Ward Campout

Ward Campout - Here we come!!!

Dan came home from church a few weeks ago, totally excited about an announcement he just heard at church. He has been saying for years that with as fun as fathers and sons outings are for him and the boys, he wishes the church would sponsor or host a campout for the whole family to attend. Well, They Did....And we got excited.

The date was set for the last week of August to be held at a fantastic church owned campground called Camp Zarahemla.

We were the second family to arrive on that Friday, so we had our pick of the campgrounds. We chose the one closest to the canoe dock which butted right up against the lake. With a family of 5 kids, we had no shortage of helpers as we pitched the tent and organized the camp area.

The kids were amazed by how many chipmunks there were. They were everywhere and definitely not shy. While unpacking sleeping bags from the car and hauling them to the tent 3 chipmunks climbed in the car and started helping themselves to our food.

After our campsite was all set up the kids were ready to go exploring. They wanted to check everything out and find the perfect hiking stick and a stick to use for carving with their pocket knives. That’s right folks we let a few of our kids run around with pocket knives. Axes Too. Yikes, watch out!

Speaking of exploring and pocket knives, here are the first 2 injuries of our trip. A little gravel to the knee for Kase, and Hailey swears she got cut from the stick she was carving and not the knife she was using to carve it. (Uh Huh, yea right.)

After exploring and playing around in the canoes for a while we ventured back to camp for some dinner. Chili and Hot dogs, with a side of BEE'S. That's right, Bee's. Like swarms of them. They couldn't resist the succulent meal we had just prepared. HOLY COW, we couldn't keep them off of us for the entire meal. Where ever our plates were, they were dotting the surface of our food. Yuck!

After dinner and a quick little hike, we worked our way over to the Ward Talent Show for some improve comic relief. Our kids showcased their talents by grooving to the ever popular song - Ho Down Throw down, by Hannah Montana. Ky also remembered a few of his skits from scouts and rounded up a few kids to perform them.

We ended the evening around the campfire roasting marshmallows and dodging a couple of dozen "eye pokers" that were freely handed out to children ranging in age from "to young to trust with a sharp stick" and "younger". :) No serious casualties though, just good old campfire fun......and the chocolate marshmallow mess that always accompanies such an event.

After the younger kids went to bed and the older ones were busy running around in the woods with friends, flashlights and walkie talkies, Dan and I popped some popcorn and invited the Armitage’s down for a game night at our campsite. What a fun day!

The next day was fun as well. A service project followed a ward breakfast, and then it was time to hit the lake again.

A few of the kids even braved the cold water by plunging feet first into it from the jungle vines known as the "rope swing". Dan says he would have braved the FREEZING cold water as well, and really shown the kids how to do it with style, if it wasn't for the drive home that was fast approaching and his desire not to drive home wet. We all know it was a cheesy cop-out, but if that makes him feel better about himself and his manhood.....we can play along. Maybe next time Dan, Right? I think we’re scheduled to go back in January, you could always show the kids how it’s done then. Looking forward to that! :)