Port Burwell 2013

The long awaited camping trip was drawing nigh and the long term forecast was looking GOOD!!!   Planning and packing and a flurry of emails was what we were facing.  I think my inbox had 39 messages with the subject line: Re: Coming Soon: Family Camping.   Beth first sent out an email asking for our preferences on various subjects.  She ended the email by asking us to use just ONE word to describe our feelings about this trip.  Here is what we came up with:  anticipation, long-awaited, sunshine, beach, blessed, relaxation, and lonesome.  (if you wish to match the word to the person, give it a try . . . I'm betting "beach" is the easiest one;0))

Anyhow . . . I think all words were applicable in one way or another . . .except perhaps "lonesome".  There was always someone around though some were around more than others!

So here is the picture summary of our annual camping trip:

Because this is what it is all about  . . . sitting around and drinking coffee:)

 One morning things got even more heated up and we even played balloon toss . . still remaining seated of course!

 Spencer

 Ken and Spencer

 As you may have noticed . .  . temperatures were a bit cooler than what we are used to in August.  Average daily highs were in the low 20's and of course in the campsite it was always cooler than that yet.

 Mel and Kyle

 Kev celebrated his birthday (#12) at camp once again.

 As Tim informed us all . . .its a June bug and a cicada (on their tent)

 Hunter, Tim and Landon playing with the tractors etc on the campsite.

 Kyra

Spencer and Karter in the sand.

  . . .thanks to Kade. 

 I'm not really sure I can explain this picture.  But I do find it quite interesting!

 On the Saturday we had a (extended) family reunion at the beach. . . . convenient b/c we were already there! As part of the reunion there was a sand building contest.  Here are some of the entries:

This is the winning entry . . .based on Revelation and Pilgrims Progress if I got it right.  This is Christian, escaping the snares of sin and temptation. (I think I got that right?!)

Second place

 Our esteemed judges!

 Because of the cooler weather . . there wasn't really any, "man I've got to go for a swim. I'm so hot!" kind of days . . .but the kids went in anyway. I went in the first day and I'm glad . . b/c after that it wasn't even tempting!

 Richard and Savannah

I love this shot!!

(Tim, Landon, and Hunter)

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We did have one rainy night and one rainy day.  But we're used to that!  

It looks like we're watching a show or playing charades or something . . . really we're just staying dry.

 I also love this picture.  Not sure what was so funny anymore, but I wish you could hear them laughing!

 Landon

 Karter

 Savannnah

 We went to the baseball diamond outside the park one afternoon and had a great time. 

(Thanks to Beth for the pictures!)

 Hunter

 Karter enjoying the playground.

 Saige and Kyra

 And I saved my favourite picture for last . .  .Meika pulling a whole wagon load of cuties!!

I don't have pictures of everything I want to remember, so I'll jot a few memories here too:  the golf string ladder game matches against Martine, bocce ball in the park, TERRIBLE showers (do I really want to remember that?!) campfires, huge bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream after my baseball game, yummy suppers, early morning walks with Karter, early morning coffees made by dad, biking into town for ice cream on Kevin's birthday, kids biking to the beach, massive soccer game in the park vs. Dunnville, volleyball games, Jonathan, Kevin and Kade canoeing from Vienna to Port Burwell, kids late for supper more often than not b/c they were having too much fun . . . and probably tons more!

Thanks everyone for making it out whenever you could and for another good year!  The week flew by as usual, but lots of fun and fellowship and relaxation was had as usual.