First Annual Cousin Camp

There is always some catch-up to be done... 

The next stop on my quest to catch-up brings us to COUSIN CAMP 2013... our FIRST! Nana and Bop so graciously invited my two, alongside their crazy cousin G-dawg, up to Waco for a week of fun which they affectionately, named "Cousin Camp!" We had been gearing up for Cousin Camp for weeks... the kids were excited to see what activities that crazy Nana and Bop would have planned for them! All we knew it was that it was going to be non-stop action... 

We arrived late Tuesday after one last REALLY good nap in our beds at home... I figured cousin camp might be too exciting to get many naps in, but turns out it was SO EXCITING that the naps were great!! Apparently cousin camp is the secret to great napping! :)

When we arrived at camp Tuesday, Camp Director Nana was ready with our uniforms for the week... Cousin Camp shirts!!

Aren't they cute???!!

I'm afraid no one really told G-Dawg what to expect... but naturally, he rolled with those youngest cousin punches like a pro! :)

Next up... painting our keepsake pillow cases... I know what my kids will be going to college with... a stack of Cousin Camp pillow cases... YES! :) They turned out super cute despite a few hand spreading issues! :)

After painting pillowcases we headed out to the great outdoors to do a little water sportin'... slip n slide!!! It was awesome and one of the highlights of the entire camp experience... it's amazing how far $14.99 can go in the fun factor! :)

And then we had the plastic pool for fun too...

After pool time it was time to hit the sack... we had a busy day ahead...

First full day of camp included a celebration of all of the wonderful things God made... this day... the animals. Nana had each day's activity coordinated with Bible verses... it's the teacher in her!! :) And each morning they were all so excited to get their index cards and learn their new verse...

So God made the animals...

And the water parks...

And He even made the naked children... but apparently went a little funky when He made this poor girl's mom's brain... she let her WAY TOO OLD daughter go nearly naked at the splash park and then pee in the gravel just outside of it... when there was a bathroom within spitting distance... SPITTING distance I tell you! I tried to just smile and not give her the mom glare... but come on people! Modesty is a severely underrated quality in our girls today... teach 'em young!

But nudity be darned... we still had fun!

Sittin' on the horses...

Kaki and the ladies...

Little girl, big slide!

Two boys in the mouth of a snake... EEK!! PS: G-dawg got to see snakes for the first time... Aunt Katie took one for the team and went inside the reptile room! :)

Three misfits...

After the zoo we did a quick run home to change out of our wet clothes and headed to lunch at Bueno... um yum! It had been too long! Then we popped across the street to Bop's school where classes had just ended for the SUMMER!!!!

And we got to do a little ballin'... big boy style... perks of having a Bop who is the principal!

AND we even got to go to the principal's office... my first visit I might add! :) And I am hopeful and prayerful that Bop is the only principal my kids ever visit!

But from the looks of it... I need to start praying HARD!! HARDER!!

It was super fun seeing Bop is in element... Thanks for the fun Bop!

Every day... several times a day the kids got to grab out of the goodie bag... and Kaki came up with this... I loved it... and so did Caden... go figure!

After naps, the kiddos painted their giraffe... which of course went right along with our theme for the day... coincidence???! :)

Then it was time of the main event... a treat that Grandparents will receive special crowns in Heaven for doing for their grandkids... CHUCK E CHEESE!! God Bless them!

I snapped a few pics while we were waiting to head out...

Work it...

Own it...

Oh yeah...it's too bad he's so shy!

And we survived... :)

And so did the Chuckster!

Until next time... 

The next morning we started off a bit slower... I had three cousins in a bed with me... they were pretty darn cute!!! :) 

We put on our cousin camp shirts and headed out to Baylor's campus and to the Mayborn!!

Where there is always lots of fun to be had...

Mischief to make...

Things to try...

Principles to learn...

Minds to implore...

Experiments to be done...

Smiles to share...

Ugly four year old faces to wipe off...

Lessons to be learned...

History to be relived...

Messes to be made... (this was her idea of a tea party... ummmm)

Things to crawl through...

Again and again...

Cars to drive...

Places to explore...

And wheels that go round and round!!

It was a great morning at the Mayborn!

Next we spent our life's savings at the Baylor Bookstore... or maybe that was after lunch...

We ate on campus in the SUB... YUM!

It took me back...

Ice cream for dessert...

Group pic...

On our way back to the burbs... we stopped at one of our favorites... CG... I've missed you!!

And when we got home the counselors got another special surprise... an afternoon to ourselves at the pool!

Where we still had to play mom to some silly middle/high school kids about the kill themselves by doing flips into the shallow pool... kids these days! :)

BUT it was a super nice treat nonetheless! Thanks for the rest time Nana!!

After the kids woke up we brought them back to the pool for an evening swim...

Then it was back to fish and eat dinner...

This face... oh this face... 

Don't worry they didn't catch dinner... all recreational!!

After the fishing and the dinner and s'mores outside it was as if we couldn't possibly do ANYTHING else that day... we had done it all... so off to bed we said! 

The next morning we had our closing ceremonies where camp awards were passed out...

Ree Ree and I were tied for Best Counselor... no doubt! :)

Kaki was FUNNIEST camper

Caden was BRAVEST camper (he had a BIG moment in the pool!!)

And G-Dawg was HAPPIEST camper (by far... no attitude coming from him yet!!)

They each got a medal and a Sonic card!! 

And they couldn't be prouder of both!

And finally, a closing ceremony pic with the Camp Director and her favorite Cousin Camp campers... it will be fun to watch this picture change as the years go by...

Although we are going to be counting on G-Dawg's parents to make the additional kiddos pop up! :) 

Thank you Nana and Bop for hosting the BEST possible first annual Cousin's Camp!! We all had a blast and felt completely blessed to have been a part of the fun!! Thanks for treating us to a week in Waco!!

Until next year...