A Change of Scenery

This past week, Danny had the opportunity to speak at a jr. & sr. high camp just north of Columbus. So last Sunday we packed up the kids, along with half our household possessions, and set off for Delaware, OH. We arrived back at 12:30 am on Saturday.

Highlights of the week included:

A camp trip to Wyandot Lake water park
The water was so cold that all Zekers could do was stand in it and shake, but the kids loved all the little rides, and Rachel got to go on stage and participate in a pirate show later in the day! The best, though, was the "treasure" she received at the end: a little stuffed Abraham Lincoln baby in a patriotic speedo.

Pony rides at the Columbus zoo
If you ignore the fact that the zoo was actually OUT OF MAPS (which are absolutely essential to scrapbooking about the event), and we didn't get to see the lions, tigers or giraffes due to a commercial being filmed that day; I guess it was an OK day. The kids loved the manitees, of course, and the petting farm was perfect - complete with pony rides. Rachel told us her pony's name was "Princess", while Zekers, who rode the very same pony, proudly declared his pony's name to be "Hay".

Catching up with lots of college friends
We ate lunch at the same Chick-Fil-A almost every day, but hey, it's the perfect place to eat with friends when 5 or 6 kids are involved! (a good play area = adult conversation)

The best camp food I've ever had
It was seriously good. One little jr. high boy blurted out during the week that it was his favorite thing about the camp. I think he was really embarrassed afterward.

Danny fixed the left rear window on our vehicle, so it is no longer garishly adorned with silver duct tape.
Enough said.


The Fullers
Ray & Karen and their 2 beautiful children gave us their basement for the week. It was like having our own apartment, with a kitchen, bedroom and HUGE play area. The kids had a blast running around in the yard/field, and Karen & I were the recipients of dozens of daisies plucked from the perimeter. They also stocked the fridge and cabinets with more food than we could have eaten in a month, and stuffed us so full of pie, ice cream and cake late at night that we're thinking about fasting for the rest of June, just to fit into our clothes. I was especially grateful for their company when Danny was gone speaking in the evenings. Karis enjoyed peeing all over the bathroom floor and climbing the steps up to the kitchen every chance she got. Oh, and she loved the stuffed Clifford that was bigger than she was!

Coming Home
At the end of a week with no set routine, it's nice to return to the somewhat predictable schedule of home, and to our nice little town. After seeing five Starbucks within a one-mile radius of the Polaris mall (2 were literally across the street from each other!), I almost changed my mind about wanting one here. But not quite.