SunRiver 2011

Without a doubt my family's favorite vacation destination is a campground outside of SunRiver Oregon.

 We've been going to this particular campground for probably about 10 years.  I love Eastern Oregon.  If I could live there I would.  I love how warm it is in the daytime and yet cools off in the evening. 

I loved sharing our favorite place with my family this past week.  We spent 6 days there with my sister and her 3 children and my brother's 2 children, + my own & for a short while her friend. We had plenty of adventures.  We went Kayaking (a sport I actually enjoy!)

frog hunting,

swimming in the pool,

and floating in the river (not pictured because the photographer *ME* was in the water

miniature golfing (love it!)....gotta hole in one!

 biking

shopping in SunRiver

they bought books!

a wacky scavenger hunt

and tons and tons and tons of walking.  WE also got about a zillion mosquito bites and my daughter's friend had an allergic reaction to the bites (bummer),  two of my nieces got bee stings but they were mild and treatable (whew), I got a bad sunburn and blister and then burned my arm on our stove.  For a while I thought we had a miniature first aid station operating out of our camp site.  It was memorable and worth all of the itching and anti-histamines

very cool- literally

We just had the coolest experiece and I had to share. We (as in the town I live in...NOT just my family....) have the fun opportunity of having the special olympics here in town (I hear rumors that it will be for the next 4 years.). I'd heard that they needed vollunteers and so in mid may I started trying to convince my daughter to do it. She was less than motivated. First her school and then our church contacted us asking us to vollunteer. To my hubby and I it was somewhat irresistible, so we signed all of us up (daughter and foriegn exchange student included). Early on Saturday morning we all walked up the road to where the Olympics (or at least the part that we were asked to help with) was being held. I was excited to literally have it 5 minutes up the road. We shivered as we walked (since it was raining and cold). We were assigned to be officials and score keepers in Bocce Ball....."Bocce Ball??????" We had to goggle the rules and still were confused. Fortunately, they had a very thorough volunteer training and we were able to figure out what to do. The girls shivered and shook as they scored the games but JR and I were warm as we officiated (sounds so official doesn't it?). The athletes are so polite and friendly. The knew their rules and they came to play and were actually very competitive. Just like in all other aspects of life I found that the men were much more competitive and even contemplative while playing while the women cheered each other on and were a bit more animated. I can't begin to tell you how much fun it was. I totally, definitely want to do it again. It was an experience worth repeating!

man, my family's weird!

And I kinda like it!

I'm so lucky!

I've been an Activity day Girl's leader for 7 years.  I've done lots of fun things with my girls.  I enjoy spending time with them.  The highlight of my year is our annual Day Camp.  

I initiated the day camp 4 years ago but it was in the making for 2 years. 

Our girls were always asking us if we could go 'do something' , go camping or something.  They saw the scouts doing all sorts of adventurous stuff and they felt left out.  Since there is no provision for camp for 8-11 year old girls in our church and we had no budget or leadership support to pull it off I had no answer for the girls that they wanted to hear.  Each time I told them "No" it resonated in my ears.  So, I began plotting and finally 3 years later I had the budget and the priesthood leadership on my side to begin a day camp.

Our day Camp is named "Giggly Girls Day Camp".  The girls 4 years ago named it and we kept it.  The name is very appropriate as the girls literally giggle the entire day away. 

Our camp is one day long.  It begins at 10 am and ends with dinner and s'mores with our daddy's at 7 pm. We try really hard to have a balance of active activities (hiking and archery), crafts and free time.  It took me a few years to learn that all of these girls this age really want need is to be taught something new and fun to share with their parents and friends (such as archery), make something cute to take home and have time to play with their friends in a fun, supervised but not overly organized environment.  It's really a simple recipe and works whether it's day camp or our article of faith carnival or even just our bi-weekly activities. 

This year as day camp approached I felt overwhelmed and un-prepared.  I was anxious as day camp approached.  then, I show up at camp and it goes beautifully.  The reason why....

fabulous co-leaders who shared the load

....and sweet giggly girls with great attitudes who are happy just to be there.

I am so lucky!