Camp Nagrenol 2007

The kids and I just returned from our 2 1/2 week vacation. We spent the first few days of our trip in St. Louis at my sister's house. Then we (me, Tristan, Alicia, Adelaide, Cari, Lily, and Luke) all piled into the Navigator (which we nicknamed the "Clown Car") and headed to the lake for a week to attend the annual Camp Nagrenol (Lonergan backwards) that my in-laws put on for all the grandkids. Cari and her kids are honorary Nagrenol campers. She came last year to help boost attendance since Daniel's brother, Jared, couldn't attend and in the process got herself an open invitation for every year.

Tristan and Alicia were REALLY looking forward to camp. They got to spend lots of time with their cousins, whom they don't get to see very often. They went swimming 2 or 3 times a day (the luxury of a pool in the backyard), rode the wave runner with Grandpa, went tubbing, watched lots of tv (which to them is a real novelty), and participated in all the camp activities which included bowling, campfires, going to the local water park, jewelry making (mainly for the girls), Miner Mike's (glorified kid's arcade), and the annual treasure hunt via boat. Adelaide was able to participate much more this year since she was a little older. She got to enjoy the tube, the boats, and really got the hang of swimming with her water wings. She got to be pretty fearless. She would jump in off the side of the pool all by herself. She thought she was so clever! She got to the point where she knew the word "swimming", so when she heard it, she would take me by the hand, walk me upstairs, and point to her swimsuit.

After our week at the lake, we all piled in the car again to drive for a week long visit in Kansas City. It was our last chance to spend time with my youngest brother, Wes, before he goes on his mission to Chile for 2 years. We went swimming (of course) with Mari and Ryan, went to the park, and just kind of took it easy. The kids are really comfortable and at home and my parents house because that is where we spent our first weekend together over 2 years ago. They talk about it everytime we go....how we had a birthday cake for each of them, presents, we played games, stayed up late, and ate lots of candy.

We were all really sad to say good-bye to Uncle Wes, but we were excited to get home and see Daniel. He kept himself busy doing woodworking projects, harvesting and caring for the garden, fly fishing, cleaning, and attending a party on a lake with his fellow residents. This week he is working the swing shift in the operating room. He works from 3pm-11pm. What is sad is that we are excited about this schedule since it's only a 40 hour week!!!!

So we are home safe and sound, and getting ready for school to start in a week and a half! Summer has flown by!

Alicia, Izzy, and Morgan

Max and Tristan

Addi would pick Grandma's sunflowers everyday. She loved to walk the dogs with Grandpa and would pick the sunflowers along the driveway and hold on to them the entire walk

Morgan and Alicia on the "U" tube

Addi and I on the tube. The house and dock behind us.

Austin and Tristan on the ride of their lives!

Addi would look around before she jumped to make sure everyone was watching.

Lovin' every minute of it!

Lily, Addi, and I on the roller coaster at Miner Mike's.

The first stop on the treasure hunt.

Another stop during the treasure hunt. The clue was tapped to the end of the high dive, so I made them all jump off. I didn't think they would, but they all did! I was so proud!

Addi enjoying the boat ride during the treasure hunt.

We found the treasure! It was filled with toys, candy, and of course, gold. But every year there is a note from Jack Sparrow reminding us to not be too greedy and to leave a little bit of gold behind so that we don't end up cursed! No curse this year!

Tristan, Addi, Uncle Wes, and Alicia

Daniel catching a fish while fly fishing. What's up with his hair? Doesn't he know anyone that could cut it?