I can't even begin to tell you how much Mike and I were NOT looking forward to "Easter Camp". For those of you aren't sure what that is, Easter Camp is a tradition started at church. Over the Easter weekend, families join together in camping at Huntsville State Park.
This is an event that my mother took the kids to last year for the first time and, from what I can tell, will be something we do every year until kids are gone. Mike and I had never taken kids camping. I hadn't even been camping since I was in high school! Working and taking care of the house, kept Mike and I from preparing as well as we should. My mom was a huge encourager and helper when it came to preparing to go.
Anna missed school on Thursday to go up with her second (and maybe her favorite) family, the Scotts. After work, my mom, the two littles and I, packed up our remaining supplies and heading to Houston to pick Mike up from work. From there we were on our way to a fun filled weekend. Even though we got there earlier than I thought, we still got to camp around 10 p.m. It was about all we could do to unload and set up our bedding and such for the night...and those who know me...I was able to get the kids showered too!
We woke up the next day to a beautiful, sunny, warm but not too hot day. All three of the kids were on the go from the moment they got dressed till they fell into their air mattresses, tents or sleeping bags at night. Mike and I didn't prepare things for us to do, so we mostly visited, sat around and were spectators of all that was going on. The kids would touch base from time to time. Brennan would come down and tell us, "I went canoing!" or "Can I go fishing with Andrew?" Anna and her buddies would come by from time to time if they were hungry or thirsty. Ella was busy but would come to hi and to check it. She was very sweet to the other kids around our shelter. If one got hurt, she would check on them. One little girl was crying because she couldn't find either one of her parents. Ella went off on her bicycle with gentleman from church to help him find the little girl's parents.
When it was time to leave on Sunday after the Easter egg hunt, the kids were devestated that we couldn't stay longer. Anna even said she wished she could live there! As we left the park, there had to be a moment of silence....
All and all we had a great time. There were things Mike and I learned that will help us for next year. I'm sure it's like anything else. The more you do it, the better you become. No matter how much work it was for us, seeing the kids have so much fun without ipods, computers, game systems, etc. was worth all our efforts.
Early in the day on Friday morning, some men from church began teaching some boy scouts how to build a bridge. They had the attention of many of the kids, including all of my three. I rarely see mine sit that long. After it was put up, the kids had a fun time going across it over and over and over and over again.
Anna and her friend, Lainey, found a baby blue bird laying upside down and obviously injured on one of the roads. We were finally able to convince them that taking it to the park ranger would be the best thing for the bird. Anna was upset because they put the bird in a cold, wet, plastic container.
Brennan enjoying a smore (an Uncle Brad face if I ever saw one!)
Ella making smores. 
Ella and Anna hunting for Easter eggs during the campout. Hunting for eggs is the last activity before people begin to take down tents and repack their vehicles to head home.
This is an event that my mother took the kids to last year for the first time and, from what I can tell, will be something we do every year until kids are gone. Mike and I had never taken kids camping. I hadn't even been camping since I was in high school! Working and taking care of the house, kept Mike and I from preparing as well as we should. My mom was a huge encourager and helper when it came to preparing to go.
Anna missed school on Thursday to go up with her second (and maybe her favorite) family, the Scotts. After work, my mom, the two littles and I, packed up our remaining supplies and heading to Houston to pick Mike up from work. From there we were on our way to a fun filled weekend. Even though we got there earlier than I thought, we still got to camp around 10 p.m. It was about all we could do to unload and set up our bedding and such for the night...and those who know me...I was able to get the kids showered too!
We woke up the next day to a beautiful, sunny, warm but not too hot day. All three of the kids were on the go from the moment they got dressed till they fell into their air mattresses, tents or sleeping bags at night. Mike and I didn't prepare things for us to do, so we mostly visited, sat around and were spectators of all that was going on. The kids would touch base from time to time. Brennan would come down and tell us, "I went canoing!" or "Can I go fishing with Andrew?" Anna and her buddies would come by from time to time if they were hungry or thirsty. Ella was busy but would come to hi and to check it. She was very sweet to the other kids around our shelter. If one got hurt, she would check on them. One little girl was crying because she couldn't find either one of her parents. Ella went off on her bicycle with gentleman from church to help him find the little girl's parents.
When it was time to leave on Sunday after the Easter egg hunt, the kids were devestated that we couldn't stay longer. Anna even said she wished she could live there! As we left the park, there had to be a moment of silence....
All and all we had a great time. There were things Mike and I learned that will help us for next year. I'm sure it's like anything else. The more you do it, the better you become. No matter how much work it was for us, seeing the kids have so much fun without ipods, computers, game systems, etc. was worth all our efforts.
Early in the day on Friday morning, some men from church began teaching some boy scouts how to build a bridge. They had the attention of many of the kids, including all of my three. I rarely see mine sit that long. After it was put up, the kids had a fun time going across it over and over and over and over again.
Anna and her friend, Lainey, found a baby blue bird laying upside down and obviously injured on one of the roads. We were finally able to convince them that taking it to the park ranger would be the best thing for the bird. Anna was upset because they put the bird in a cold, wet, plastic container.
Brennan enjoying a smore (an Uncle Brad face if I ever saw one!)
Ella making smores. 
Ella and Anna hunting for Easter eggs during the campout. Hunting for eggs is the last activity before people begin to take down tents and repack their vehicles to head home.
Ella having fun getting the air out of the mattress with Mike.
