A Camping We Will GO!

The First Annual Grandkids Camp began today at 12:00 sharp, when the Red Team and Blue Team pitched their tents and unloaded their gear. The Red Team consists of Cname, Hname, Joname, and JMname; the Blue Team includes Tname, Ashname, Jname, and Aname. The Red Team started out on KP, and all enjoyed a delicious lunch of sandwiches.
After lunch, the teams went on a nature hike hosted by Hname. They hiked through thick forest and even braved the treacherous “Tar Pits” mud by the Lake Fork edge!! They learned how to identify eight different kinds of leaves, including poison ivy, and also how important it is to mark our trails.
After the nature hike, the grandkids got to do a special craft- gluing twigs around a Mannatech bottle to make a unique vase or pencil holder. After the twigs were in place, raffia was tied in a decorative bow around them and various woodland objects (pinecones, leaves, acorns, etc) were used to further decorate the vases. This fabulous craft was the invention of Hname.
Then the grandkids all trooped down to the lake, where Cname and JMname sank knee-deep in “Tar Pits” mud!! There was a canoe, a paddleboat, and an inflatable raft available, and the children were soon out boating happily. Jname and Joname took the paddleboat out, giving Cname a lift on their way out to deeper waters, and Ashname and JMname used the inflatable raft. Tname and Hname paddled the canoe, while Aname sat happily between the rowers’ seats. Cname jumped off the paddleboat to swim before the water got too deep, and they continued merrily on their way.
However, the boating adventure became even more adventurous when Ashname and JMname decided to switch boats with Jname and Joname! To add to the confusion, Aname decided to bail out of the canoe and try to jump into the inflatable, while Grammy and GrandDad watched helplessly from 100 feet away. JMname succeeded in jumping into the paddleboat, whereupon he and Joname paddled away, leaving Jname and Ashname yelling after them. Aname climbed into the steadily deflating raft and began blowing it back up, while Grammy blew the whistle, recalling the canoe and Cname, but the canoe had to be sent back out to resolve the differences between the paddleboat and inflatable raft.
After the swimming (and hosing off from the rich, black lake mud), the teams designed their team flags. The Blue Team became the Blue Mountains. Their navy blue flag featured a blue mountain, outlined in white, with bears and trees on it, and the names of their team in white clouds around it. The Red Team became the Corsairs, and designed a double-sided flag. One side portrays a ship in full sail with the word “Corsairs” along one edge; the other displays the charming skull and crossbones, along with a team initial in each corner.
After the Blue Mountains started KP, a supper of hot dogs, baked beans, and salad was served. After supper, Grammy surprised us all with chocolate pudding for dessert- yum!
Then Tname of the Blue Mountains taught a fishing class. The grandkids all learned how to tie a fisherman’s knot, what polarized glasses were, and were instructed in the various lures and how to fish them. The Blue Mountains went out on a boat with GrandDad to fish; the Corsairs will have their turn tomorrow.
For now, all is peaceful and still. The wind blows cool and gentle, and the wind chimes tinkle musically in the zephyr. The only indication that there are any children still on shore is the movement of the tents, which suggest that they contain a dozen angry rats. Tomorrow will be just as good!
-written by Cname
I have tried 3 times to download pictures...they down load but don't appear here! Maybe tomorrow. I am too tired tonight to try any more...it is 10:30- all the boys have come in...too light...too hot...JM...too loud...haven't heard a peep from the girls!