Last week, starting right about on my birthday (June 24) we got bit by the ugliest virus. It hit us all and the intensity varied for each of us. Lewis was the worst and actually missed work which is rare and Anna Kate was the best and first to recover, making the ability to rest almost impossible. I was really worried we would not be able to go to our favorite summer retreat: Camp Hoot Owl! But we all got on the eating solids trail just in time.
Camp Hoot Owl is the weekend we spend with David and Mandy each year and all the fabulous activities they arrange. These are the badges we could earned this year at Camp Hoot Owl, the very first (top, left) is temper tantrum, which was earned several times over by Anna Kate.
The next few pictures are from us earning our activity badges!
Always the most exciting is horseback riding with Liz, Mandy's wonderful friend that lets Elizabeth come and brush, ride and torture the horses just a little bit.
I love this picture because it shows everyone (aside from Lewis taking the picture)
Anna Kate absolutely, positively, 100% would not get on the horse. I tried.
Aunt Mandy had cute stick ponies for the girls to ride afterwards. The blonde is Roadie and Brown is Strider.
And Liz rewarded the girls with horseshoes from Roadie's latest shoe change. They are now proudly hanging in each of the girls' room. So sweet and I hope brings them luck from here till forever.
After riding we went to do a little shooting. Clay pigeon style. Since it was Lewis and I's first time, our form was horrible and I think Lewis hit 7/25 and I hit 8/25 (3 in my last 5 attempts) Mandy hit something like 23/25, and she didn't nick it either.
She's cute but don't mess with her!
Next up was arts and crafts time
These are the finished pieces, starting at the top left, I did the stars and stripes. Lew did the cherry tree with ax, mom painted the flag pole and tree, Mandy did the fireworks, the handprint is Anna Kate's, the white star is a background created by Elizabeth and star by Lewis, Elizabeth did the red and blue (now purple) block and Anna Kate did the last two (very Pollock, if you ask me)
While it was not raining, we did a quick geocache to the preserve near Camp Hoot Owl. It was Elizabeth's first and the best way to describe it to her was that we were on a treasure hunt! This was her first find.
And her second, she left her USA ring that came off a cupcake and took the necklace. She thought it was pretty darn neat until it was time to walk back to the house. We had to take turns carrying her and at one point she earned her tantrum badge. We applauded.
David made and awesome Fourth of July dinner and yes it was unbelievable...we ate our leftovers tonight.
Uncle David and the girls earning their video game badge.
It was a little sad that we had as much rain as we did but on the plus side the temperature was so great, around the low 80's. We had a really wonderful time and did some amazing activities, as always we love Camp Hoot Owl and can't wait till next time!
