Blast from the past...camp 2010

As I was loading current camp pictures, it made me curious to look back on previous years at camp.

Summer 2010.  Our second season here.  I can't even....

Camp Weekend Continued

More pictures from our long holiday weekend at camp.  Lots of exploring, bug searching, fire pit building and treasure hunting on the lake.

My nature girls...exploring our yard and woods!

 Two readers at camp! I can't even handle the cuteness.  We also loaded up on new workbooks for the summer.  Both girls have loved doing worksheets in the morning after our hike! I plan to let them both journal again this summer too.  It is always fun comparing their handwriting and storytelling from summer to summer.

 We spent the weekend looking for wood treasures for Sydney's family birthday party in a few weeks.  Couldn't believe how much white birch bark we found! Perfect for her party!

This is my favorite piece of wood.  Probably the prettiest and biggest piece of birch we have ever found.

Finishing up their work on the new fire pit.  The morning that we were leaving, a local craftsman dropped off 4 Adirondack chairs.  We will surround the fire pit with those comfy seats! We found perfect rocks for the girls to sit on while they toast their marshmallows.

 Enjoying our first fire in the new fire pit.  I envision lots of evenings spent here making s'mores with them.  Thankfully, I'm not a big fan of s'mores, so I won't be too tempted!

A completely out of focus picture of Mia jumping off the dock.  I was trying to throw the stick and take the picture at the same time.  Didn't work out well, but at least I captured our fly dog! She didn't even hesitate the first time this season, just flew right off of the dock!

 Searching for creatures in the woods. With their favorite bug collection kit!

 Lake glass hunting.

We spend every morning at the bay looking for lake glass.  We found a ton this weekend.  Usually by the end of the summer, we have several ziplock bags full of it!

I am so excited for this season at camp.  The girls are beyond excited too.

Camp weekend

Usually Jim heads to camp by himself for the Memorial Day annual clean up day and association meetings.  I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to go this year as it was going to be so nice out.  We took the girls out of school for a few days and headed up for a long weekend.  I didn't want to come home.  We had so much fun cleaning up our bay area with our neighbors and picnicking with them too! The girls and I got a lot of hikes in and found a ton of nature treasures for Sydney's bday party in a few weeks. Jim was super busy switching out our boat motor and doing general maintenance to the house.  The water was too cold for the girls to get in, but they waded in the water and found a ton of lake glass.  Our little girl camp neighbor was also there for the weekend so the girls got in a bunch of playtime with her! So much fun.

I did a few nice pictures of the girls this weekend too.  They cooperated pretty well.

I will download more casual fun, everyday pictures later.  For now, here are the "real" pictures.

Sydney is having a woodland creature bday party with a white birch cake.  Found the most perfect white birch tree in the woods and got her picture by the tree! Perfect bday portrait!

Mother's Day Weekend

We had the most beautiful weather this weekend! Jim and my Dad went fishing on Saturday morning for a few hours.  Jim came home and said how warm the water was at the lake and suggested that we take the girls back that same evening for a picnic and a swim! We got there late afternoon to a decent crowd for early May! The girls jumped right into the water while I stood thigh deep taking their pictures.  Jim was fishing and grilling while the girls were busy swimming.  While I was standing along the shore watching the girls swim, a younger mother came up to me and said she hoped that I wouldn't think she was creeping or stalking us, but she was inspired to sketch a picture of the girls and I while they swam and I photographed them.  She gave me the sketch and I nearly started to cry.  It was so pretty.  I asked if I could give her a hug as a thank you! She even signed it Happy Mother's Day 2015 with her initals.  The girls chatted with her for a few minutes about her sketch pad and other artwork!  Later we went back to our table to eat and I showed Jim the sketch.  He was almost as touched by the gesture as I was.  He suggested I frame it. I already had the frame in mind for it! Such special people in this world. What a way to make my Mother's Day weekend even more special.

Mother's Day was equally wondeful.  The girls gave me their homemade school projects first thing in the morning.  Jim made us a yummy breakfast and bought me my new Kindle (the other one was one of the first versions and on it last let).  We packed up all of the food we prepared for round two of picnicking.  This time at another lake in the area.  Another amazing day! We also got to see Nana to wish her a happy day too!

Pictures from our evening swim/picnic on Saturday.  Left the camera home on Sunday so I could be completely present in my day.

phone pic

here is the sketch

Mother's Day pictures

Just as I did last year at this same location, I asked the girls to please give mommy the prettiest smiles for my Mother's Day gift.  They made mama happy tonight with these images!

Love my sweet girls.