Family Camp.

One of the highlights of our summer was our trip to Pine Cove Woods Family Camp in June.  We went with our good friends, the Barr Family, and neither of us knew what we were in for!

OK, so I teared up as soon as we pulled up.  The driveway was full of bouncing happy college students who ran up to greet our children and welcome them to camp.  They actually took our keys and our car and went to park and entirely unpack us while a few more counselors joined us for a tour.  Not only did they show us around the place and lead us through signing up for meals and activities, but there was always someone there offering to hold Joshua.  Of course, he'd have none of that, but I was soon to learn that there's ALWAYS someone around Pine Cove ready to give you a hand with the baby... or the toddler ... or the preschoolers ... or the teenagers.

Pine Cove was happy, and LOUD. 

Maybe a little TOO loud at first ;)

*By the way -- all photo credits are to the camp photographer, save a few shots from my iPhone.

Jonathan and I made it to pottery painting, where he created a stars-and-stripes plate and mug set that has quickly become a favorite for breakfast.

Joshua had the most difficulty accepting the opportunities to spend time with people other than Mommy and Daddy during our own adult teaching sessions, but he definitely warmed up to some of the wonderful counselors.

And he especially liked riding around the camp in a stroller :)  

 

Both Abby and Joshua loved going to visit the horses at the barn.  Oddly, one of the preschool activities was "color the horses."  No joke.  It was quite a hit.

Joshua's group was called the Rolly Polly's, and Abby was in Cove Kids.

Jonathan, meanwhile, had a fun time with Nathaniel in the Wild Kids camp, where they went swimming, did the zip line, rode horses, and played soccer.  Actually, we're not entirely sure all they were up to.  I had no idea they'd played soccer until I saw the camp photos.  But whenever we found him, he'd been having a good time!

 When the kids were at their camp activities, we were at session on Grace Based Parenting with  Tim Kimmel... or having "Free Time."  It's the first time in 6 years that family vacation has involved grown-up free time.  It was wonderful!  At the grown-up sessions, we also had the chance to get to know the other families at camp.  Many had been attending Pine Cove for 5 or as many as 20 years, and they were incredibly welcoming.  Before long, we had the makings of new friends.

There was also good time together as a family.  Jonathan and David went fishing at some point every day.  We did arts and crafts, walked around the camp grounds, played on the T-swing, and hung out with friends.

At the end of the week, the dads played a game of Turkish Delight against the teenage sons.  

 While praying at the start of the game didn't help the dads win, it likely was the reason there weren't any serious injuries on their side :)

One morning David and I went for a daybreak horseback ride followed by an old fashioned country breakfast, while the kids had breakfast with counselors who met them at our door and played with them on the playground until it was time to eat.  

 Abby's little froggy find was big excitement :)

Joshua got a celebrity pic with the speaker, Tim Kimmel, and hung out with his buddy Caleb back at the cabin.

We also had dinner on our own a few evenings. The kids had evening activities while a hot picnic dinner was delivered to our room.  We found a lovely picnic bench on the camp grounds and enjoyed the quiet Pine Cove "date night."  

 All of the counselors went by "camp names," and Curtain Falls was the counselor assigned to join us each morning for our family devotions.  It was helpful to have an extra person to read, or to  play with Joshua while we discussed the stories with the big kids. 

At the end of the week, the Wild Kids camp counselors awarded "Character Qualities" to each of the kids in their camp.  Jonathan received an award with the qualities Devoted and Imaginative.  They were so spot-on, and it was wonderful to see how attentive they were to each of the kids in their care.

As we had been warned, by the end of the week we were quite sold on a return trip.  A week without preparing (or cleaning up) a single meal, with fun activities for us as a family as well as time to rest, time as a couple, and friends for the kids, quality teachings for adults and kids alike, and enough silliness to make everyone laugh.  It was really a wonderful week.  And we do hope to return soon!