Thursday, July 30, 2009

Camp Surprise

My mom is a Children's Minister at an awesome church in Houston, and summer is her busiest time of the year. This week she and her amazing team took 200+ kids and adults to camp. As always, she thought of everything and she was super-prepared and organized...but there was one thing she didn't know: her daughters and her grandsons were coming to camp, too!

We drove down on Monday morning, arriving around lunchtime. The talented and fun (and very sneaky) Ms. Barbara had arranged all the details, even making sure we had camp T-shirts to wear!
Waiting for Nana to come out

SURPRISE!!!

(I love the look on her face.)

I think she was glad to see them.

We spent the rest of the day with Mom/Nana, doing camp-ish things.

We ate camp food.

We swam in the lake,

and we swam in the super-shocked, murkily green pool.

We had some R&R,

and we saw some wildlife.

After evening worship, we made the rounds to Hip Hop Night and the Redneck Olympics. Unfortunately, Little Middle had a face-to-face meeting with some asphalt. We took him to the camp nurse, and decided to call it a night. So we drove back into town and settled down in a hotel. The boys were asleep as soon as we turned the lights out!
We got up early the next morning and drove back out to the campgrounds. We just missed seeing Mom do the zip line! Boo.
The boys went swimming again before we packed up to head home. On the way, we stopped off for a bite to eat, where Goliath took this picture:

and I got this wonderful shot:

Yay for fun surprises and super family memories!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

As Seen Hanging On My Friend's Wall...

I hope my children look back on today
And see a parent who has time to play.
There will be years for cleaning and cooking,
But children grow up when we are not looking.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful...

...that I got to be their mama.

...that I can call these ladies my friends.
...for delicious pancake breakfasts and making sweet memories.

...for my sister, who is unashamed to rent "Hotel for Dogs" at the RedBox, and laughs hysterically when her nephews squirt her with water guns.

...for freedom, and all the fireworks, strawberry desserts, and tailgates that come with it.

...for young love.

...for lasting love.