car in other ways:
She only slept for about 30 minutes of our 6 hour drive...
I was busy looking out the window:
(The road that seemed to go on forever...)
(Then you would see those clouds and fields that went as far as you can see...)
Arrival at camp!
The welcome dinner on the field:
Eden got her face painted with her cousin Ruby:
Ryder loved all the games:
We looked the BBQ too:
We are very serious about picnicking:
And then we are happy with full tummies:
For about an hour after our arrival, we realized there had been a mix up in registration and we didn't think that we would be able to get a meal plan for the week. Mount Hermon was quick to fix it and there were really no other glitches, however, when you start your vacation thinking that you will have to meal plan, shop, and cook, it can take a minute to regroup.
That was seriously the only hiccup of our week long stay.
They are awesome!
We stayed in the Redwood cabin. We LOVEd it!
We even made a fire most of the night when it would get cold...
It was absolutely delightful!
Having meals together is such a treat!
(Having meals cooked for you and having a sweet summer staff help clean up your child's highchair REALLY makes you feel like you are on vacation!
Eden did not like going to her class. She liked it once she was there, but the entire walk to where she would get checked in, she would say over and over, "Mommy get me." I would say, "Mommy loves you and I will always come back for you." She would hold her blankie tight and say, "Ok, Ok, Mommy get me. Ok..." And we would repeat this process every time we dropped her off. The childcare workers were AMAZING! There were no pictures available, due too trying to comfort my poor baby with her separation anxiety... Ryder on the other hand, literally lead some of the small group time and games. The teachers loved telling us how in charge he was and how comfortable he was leading and being in front, and what a good friend he was to other kids... I wonder where he gets that from?
While they were there, we listened to a speaker here:
With this above us:
And these in full bloom all around us:
It was breathtaking:
We went to the creek one afternoon while eden napped:
Ryder was thrilled to explore!
Then we got Eden to do some exploring and pool time:
The guys also did the boats:
I tried to get some family photos and the silliness ensued:
(And then i realized that Eden had exploded her pants and that it was all down the front of me... Sweet baby girl just smiled through the blow out.)
It was the only day that she wore pig tails. They absolutely kill me and I didn't get a very good picture of them...
We did the pancake breakfast:
This little rat convinced my dad to hike with her on his shoulders:
Ryder did the pancake flip and it landed on the blue. He was so proud of himself:
We had a glow in the dark night with Zumba and S'mores:
Eden wanted to hold the camera...
Ryder was thrilled to go up on stage and dance:
On wednesday we headed to Santa Cruz for the day:
We took the train in:
(Kit drove and met us there with Eden.)
We took it to the Boardwalk:
Kit and Ryder did this ride first:
His face said it all:
Then he tried a few other little rides:
I'm noticing that he loved all rides where he could feel like he was in control of some type of transportation...
Then we headed to Pizza My Heart:
Then we headed to some local tide pools:
Ryder had two sign up times for archery:
His first shot. I'm not kidding.
Then he proceeded to shoot for the "dangerous wolf".
He is hilarious:
He loved that his Mia and Papa got to watch him:
We went to Roaring Camp and we saw redwoods:
Then we had an adults only dinner while the kids were in their jammies and watched Veggie Tales:
Our last afternoon was spent in the pool and on the boats, with a little bit of banana slug hunting:
The boats:
Pool and Otter Pops for the win!
The week ended with each of the kids classes doing a presentation of what they had learned that week and Ryder memorized his first verse,
" Ephesians 3:17 Root yourself in God's love."
I have it on video and I could cry every time I watch it!
Then it was party time and the kids had hot cocoa, cotton candy, popcorn, and snow cones, all around 9:30p at night...
The day ended with two VERY tired kids, covered in sugar and stickiness, having meltdown after meltdown...
We really had a great time and we are so thankful for all the time together that the camp facilitates for us to have.
