Guess Who's Back and My Pedes

Seven days and six long nights are how long we spent without this sweet girl. We pulled up to Camp Chattooga at 9 a.m. to find a sea of trunks, pillows and waiting girls and boys. She had the best time. I tried to figure out if she ever got a little homesick but she said the only time she cried was when she did a belly flop off of The Blob! I'd probably cry too! She did share about her chores, quiet time, making her bed, devotions at night, songs before meals, Minihaha waterfall and sweet new friends that she made. It sounds like the 13 girls in her cabin became very close.

My mom and dad came to keep the boys so that Scott and I could leave early to get up there. We were all ready for her to be back home. I couldn't miss her too much because during the week she was gone she was in the newspaper not once, but twice. We couldn't be prouder.
In other foot-related news, I am officially gimped up. Apparently when I started running in January the stress on the tendon on the bottom of my foot was too great - no comments please! I urged Scott to go with me so that he would know my whining and complaining was real! I think he felt sad when he saw my poor Trekky toes in these X-Rays! Somehow because my toes were going numb I was favoring the inside of my foot, hence the torn tendon?
Now I'm in this Aircast looking like Robocop. Neighbors joke I'll be kicking field goals in the fall! The boot really does feel great. It's tight on my foot and keeps it stable. Going back to doctor in three weeks. Am thinking I'll be 100% healed!

Athens Y Camp

We took our sweet Lillee to Athens Y Camp/Camp Chattooga this past Sunday. Daughter doing great, mom needing medication. She was ecstatic! She's been talking about it since she got out of school. In hindsight it probably would've been easier for her to go at the beginning of the summer. I was used to her being at school all day. Now I've had her all summer to myself and I miss her. I would never let her know that though. All of my letters to her tell her how much I miss her cutting on the 18th Star Wars the Clone Wars for Baxter each day!

This camp is in Tallulah Falls, GA. It's about 2 1/2 hours from the Griff. Her dear friend Ellis was going so she jumped at the chance to go too. I'm glad they knew each other but if they're anything like their mamas, they don't meet a stranger!

When we arrived we got her bed made up and they were off to do their swim tests. The cabins were really old school. There's no AC blowing on these campers. I think that's awesome. One of the small things from my childhood camps that she can experience. Ellis and Lillee both decided on top bunks so they're right next to each other.

We got an email that the theme for the boy/girl get-together would be "Christmas in July." We couldn't find a Christmas sweater so Lillee came up with this costume. Of course I had to sew the skirt and take off the yellow lace but it somewhat came together.

Here's her trunk that Aunt Sandra recommended to us. I would've loved something like this when I was at camp. Everything fits nicely inside. I felt like I was getting ready for rush week or decolores with the paint pens.
I got a picture of my neurotic packing job. I did separate outfits into ziploc bags but that is only because I ask Lillee first and she thought it was a great idea. I am fully prepared for utter chaos that she has made the trunk into now. However, I can have a peace that I did send it completely, ridiculously organized. There was a bag for underwear, a bag for socks, a bag for shampoo, bag for bathing suits, pajamas, you name it and it has a ziploc and sharpie somewhere on it. Hey, it's our first camp!

I do miss her terribly. Thankfully we are able to check the website each night and see pics of her. She looks like she's having an awesome time, which I absolutely expected. She's so independent and outgoing and I'm so proud of her. I can't wait to hear all about the new friendships she's formed. After her swim test she told us goodbye and ran off. That made it a little easier on me that she was so strong. However, when we got in the car Ben kept saying, "Sissy, Sissy, Sissy." I told him to shhhhh.... These boys really do miss her. There have been a lot less clothes going through the washer and dryer this week but she's making friends and memories to last forever.

Mountain Adventures: Part 2

Our cabin could not have been more perfect. I think there were 8 beds. Those were much needed for this family who likes to play musical beds at night. There was also a crib. A crib that was untouched the entire week. Scott found it through Georgia Mountain Rentals. It was a quiet community with a pool we could use. The loft upstairs was great for Scott's early morning work as well as a makeshift futon for Lillee and her bag of goodies!
The first day we went to Moccasin Creek State Park. I packed a picnic so we had a great time. Lillee made the comment that if Nana was on the picnic we'd have a cake and real plates! Yikes - I'd better work on that! This campground was on Lake Burton. Absolutely beautiful views. We did see the tornado devastation on the lake.

This was our post-tubing picture! I'll let the look on Ben's face tell the story. Let's just say that he rode on top of me on top of the tube, with a mildewed life jacket, without a paci, with a loud scream, with an even louder scream when we hit rough waters, with a petrified, life or death scream when we flipped over backwards! Ha! Not such a fun trip for mom and Ben. However, Lillee and Baxter tied their tubes together and had a blast. Lillee would get up on her knees when they approached fast water! They had a fun time. Priceless, as it just about was!

These were not peaches from the mountains but from Griffin's own Piggly Wiggly. They were super yummy though and I'm still not sure how many Baxter and I consumed! Mmmm.
Speaking of food, I brought the starter for our bread. I packed the dry ingredients and the loaf pans. It was like packing for another child!

I considered bringing a bowl with me to mix it up in. You can imagine my relief when I found a bowl exactly like mine! I would think that it was meant to be to bake bread in the mountains but I think the altitude thought otherwise. It was a little flat?

However, these peach preserves from Betty's Country Store really helped the flat part taste perfect.
We spent a lot of quality family time out on the Innsbruck Golf Course.
This green was in our backyard. A fun hole!
Babyland General has moved since we were last there in 2006. It was a great facility and the staff was very friendly even though the dolls were a little eery.
Ben decided his mid day nap was in order!

We paid our $4 parking and walked through downtown Helen in 99 degree weather! When we told Bax and Lills we were going to Hansel and Gretel they were a little anxious. Baxter can't even listen to me read the story without crawling under the covers! They were pleasantly surprised to see this yummy candy shop. It was interesting to find out the owner wrote the book Candy Making for Dummies.

In the afternoons Baxter and Lillee enjoyed lining up Ben's activities! Grouped by category nonetheless.
While they sorted, he hid from us
and glared at us.
Baxter thoroughly enjoyed the spa tub.
We ate breakfast at The Dillard House. It was delicious but a little overwhelming! Lots and lots and lots of food.
While we were there Lillee and I checked into horseback riding. We rode through the Tennessee River. I was a little anxious when we went into the river and the water soaked my shoes! We had a great time. It was nice bonding for the two of us.

Scott did some bonding of his own with the boys. They rode all over the golf course. Ben loved it! We really needed this cart to get back to Griffin when we packed my car up and it wouldn't crank! Leave it to the Clampetts to need assistance! An extremely kind man from the rental company came and pulled his truck off the side of the driveway to jump us off. Thank goodness we made it home!

Happy Belated 4th of July!

It's been a while since the last post so I have a lot to catch up on. We've been gone on a Griswald family vacation! And when I say Griswald, trust me, you're gonna want to hear this!

In the meantime I'll leave you with a few patriotic, less "Clampettish" pics. We dressed in theme for church. Ben was less than pleased with his outfit, but he complied.
We enjoyed the fireworks in our bathing suits. We came straight out from the pool so this was all we had!

Oh, and a bag of Doritos. Those always go well with a baby in a diaper!
The Griffin parade. I'm still unsure why the woman on the Gator stopped to give Baxter a crown?
Ben loved the pop pops!A yummy pretzel treat for the holiday!

Mountain Adventures 2011: Part 1

I'm going to try to be as positive as I can in this post so if at any point you sense we didn't have a great time, please stop reading. However, I have to say there were many moments in our mountain getaway that could possibly result in nightmares on my end such as....

Pirate Adventure putt putt. $6 per person gets you 18 holes, pirate hat, pirate tattoo, pirate flag and an ice cream.

Goats.....on a roof???

Leave Scott and the children alone in a Kangaroo convenience store for 5 mins and this is what they get!

More stories/pics to come on this tubing adventure!

Scott and his friend, Ferdinand

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