Grandcamp Summer 2010 Next

We all went up to church to eat and play.

Mimi ordered the snacks.
Naomi ate most of them.
Then she played on the playground - climbing...
... sliding...

...more climbing...

Later, she did some swinging.
And got dirt in her shoes on one hard landing.
It was warming up, so water play was next.

Which resulted in mud play...

There was also some 'psuedo-pinata' action; we had to use a bucket and balls, instead of a real pinata.

Lots of activity led to an unplanned afternoon nap.
Meanwhile, this is what the world looks like to a grandparent.
And this is what it looks like to a small grandchild.
All-day activity led to a psuedo-nap in the evening. This one lasted all of 2 seconds.
We're all in bed now.

Grandcamp Summer 2010 Next - The Girls

When Mimi went to Bible study, the rest of us played on the playground at church.

Danielle didn't care much for walking on wood chips.
Later, we went to McDonald's to play some more and have brunch.
Help! I'm trapped in a McDonald's playground!
Naomi did some high-speed passes around the playground. Note that she is airborne...
Lots of motion.
Danielle tried out a pair of shades.

Grandcamp Summer 2010 Next - The Girls

Grandcamp Next commenced with the transfer from Grammie and Grandpa to Mimi and Pa, signified with the official "Handing Over of the Baby" (apparently in reverse in this photo.)
Danielle seemed to be thinking "Where am I going NOW??!!"
All was good, as her favorite foam blocks (Thank You, Aunt Jessica and Uncle Mark) were there waiting to be played with.
Naomi (aka "MuLan", her latest psuedonym) assisted with the Opening Of the Mail. She opened all the advertisements and donation requests, and then proceeded to answer them using stickers and a notepad.
Danielle was in charge of delivery.
Not all the stickers made it onto the notepad.
Danielle ate.
After some play and a couple of videos (of course), everyone went to bed (except Pa, who needed to get some photos posted before morning in Petra.)

Grandcamp East Summer 2010 - Farewell Day

John headed off to kindergarden with his buddy Henry. He enjoys school.
Christopher started the morning with a little electrical engineering investigation.
He then proceeded to study the effects of gravity and mechanics of stability... and the comforting power of one's personal blanket.



As for Mimi and Pa - they caught a plane in Atlanta, and flew home. Upon their arrival, the next Grandcamp adventure was ready to begin...

Grandcamp East Summer 2010 - Next Day

Is John an active boy? Is there any doubt?
Here's our definition of "Happy".
John and his friend Henry rode their bikes on the deck. Buddies help one another...
Meanwhile, Christopher was texting some friends.
Some of yesterday's driveway art is still in place.

Grandcamp East Summer 2010

(It is still summer, isn't it?)

We headed back east on Tuesday, to visit and assist whilst Tony is doing Dracula.

Christopher is as gregarious as ever. Here he is explaining about the empty food wrapper, and the extra food up his nose.

Julie and John spent some time sorting toys for "keep" and "resale".

Christopher is now mobile. "Who needs to crawl, when you can scoot!!"

Grandcamp Summer 2010 - Farewell

The day before John and Christopher had to go back home, we all went to have lunch with Great Grandpa. Naomi and John were feeling pretty silly!

Next day, Mimi packed up goodies for the trip.

John had a snack - does it make you think of anything from Biology class? (I won't say... :)

While Mommy and Mimi prepared and loaded things into the car, the rest of us took a train ride.
The train added more cars...

Everybody and every thing got loaded, and off they went!

It was the best Grandcamp ever!!

Grandcamp Anniversary Party

Tonight's party was all about M & J's anniversary. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY from all of us!!!

We had bbq chicken, steak, mashed potatoes & gravy, baked beans, salad and one-bowl oatmeal chocolate chip cookies -- all in your honor!

Naomi and John took turns giving each other rides in Great Grandpa's walker.

Congratulations, especially from the littlest ones!

Grandcamp Summer 2010 - Day 5

Christopher drank his water...

in his birthday suit.

John played with his water

and mud.

Grandcamp Summer 2010 - Day 3

The smaller cousins spent some time playing together... or at least in the same room.

Great Grandpa came over to watch for a while.

Later on, Naomi and John went to their swim lesson. While they waited for their class, they shopped at the local vending machines. Sadly, all of them had "out of order" signs.

They made matching wet footprints on the picnic table.

John tackled the waterfall in his class' area. Concentrate....

...dive under....

... and run back through!

The instructors were very good with the kids. John learned to paddle on his back and front.

Naomi learned how to jump in and swim to the steps.