Summer round-up

We have had a really nice summer, busy with camps, swimming and getting ready for the baby. The hot weather has given us lots of opportunity to be outside and enjoy Michigan lakes and parks. We only have two weeks left before school starts back up so I thought I would post a few things about what we have been up to.

Nicole participated in a volleyball camp put on by one of the local high school volleyball teams. She LOVED it. She really had a lot of fun and was really catching on by the end of the camp. She didn't mind being the youngest at the camp. And she seemed to really bond with the older high school girls.

One of our summer traditions is to have a lemonade stand. The girls made the sign, the lemonade and even made up flyers this year to hand out in the neighborhood. I love seeing the progress made each year with this little project. I am still keeping the signs from year to year and love to see how they have grown. This year, Nicole's friend Marley was a helper.

The profits were low this year, much to Morgan's dismay, but the fun factor was BIG!

Morgan participated in a Lego Jr. engineering camp and loved it. She was the only girl in the class, but came home everyday so excited to tell me about levers, pulleys, wheels, axles and many more terms I had to look up! She now is asking for many Lego sets for her birthday.

Rachel attended a preschool type camp centered around Alvin and the Chipmunks. She really enjoyed this camp. When I would take her in the morning she would run way ahead of me go into the classroom and not even look back. Pretty sure if she could have transported herself to camp she would not have needed me. Even the teacher commented on how independent she was.

Another summer tradition was started this summer. Nicole and Morgan attended the summer church camp I did when I was younger, for the first time, Wolverine Christian Service Camp in Lapeer.

There was some apprehension on Nicole's part before we arrived at the camp. Just some uncertainty about what the schedule would be and what to expect. But after the first few minutes of meeting girls her age and getting her bunk situated, she seemed fine. Morgan seemed unphased by the thought of being away from mom and dad for four days.


The girls loved all of the fun activities; campfire, swimming, family time, tug of war, slime and mud fights. When I was looking at this schedule I knew they would be exhausted by the time they got home.

We said our goodbyes and left the girls in line for dinner on Sunday night. We returned to pick them up on Wednesday at 7pm. When we returned to pick them up they seemed totally comfortable with being there and had lots of friends for us to meet and stories to share. Just how I remember camp. Lots of fun and lots of new friendships formed. I was really relieved to see that they had enjoyed their time.



It was great to be back at the camp. There isn't much that has changed, except for the pool and some additions to the buildings. I could see myself in every building and thought about all of the memories I had built there.



I was so proud of the girls for stepping out and going to the camp without really knowing anyone but each other. They were very brave and want to go again next year. I was especially proud of Nicole for getting the award for "CAMPER OF THE WEEK, the most Christian attitude". Nicole was very humble about this great award and we had to find this out from the faculty at the camp. Way to go Nicole!

Thanks Summer 2010, it's been great. Now onto school and the new family addition.