SPCA and Birds of Prey and the Lampards.....lol

I had the day off, so the boys and I went into town to visit Kitty, the sweet little cat who has the heart murmur, the tooth decay and now, the one eye .... she still had her cone on but was still the sweetest little thing.  We would have taken her home right there had we not been told that she lost her eye because SHE attacked a dog ... no way we want a cat like that around Tucker .... our pseudo-dog!  This isn't kitty, but another sweet guy at the SPCA ....

We headed to Birds of Prey to pick up a family pass for the Rentons as part of their gift .... Andy loves birds ...but also, who doesn't love watching eagles and hawks and owls up close??

And just a sweet shot of this family when we returned back home .... we don't see them enough!

 

Thursday cleaning blitz and summer finale party!!

So a WOA camper and friend of a friend came today to help blitz clean my house! Isaac made a sign for his door .... she obeyed and passed over his room.

Passing on the Yatzee game to the boys .... they weren't huge fans .... not the most exciting game they've ever played....but considering where they live and the games they play, I am not surprised.

Prepping for End of Summer Party!!  Yes ... another party ... it is amazing that he is still upright.

Watching his dad ... I love this picture .... We have all just watched him run an amazing program for the campers this summer ...

Final Wednesday! Yahtzee and Dinner in the barn!

Meet Lucy ... Jenny and Trents youngest little one .... she is the sweetest thing ....

And I was taught how to play Yatzee on this visit ...

And tonight it was Roast Beef Banquet in the barn....and here are the 2 heros ... exhausted yet still firing!!  This "barn" was such a game changer this year .... well done my husband .... well done ...

Senior teen night game and Team Smooch Patrol!!

Well here they are folks ... Team Smooch Patrol ... I had told Isaac about the Bailey Beam when Chris and I worked (and dated) at Camp Qwanoes, and how we would sneak off to go smooching and we would see Ken Bailey trying to catch kids making out with his "Bailey Beam" lol ... so ... Armed with a night vision camera and flashlights, these kids headed out into the dark during the night game to catch couples smooching!!

They never did catch anyone, but they had a pretty fun time trying to find them ...

Here is Chris popping home after the introduction of the game ... he is SOOO tired!!!!

and OFF he goes again!!!!

Elliot came home a little earlier than the end of the game really upset and teary because he had turned away for a moment and when he turned back towards his group, they were all gone!  So, he was left in the dark ... all alone!!  He had a few tears, and then poured out his heart in the form of a story and a drawing ... quite a brilliant communicator I think!!

Man, this kid keeps me so entertained ... just so funny!!

Welcome senior teen!! Final camp of the summer!!

They needed an extra hand with registration for Senior Teen, so here we are!!  Andy about to open the doors!!!

After an hour, I escaped registration to join the boys and their friends on the dock ... we are absolutely loving this heat!!  It really has been such a nice summer .. lots of friends and swimming and freedom for everyone to do what brings them joy .... been so good.

Snorkeling pod!!

Chris's final Kick off!! He decided to participate in this one ...

...here you can see him trying to help the girl fill her cup with marshmallows ... I guess her coordination was lacking a little bit ....

Life long friends ... these girls were over for the night .... they can not see eachother for months, and just like family, they just pick up where they left off .... it is nice to see ....

My 13 year old .... so handsome ...

More swimming ... this is my view from the hammock ....

Glow Party prep .... Chris knows how to throw a party ....

Teen 2 stuff

The boat still isn't running well, but it always ends up starting eventually ... this man of mine is so patient and methodical with it.  Step by step he has gone through the motor of this boat ... I think he is enjoying the project .... but it would be nice if it just worked ..... we love our little evening rides....

Zalinkos just got home from their big summer trip ... These guys just all really like eachother ... they don't know how lucky they are to have such built in friends!! I am quite envious in many ways!! When they pulled in at like 11 at night, my boys heard their car and went barreling out to maul them! It was adorable.

The boys built a fort on the floor of their bedroom and Mittens always seems to find her way to where they are ....

This boys ... always in the red toque, even in 30 degree weather ..and a book in his hand.  He is working his way through the Lord of the Rings that Jenny lent him .... it's a huge book of 3 books combined!

And this is the picture that is burned into my brain when I think of Chris working for this camp.  Isaac took the picture while we were sitting on the bench.  Here he is working on a pipe issue, you know, a maintenance issue ... everyone is standing around waiting to use the huge slip and slide that he build because Beach Party is about to happen ... but something is wrong with the pipes, so knowing that nothing will happen if he calls on maintenance, or it will take forever, he just buckles down, pouring with sweat as he runs back and forth to all the places to check ....he finally figures out the problem and camp resumes .... but I just am so incredibly proud of this man and his integrity, he doesn't complain, he just serves and serves and serves .... man, am I a lucky gal or what? A husband who inspires me ... not everyone is this lucky to have someone like this in their life.

Elliot leaving notes for his sleeping brother!!

He was going to help me early with making the special coffee for the kitchen staff and stay down for breakfast.  Such a sweet brother. 

Games and girls night ....

Elliot watching his dad explain tonight's game to over 140 campers!!

Isaac running his favorite station for "a Ticket to Ride" .... He gives money for talent. After the game was over, he said teens are overwhelming!!  He was getting swarmed ...

But they show him their best talents!  This guys talent was push-ups!!

Daniel trying to be the drone landing pad!

Girls night at the cafe tonight ... Also to celebrate Meredith's birthday!!

My contribution to the evening was amazing decaf coffee from the Garage!! Happy birthday Mer!!!!!

Mer's birthday and Solar Eclipse!!!

She has been, hands down, one of my favorite summer staff this summer ... so full of energy and fun and she has made Chris's job so much nicer!  She thinks ahead and doesn't need to be micro-managed, so it's been a real pleasure getting to know her this summer!!  Today she turned 20!!!!!  So here she is at 7am this morning!

She was pretty excited to get an invite to the hottub this morning!!

Sweet girl .... I love that we talk about the stages of life - how 20's are hard!!!  Separation from family and finding your own way - is HARD!! 

I had to go to work and miss the Solar Eclipse party that Chris was throwing at camp .... so I had my own little party outside with my cell .... as well as watching NASA online LIVE ....

And watching crazies across the road with their own pin hole homemade viewers ....

Turns out the crazy was my old camper Ashley's dad......

Meanwhile, back at the ranch .... the countdown was on for the eclipse ....

My 3 total eclipses of the heart!!!!

And tonight they sang Happy Birthday to Meredith and they gave her this amazing buttercream icing cupcake but alas she is gluton and dairy free!! So I helped her out!!

And it's so nice to have friends up here this week: