Grandparents and Me Camp...Wonderful Wednesday

It's been a great day! I can't believe how fast this day went. It began with another great breakfast of waffles made by Master Chef Jerry. We have been sooooo spoiled!

After feeding out faces, we headed to the basement to work on our photo albums. It is fun to be able to keep our memories tucked away in our albums.

Being Marley's first time with us for camp, I was so impressed with how she worked on the activities and kept up with the girls. I am also very pleased that Layla and Sarah made sure that Marley was included in their activities.

Marley

Sarah

Layla

Layla, Penny, Sarah

During a break, Marley retreated to her sleeping area and read her books. She was reading and singing to her imaginary friends and totally enjoying herself.

    PopPop Tom challenges the girls to a game of Attack UNO.

After lunch, we had lunch and then packed up to head to the swimming pool. With the temps reaching 95 degrees, we were extra cautious with the sunscreen.

Three Happy Girls

 

Tomorrow, we head home after breakfast. It will be difficult for Sarah and Layla to say goodbye to each other for another year. Penny and Jerry have been such wonderful hosts and Tom and I have enjoyed being with them so much. It has been so much fun having Layla and Marley with us.

 

We will stop at Paula and Ron's home in Noblesville on the way home. They will shove me out of the car and Tom and the girls will continue on to Elkhart. I will stay with Paula so that we (and Nila App and her sister Rita) can attend a concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Friday night downtown Indy. It can't get better than this!!! Nila, Rita and I will return home on Saturday.

Life is so good!!!

 

Grandparent and Me Camp....Mostly Monday

Before reaching Louisville, we stopped in Columbus to stretch. The first structure we saw was the Bartholomew County Veterans Memorial. It was incredible...and very tall...

And very emotional...
There were letters from soldiers that were carved into the stone.
Layla was very taken with the letters.

Layla was intrigued with the letters from soldiers that were carved into the stone. Most were very sad.

Tom and Layla discussed the letters that were written.

Often a day or two after the letter was written,

the soldier was killed. Sooo sad.

 

 

 

After seeing the Memorial, we walked around the block and discovered The Commons. It was like an indoor park. There was a huge structure that looked like it was made out of junk. Parts moved and swung, tilted and twirled. As a mirrored piece slowly spun around toward us, I snapped in time to capture our reflections in the mirror.

In another area was a huge set of nets that needed climbing. Layla climbed to the top 4 or 5 times. Marley enjoyed it but after the 2nd level, she was very happy.

 

Time to get back in the car and head to Louisville!

 

Penny, Jerry and granddaughter Sarah, were there to greet us! Layla and Sarah met four years ago at our first Grandma and Me Camp at Camp Barbee in Leesburg IN.

They were thrilled to see each other again.

Sarah had made a sign for us:

"Wellcome to Camp Grandparents"

                            Sarah, Layla and Marley reconnect.

 

After dinner at El Toro, we returned to the Youngman's home to just enjoy being together. Of course, it was important that we take time to listen to The Voice on TV . Penny and I always "watch" The Voice together on Monday and Tuesday nights but we do it from our own homes and are on "chat" together. We actually got to sit together in the same room and critique the vocalists in person. It was a real treat!

"Who do you like the best, Sarah?"

 

It's Tuesday, June 11

 

 

Jerry was a Master Chef as he made wonderful, fancy pancakes!

Marley enjoyed the chocolate chip pancakes.

Marley slept on a blowup downstairs near Tom and me.
I made my nightly call to my Mother (in Battle Creek) from downstairs as Marley was going to sleep. Both nights she was asleep before the call was finished. Sarah and Layla slept in the extra upstairs bedroom. All has gone very well.

After breakfast, we headed downstairs to have our Bible study, discussions, craft time, etc.

 

We are focusing on being good stewards of the earth that God created.

 

Jerry helped with craft time.

Marley, Sarah, Layla and their
milk jug/newspaper
"ball catcher game".

We then packed up lunches and headed to the water park.

 

As good stewards of the earth, we donned gloves and began looking for trash that needed to be picked up.

 

 

Next to the picnic area was a play area and then the water park.

 

These are pictures of pure joy!

 

Marley didn't realize the significance of the "foot washing" that she gave to me and then "hand washings" to Penny and me. I asked her if she knew the story of Mary and Martha.

 

 

Then, before we knew it, our first day of "camp" was over.

 

 

The girls loved running outside to run to the top of the "mountain". Such a pretty neighborhood.

Such a gorgeous day!

Such a fun time!

 

 

Grandparent and Me Camp...In the Beginning

Penny Youngman and her granddaughter, Sarah,  had attended Grandma and Me Camp at Barbee for a couple of years when I found out about it. Three years ago, Layla and I went along. We went for two years and then Penny and I decided that we could do "our own" Grandma and Me Camp. We found curriculum, scripture, did campfire... the full-meal-deal... and it happened up and down the street...right between our own homes on River Drive. It was just the 4 of us; it was cheap; it was good. Sarah and Layla have developed a wonderful relationship over these few years.

Then, the Youngmans decided to move to Louisville! Not good...except that Tom and I love to visit them. So, this year, we collected Layla AND Marley and yesterday afternoon, we began our little journey to GRANDPARENT and ME CAMP. We added a granddaughter AND the grandpas.

We drove yesterday the 2 1/2 hours to stay in Noblesville for the night. Kendra and family, however, are on vacation in Tennessee. We invaded their house and set up shop. (On a side note: I am so amazed at the remodeling they are doing to their kitchen! )

Since the girls wanted to sleep on the same floor as us and Layla said that she LOVES sleeping on Kendra's couch (it's huge!!!) She got the couch...Tom got the other part of the couch (I said it was huge!) and Marley and I slept in "my" bed. Marley was out cold by the time I got to bed and as morning drew nearer, little "Miss-Hog-The-Bed" encouraged me to get up at my normal 5:45ish. I might have slept a few more minutes but not today. She is going to think that she slept alone.

Last night, Marley and PopPop had so much fun up in Nick's and Blake's room building with Lego's while Layla and I walked down to my sister Paula's house. Layla wanted to see the "puppies" and I hadn't had a chance to talk with Paula in a long time so we had a great evening.

 

See the tall, skinny structure to the right of Marley?

I told them that Lexi will love to knock that down when she gets home!

PopPop then moved it off the floor.

 

We have now officially begun our Grandparent and Me journey. It will be fun to see the Youngmans.

As I type this, everyone is still sleeping so obviously, everyone feels comfortable.

After while, we will go have breakfast with Paula and then head to Columbus for a stop for some leg-stretching and fun before we head on to Louisville.

Memories are in the making!