We just got back from Family Camp in the San Bernadino Mountains, which are north of Palm Springs. We left last Sunday, the whole family, and traveled 6 hours to a lovely camp in the woods. Balin told us on Saturday that he would be able to drive there with us but then he would need to continue on to Alpine, near San Diego, to get a job started. He was hoping to get back to us Tuesday night but got the news that he needed to stay until Thursday night. He returned just in time to celebrate Sam's birthday, which was on Friday.
Even though Balin wasn't able to join us for the majority of the weekend, we had a blast. Our friends the Coffmans were there with their two kids and we met a lovely single mom, Claudia and her daughter Morgan, with whom we hung out almost the whole time with. It was so lovely to have another family to do stuff with. We ate together, we sat together during programs, we went to the lake together - we just had a great time with Claudia, Morgan and the Coffmans. Claudia commented to me one day that had I not been there she probably would have headed home as it's not much fun to be a single mom at Family Camp, where the traditional family of a mom and dad with kids is the norm.
We did a ton of activities, from hanging out at the pool, playing miniature golf, going to the lake to kayak, play in the sand or the kids favorite activity was to use their imagination in the forests. They played every night until it got dark in the forest - and then again in the morning until it was time to go to breakfast. After breakfast the kids went off to their morning program which included going to the pool, playground, creek, carousel along side singing songs, learning about Jesus and playing with their friends. The kids really enjoyed their time though I kept them out two mornings so that they could take a nap - they were soooo tired every morning!
While the kids were in their program the adults wen to their program which included some singing and listening to a pastor talk about three C's: Compassion, Commitment,...oh i can't think of the third one - it'll come. After our program we picked up our kids, went to lunch and then had all after noon for free time. After playing with the kids we had dinner and then we took the kids back to our room where they met their "Certified Childcare Assistant" who was a high school aged girl assigned to us. She would watch our children from 7-11 while we went to an evening speaker or event. Our kids really like Lindsey and enjoyed staying up with her until I got home any where between 9 & 10. It was a great bonus to have Lindsey and I was so thankful for her! It made my week extra special!
The week was super fun but of course it was super tiring. The kids were tired by day 3 but kept charging a long as they were having such a good time. I really enjoyed the free time to take the kids to the lake or pool or the ropes course and rock climbing. They did such a great job of being troopers that we're planning on going again next year! Sam enjoyed his birthday - his dad was there, he got to go to the lake, do the ropes course with his dad, rock climb and ended it all with a trip to the ice cream shop at camp where we bought him a 25 scoop sunday which he shared with about 10 people! He was so excited to have every body share it with him!
I dropped Balin off in Redlands this morning by 9:30 am so that he could pick up his rental car and head back to Alpine, where he'll be working late into next week. There's a rumor he's expected to go to Columbia for the weekend. Poor guy, he's super tired but the work doesn't seem to care - or stop. Hopefully he'll be around when we take off for Durango the second weekend in August or it'll be a long drive for me and the kids. We'll see.
Best go and get some sleep.
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