Family Camp 2011

Two years ago, when we joined FBC Windsor, we heard about members of the congregation going to Family Camp. I didn't grow up with a family camp tradition but I was curious. I did grow up camping with my family every Memorial Day Weekend and I love all of the memories. I wanted to give my kids an annual tradition that they could look back on with fond memories.
Jason and I talked that first summer and agreed that we would go to Family Camp the next year. Then last year I was 8 months pregnant with Henry. We weren't able to attend. This year we decided there was nothing that could stop us.
Last Friday we packed up two vehicles and headed up 101 to Redwoods River Resort.

After a short 2.5 hour drive we were setting up our campsite.


I had been very worried about how much work it would be to camp with a baby. It turns out it was just as much work as I feared. But thankfully I have a wonderful husband who does more than his share, and great kids who help out as much as they can.

In no time Jason had everything set up and we had our new home sweet home.
Then I took the kids to the pool.
Later that night we had a group dinner, devotional and campfire.


After getting a little sleep, Saturday morning we kicked back in front of a campfire.

One of my biggest questions about camping as an adult was "how are we going to make our morning coffee?" We decided to get a French Press and I'm happy to say that the coffee wasn't too bad, in fact it was pretty good.

Cooper loved camping! He played with his scooter, hung out in either jammies or a swimsuit all weekend, and generally just enjoyed hanging out with daddy and getting dirty.


I was amazed with God glorious creation all around us. We slept under "Big Jack". The redwood trees are amazing and it is cool to think that they are one of the oldest living things on earth and they are only found on the Pacific Coast.



The church had activities for the kids every day. Gracie was in heaven since she loves to do crafts.


The only way to keep Henry from eating rocks, sticks and dirt was to hold him or strap him into his highchair.



Saturday afternoon we went to the pool and then took a short hike to the river.


There were fish in the river.


Henry tried to eat river rocks by the handful.

We're leaving on a Jet Plane!

Well, actually we are driving in a truck and Yukon up the coast, but we are going on vacation! We haven't been on a family vacation in 2 years! All vacation plans went out the window last year when we found out Henry was on the way. This year we have two family vacations planned. The first one starts today.
In a few hours we will load up the vehicles and head up to Leggett and the Eel River. We will be going to "family camp" with our church. This is an annual adventure but the first time we have participated. I'm looking forward to the camping trip with a little bit of dread. While I loved camping as a kid I'm a little bit nervous about being the adult in the situation. We've never gone camping with the kids. I think they will love it but I'm wondering how much work Henry will be. Eating dirt won't hurt him, right?
I'll post pictures when we return, but in the mean time you can pray for our safety and my sanity.

Cool Dad

My uncle Ranndy is a treasure trove of old pictures. Today I got an email which contained this picture of my dad. I'm not sure if I was even born when this picture was taken. Being a farmer, he and my grandfather learned how to make do with what they had. I've heard that although this home-made sulphur spray rig isn't pretty, it served a need for many years.

My first thought when I saw this picture in my email was that my dad looks cool! I remember being a little girl and thinking that he was the coolest guy and loving spending time with him. Even when it was "at the ranch" while he was working. I always thought that he could fix or make anything. I wondered how he knew what he was doing, but I never doubted that he could do it. I think this spray rig is evidence to that.

(For the record, I still think my dad is the coolest guy, and I still think he can make or fix anything.)

Decorating the Tree

Grammie and Grampa came over last friday night and we had a great time as a family finally decorating the tree. Grammie had as much fun as the kids putting ornaments on the tree. Grampa enjoyed trying out his new camera and watching the activities.
He shared these photos with me:

The whole family in front of the tree.

Grace with Santa Claus. Cousin Maria sent this two my parents when Emma Jo was just a baby and the kids look forward to him coming out of storage every year.


Henry really wants to be a big boy and he was enjoying standing up watching the kids and lights.

My Grandpa

Today would have been my Grandfather's 88th birthday. He died when I was a very young girl, but I still remember him and my grandmother. There was nothing more important to them than family. They raised four boys (my father is the oldest) and were surrounded by brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. There were three grandchildren when they passed away (I was the first girl), two more came after their deaths. They loved us and always made sure we knew it.

I've heard people say that my grandfather was a big man. In fact many people called him "Big Johnny". I never thought of him as big. I realize now that is because he always got down on my level to talk to me. He did however have huge hands and all future great-grandchildren's hands have been compared to his.

One of my favorite memories of my grandfather was when he took my brother and I to the fair in Napa. We were going to the fair and the destruction derby. All the cars had to park in a dirt lot which was a little drive from the actual entrance to fair. Grandpa told the gate attendant that he had a bum leg that was injured in the war and requested special parking. We got to park in the first row!

My grandmother was a very special lady as well. When I was really little we lived on the same property as grandma and grandpa and got to visit them just about every day. It seemed that every time we visited she had something new for John and I. One of our favorite things to do with her was paint on the kitchen table. I thought she was magic that her coloring books would change color when we painted them with water. She also always had chocolate kisses. She would pull them out of the cupboard and tell us not the let the "boys" know where they were. I always thought it was funny that she referred to my dad and his brothers as boys.

When we have weekends together as a family like we did with Gimme Five last week I think about how happy it would have made my grandparents. How great that the legacy of family that they created lives on.

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be Thankful for this year. We have our health and family. We have our home and jobs. We have each other and God. This year I am especially thankful for all of the blessing that our family has, especially in light of the difficulties that are facing so many of the families around us.

This year was an extra special Thanksgiving Day. Not only is it Thanksgiving Day, today is Cooper's 2nd Birthday! He has been so excited each week. I'm not sure how much he realizes what is going on, but he definitely knows the verbiage. Each night at dinner this week we've asked the kids what they are thankful for. Without fail, each time Cooper has responded "my birthday". When we ask him what he wants for his birthday, each time he asks for "cake".

Today the entire family gathered at Grammie's house. It was great to see John, Tracy, and Mays & Dallas. We don't get to see those cute little boys nearly enough. The girls just love them to pieces and it was fun to see how much the boys loved the girls as well, especially Mays and Emma Jo. Also joining us was Sue and Gene, Linda and Beth, and Butch. We had a great day of spending time with family, preparing and eating great food, sharing stories and just enjoying each other.

I pray that this upcoming year will be easier than the year that is passing, but I am thankful for all of the blessing we have, especially family.

Long Week, Short Weekend

This week was just one of those weeks. For Mommy it started with a long drive to Oakville followed by several hours of meetings (budget are no fun), then a drive back to school and more meetings. More meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday were rounded out with a night of no sleep on Wednesday. By the time Friday afternoon rolled around I was DONE.

The weekend started with dinner at Grammie and Grampa's. While visiting with them is always nice, it was especially nice this week since Uncle Bud and Aunt Nancy are visiting from Indiana. We don't see them very often and it was so great to visit with them.

Today was dominated by soccer. Grace's game was at 9:30 and Emma Jo's was at noon. Both teams did great. It was fun to see Gracie sticking in there and fighting for the ball. In the past she has sort of hung out on the fringes and watched and waited. The Purple People Eaters played together as a team! It was nice to see them applying the soccer skills that Coach Rob has tried to hard to teach them.

When soccer was over, the girls decided the best way to recover from the 90+ degree temperature outside was to run through the sprinklers.

More soccer and expected hot weather tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it (after hopefully a good night's sleep tonight).

Newest Member of the Extended Family

My uncle, Ranndy, became a grandfather yesterday. Ranndy is my father's younger brother. I think it is pretty cool that Ranndy became a grandfather exactly 10 years after my father first became a grandfather.

Blake "Kosta" Barkas!
June 17th, 12:40 PM
23 inches, 9 lb 5 oz

Mother and baby are doing well. Grandpa and Grammy are ecstatic.

Sorrow

My heart breaks for the Jacobson Family from St. Helena who lost their lives in the plane crash in Montana on Sunday. Although I grew up in St. Helena I didn't know them personally, but I know many people who did.
This morning as I watched the news and discovered that one family lost two children and five grandchildren in one instant it hit me hard. My family has two children and five grandchildren. I can't imagine the pain and heartache of the Feldkamp family and each other family involved. It is unthinkable to me...

Cousins

Each time we visit with John and Tracy I love watching how the kids interact. They only get to play together a handful of times a year and yet they pick up right where they left off and have a great time.

Cooper keeps a close watch on his older cousins. He clearly wants to do everything that Mays and Dallas can do. I'm secretly hoping that he doesn't learn quite all their tricks. But the more I've been around little boys I've realized the saying is true, boys will be boys.

Grace loves being a ringleader and enticing the boys to get into lots of mischief.

It is always great fun to all be together as a family. This time was especially nice as we were celebrating Grammie's birthday!