300th Post, Camp Style!

Yeah for my 300th post! Megan, I'm so glad you inspired me to do this! I will honor my 300th post (honor? that sounds weird...celebrate?) by having it be the beginning of sharing what camp was like this year. Grab a beverage as this post will be long...took a few days to put together. This one is just of Family Camp, but I will post 4th of July and Girls' Camp pictures, along with pictures from camping this past weekend as I get to them. I decided to also do an entire post just on Snug riding horses, as that was always one of my favorite things about camp, and he also loved it. The post was getting quite lengthy, and you'll probably be glad I decided to break it up a bit!
Huron Forest Camp Cherith is one of my favorite places on earth. I could live there. Every year is special, and this year, being a camper for the first time in 12 years, was no different. I've gone to/worked at Camp Cherith since 1989, so this was my 21st summer. I've never missed a year except last year when I had Baby J, but I think since I met with/trained counselors all that year it can count. Sharing the joy of camp with my boys (Snug had been as a baby, but didn't remember it, obviously) was so much fun.

We will start our camp tour with Lumberman's Monument. This scenic site is where #1 proposed to me July 12, 2003. I think he picked a pretty place, don't you? However, this scenic spot seems to attract sickness. When he proposed, I was feeling miserable with a cold and when we stopped briefly just before arriving at camp, Snug tossed his cookies several times. I also had been feelin queasy, but we thought maybe morning sickness. Nope, just a bug.

You wouldn't know from this picture of him climbing on the "log jam" that he wasn't feeling well. We all ended up with the stomach bug that had you retching and then feeling just fine.

Baby J was glad for the chance to get out and stretch his legs. Camp is 8 hours from our home, and although we didn't do it all in one stretch, everyone was glad to get out of the van.

I can almost smell "up north" as I look at this picture.

We did many fun activities as a family. One afternoon we got to go canoeing on the Au Sable (same river as the dunes pictured above are located). Baby J did not get to go out as he doesn't sit still enough yet. Yes, I realize that we are both paddling on the same side in this shot. My canoeing experience is limited, and was years ago and my husbands is almost non-existent.

Not only is the camp very close to the river, it is about 20 minutes away from Lake Huron. We spent an evening in town one night enjoying ice cream and the lake.

I can't remember this little girl's name, but her brother was probably the closest in age to Snug. Most of the kids were in elementary school. Most families probably wouldn't bring kids quite so young to family camp, but because all of our family members in attendance (except my sister-in-law) has worked at camp at one time or another, we felt we could ensure that they had a good time anyway. Trust me, they did!

Baby J hanging out on the steps of our cabin. Notice he is wearing several layers of clothes. Even though it was the end of June/beginning of July, the weather was chilly!

Campers stay in either cabins or tents. The tents are on big platforms, and the cabins are "rough". We keep the camp rustic so that kids can really enjoy God's creation and living in the out-of-doors.

Snug was thrilled to sleep on a top bunk. It was the safest place for him as it has rails and the bottom bunk doesn't. He used my Pooh Bear bedding from college, and he felt very grown up. I'm not a big fan of sleeping bags, so we "rough it" with real bedding :o)

Here is a picture of our whole family at the canoe landing. My brother and sister-in-law joined us from sunny Florida.

Uncle Nathan and Aunt Danielle were a hit. The boys loved spending time with them, as did we all. At night, because our kids had to be in bed so early, we didn't usually get to enjoy evening activities, but the "craft cabin" was close enough to our cabin that we could sit around and play games together.

Uncle Nathan reads a story to Snug, who would sit and listen to stories for hours. It is pretty much the only way to get him to sit still as he is constant motion-even during meals!

Pop Pop and Daddy keep Baby J company down at the "Rec Field".

Hanging out in the dining hall. LOOK! Baby J and Uncle Nathan have short sleeves! It must have been the first day we were there...don't remember doing that much any other time.

One morning we did a challenge course together. Aunt Danielle likes to wear my children as much as I do. Behind her you can see the rock wall (I'm sure that is not the technical name for it). You cannot see the rattle snake that is at the end of the wall. We kept clear of him.

Just hanging out at camp...

Part of the challenge course is "The Bermuda Triangle" which is a low ropes type-course. Grandmommy is spotting for Baby J and I. Don't worry, he was safe.

See? No worries, even Snug got to do it.

My favorite part was the group challenge where we had to use two big beams and some stumps to get across a section of land without touching the ground. We did pretty good! This was before my knees started hurting...this may have been part of why my knees started hurting! All the deep sand and hills really bother my knees and this year the pain was intense at times during girl's camp.

We let Snug stay up late one night for the evening activity which was a campfire with sparklers and S'Mores. What would camp be without S'Mores? He enjoyed his sparklers very much.

S'Mores were also a big hit! Doesn't that make you want one?

I'll post more later...