Camp Hoot Owl 2011

Hello Friends!!!

I'm so glad to be back up and running.  I took a little forced vacation from the blog because our computer contracted a super virus and we had to just wipe it clean.  I mean a full on need to reinstall the OS clean.

So thanks to my wonderful and awesome brother, the computer lives...and I promise to always update my security stuff.

So on to Camp Hoot Owl!!  CHO is a weekend family get together Uncle David and Aunt Mandy host for the kids with all kid stuff in mind.  This year CHO was opened up to friends of David and Mandy for their kids to come and enjoy the fun.  The more kids the more fun!!  Because there were so many people, CHO was held off site this year at Fort DeSoto campground/park.  It was just incredible.

We started out Saturday morning with a beach walk and seashell hunting.  The seashells were used for our arts and crafts later.  It was a wonderful morning but very windy.  At one point Anna Kate lost her bag and I had to run after it.  Elizabeth ran after me but ran through the grass and was introduced to sand spurs.  Very large, highly evolved spiky ones.  It was sad pulling them out but it had to be done. 

After beach walking and breakfast on the beach, we took a tour of all the playgrounds in the park.  We stopped at about 4 or 5 playgrounds and the kids were loving it. 

Back at the campsite area we started with the arts and crafts.

Each kid painted their letter and attached seashells and other beachy items to them.  Ours will be hung on the Christmas tree this year.

This is our crafting progress.

We also made seashell bracelets, which Anna Kate is proudly displaying.  That evening at the beach a wave swept it right off her arm, so sad!!! Daddy made her another bracelet to replace this one.  At least we got a picture!

After lunch and relaxing the water ballooning started.  Uncle David did a really good job of catching balloons and unleashing back on the kids, haha.  He took a fair share of hits from the kids though.

Mandy and I were pretty sure we tied several hundred balloons and couldn't get them done fast enough.

The two smallest of the ballooners...Anna kate usually just squeezed hers until it exploded in her hands.

I knew better than to really hit my brother but next year I'll get the nerve to pull the trigger!  Lets just hope I don't have a computer emergency afterwards.

We explored Fort DeSoto...

A typical Uncle David and Dad shot...

Group shot of everyone at CHO

I'm pretty sure this was lunch...I ate a lot.  Thanks to Grandma M in Texas for providing the food.  It was yummy yummy in our tummy.

There was some fishing going on while we prepped for the beach

She's quite the angler

So out at the beach in the evening. 

I have to say we found some of the neatest sea creatures like starfish, sand dollars and slimy snail things in a very pretty shell.

There was a sandcastle contest but since it was mostly lew and one other adult we called it a draw.  They both needed some much deserved credit.

The next morning after most had left we went out for a very quick geocache.  We tell Lizzy it's like looking for a treasure.

This one was hidden under a big shell and once we found it the girls were able to pull out two little prizes and put two in.  I love geocaching but I had sticking my hands in bushes.

Anna kate had to have a turn to get the shell after Elizabeth did.  She can't be left out of anything.

This is not the greatest blog update but since we were out of commission for so long I wanted to share with everyone quickly. 

Glad to be back!