Winner of Best Couple's Costume!

 Happy Halloween! 

We won "Best Couple's Costume" - complete with trophy and prize at the yearly Costume Party. 

Don't worry the paint came off easily!

Happy 70th Birthday, Grandaddy Bob!!

We had the privilege of hosting a 70th Birthday for John's dad recently. He has blessed our life in so many ways and we were happy to celebrate him on his 70th Birthday!

 When the kids heard we were going to have a party for their grandfather, they insisted on having a theme. Because Bob like Elvis Presley we choose a 50's Sock Hop Theme. As you'll see the kids wanted the house decorated and they dressed up for the big day!

 Bob opening his big gift from everyone. An Ipad. He was thrilled! 

 After the food we did something fun for the kids... a pinata. It is supposed to look like a record. 

 Then we took some pictures of the grand-kids with their grandparents!

 

We even took a silly one!! 

Happy Birthday! Let's do it again in 10 years!!

Broken Elbow!

 So... we encountered our first broken bone in the Hoots' household. We had a good long stretch of being break free - 8 and a half years of castless bliss. But, Isaac ended all that at the end of September when he fell off our bed and broke his elbow. He has been a cast for almost four weeks and is scheduled to get it off this Friday!! Wahoo!! 

He has handled the cast very well, but we are all ready to have it off!! 

 (Like the neon green? He got it to match his Halloween costume, Stay tuned to see the costume!!)

Virginia Creeper Trail

 Over Labor Day we went with a group of friends to Virginia. We camped at Beartree Campground and rode down the VA Creeper trail  as a group. It was great fun. I would definitely go again! I don't really love to camp - but doing it with these friends was really awesome.

 Ethan is a strong rider and we were not worried about him on the 17 mile (downhill) trail. But, Isaac and Liv are still learning and we were concerned this was too long for them. So we rented two "tag - along" bikes. Isaac rode with John and Olivia with me. They loved it! And, it made it a lot less nerve wrecking to have them attached to us!!

About 5 minutes after I took this picture it poured down rain on us! We were all a lot colder at the beginning than we thought we would be.

 

 After several miles we all stopped and ate lunch in this little shelter. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it was POURING down rain as we ate our pb&j's!! 

 Our three little bikers. Covered in mud. They had a great time - but were seriously filthy by the end!!

 

 After we had ridden about half way the sun came out and we stopped to swim in the (freezing) river that winds around the trail. It was refreshing!! 

 

 Most of the group. After the tents were all packed up at the campsite. So thankful for friends who invite you to do things you would never have thought of yourself!!

Camp Willow Run!!

Well, I have been procrastinating posting about the best part of our summer. But, after coming back and back to these pictures which were waiting for words, I have decided there really are no good words to describe this place... so here goes... 

In college, John and I were privileged and blessed to spend our summers at Camp Willow Run. We worked as counselors, ski boat drivers, and co - head counselor. I am not exaggerating when I say the nine collective months I have spent there were the most spiritually influential of my life. It was fun and exhausting and stretching and formative. I learned that I like papayas. I learned what I would be if I were not a counselor. And, I learned that you can goosh louder than you can splash. 

I am so thankful I was able to serve at CWR.

My time there shaped me as a teacher, wife and mother. 

The last summer we worked there was 2000. We were married the next summer and started our "real" life. But, every summer part of me has longed for this place. I  enjoyed where ever I was, but I missed CWR. 

This summer something incredible happened... our eldest was old enough to join the "Good Ole Gospel Train" himself. It was surreal to drop him off...to be on the "parent- side" of camp instead of the "staff" side. 

Buying a minivan really didn't make me feel old, but dropping Ethan off this summer made me feel ancient!

Checking out the lake and the dock before registration. We chose to look around on the hottest day of summer!

Ethan was fortunate to have his all - time best bud join him at camp and in the boxcar this summer. In the picture above the two tallest boys stayed and their siblings all wished they could. 

At the climbing wall. The boys were not old enough for this rec area yet - Ethan choose canoeing, archery/ riflery, and basketball as his three rec areas for the week.

A little time in low ropes before checking in and finding out his boxcar.

Ethan all moved in and ready for the swim test! He chose a bottom bunk - his best bud was on the top bunk.

CWR doesn't have any cabins! Instead, they have old boxcars that have been fully renovated.  So thankful for his great counselor, Chris, and all that he taught Ethan this summer. So many people asked if we were nervous to drop Ethan off at over night camp for the week. Honestly, anywhere else I would have been. But, I think I have already established how great this place is- I trust the full time staff completely and they always hire awesome summer staff! My only nervous point was that he would put on sunscreen everyday- and he did!

"On the Right Track"

Excited for the week. Two minutes later they were begging us to leave...

Ethan loved camp, he still maintains that it was the best part of the summer (and we went to Disney folks!).

He was heartbroken to leave (just like we always were!) and is counting down the days until the Father/ Son Retreat in April! 

Truly, one of the things I am the most thankful for in this life is that God allowed me to work at CWR. And, even though it makes me feel so old, I am so happy to pass it on to my children. 

There's a sweet sweet spirit in that place.

A Weekend at the Beach with Old Friends

 This post is out of order and long overdue! At the beginning of August we went for a short beach vacation with our dearest old friends... the Hoffmans and the Vandergriffs. These families are such a gift to all five of us. We were all friends in college and have a decade and half of memories, triumphs and disappointments to share... and I look forward to many more decades together. I only took a couple of pics of our fun filled weekend... and here they are... 

Topsail Island, NC

Squinting in the sun, but refusing to wear sunglasses.

Beach beauty.

Playing in the sand with friends. 

 I can't believe I didn't get pictures of the other friends that were there... I only missed 6 more!!! 

Hope we can go again sometime!