That Chicken Was SO Good!

WOW.  Just WOW.  I had such and UNBELIEVABLE Thursday through Sunday down in the Valley at camp!  I went to work on Thursday afternoon working hard in the Dining Hall getting it all cleaned up and ready for the weekend.  I also worked with Josiah and Nate for a while both days.  Andrew and Rachel hosted supper that night and it was filled with pizza and Duck Dynasty.

The next morning as I was getting ready for the day, the snow was falling BEAUTIFULLY!  It looked absolutely gorgeous!  I was sent right away to the horse area to help Kyle shovel snow.  That was a lot of work!  I took one side of the the hitching rail and Kyle took the other.  At one point, Katrina and I went up to get the new horse, Cavalier.  After helping with fencing in the snow, it was time for lunch.  Basically, I spent the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen with Debbi and Andi.  We cleaned, and cooked, and chatted.  Chatting in the kitchen has become one of my favorite things to do while I'm at camp.  There is just something about bonding while making food that warms my heart a little bit more.

At long last is was time to be reunited with my near and dear friends!  I lived in 202 for the weekend with the older girls of camp.  Three of those include some of my best friends in the world!  We got Lu talked into stopping to pick up some delicious Scratch cupcakes!  She got a little lost and delayed, but they still tasted great!  :)  Alison had her first ever, and we talked to Debbi about them later and someday when I come back, I will be able to delight her palate!  :)

The next day was busy from waking to sleeping!  The day was so jammed full of activities, friends, snow, and so much!  Right before lunch we had a photo scavenger hunt.  The Green Team was headed up by Strupp Throat and Frisky Miske, and we pulled out a pretty great second place with a couple bathroom photos racking up some points!  :)

After lunch I bundled up and headed to the horses.  I took pity on poor Bear.  Nobody wanted to ride him.  Granted that he can be kind of a butt sometimes, but overall we're buds.  At one point on the ride, he did this awkward whole body shake that I have never had a horse do before.  The ride was so peaceful and serene! I love spring/summer/fall scenery better than winter, but there is still a brilliance about the snow that always seems to take my breath away.

As if I wasn't sore enough after the shoveling of snow and a horseback ride, I decided that I could let myself get talked into a game of Broomball.  Oh, man!  Secretly, I had loads of fun!  I got really into it and shoved Patrick around a little bit.  I only biffed it once, but Patrick was nice enough to help me back up. I even scored a couple of times, but I won't share about my turns at goalie...

I used to think all those walks up to the lake were rough in the summer.  Then I walked up with all my winter gear on.  I don't think I'll be complaining this summer at all!  The Polar Plunge was hilarious as usual!  That face when the shock sets in is absolutely priceless!  The best part was that we loaded up the green dock and it didn't even budge!  One the way back down, I might have attacked Lu a couple of times and taken her out!  I was a blast, and she will never be able to get me down!  :)

Sam and Dani joined the picture at some point that evening.  I have missed those two!  They are so sweet and typical 4 year olds who ask lots and lots of why questions.  They sat at our table for supper when we had chicken strips.  Camie came over and Dani told her that the chicken was SO good.  This was so Debbi would have a little feedback for future planning.  I guess if 4 year olds like it, it's a hit!  :)

Later that night, we had a DANCE PARTY!!  Oh so much fun!  I had to ditch my long underwear and extra pair of socks because it was getting quite warm in the gym!  It was so much fun and so many memories were made!  Back in the Lodge, I roamed.  I had my PJ's and Vince shirt on and I was downstairs with Lu in the Craft Room as she finished a painting, and I was upstairs catching up on my journal by the fire.  Both nights were pretty late this weekend, but I wouldn't have had it any other way!

The next morning was crazy!  I slept in the awkward corner of 202 so I didn't have a real good home for my stuff all weekend.  I don't usually spread out that bad, but this was bad!  I had to dig under my bed for things, and I had stuff all over the middle of the cabin.  Then it came to sorting what could stay in the trunk as I journeyed to Chicago later that day.

Breakfast was wonderful and Camie took the chance to catch up on our busy lives as the sun streamed in the Dining Hall windows.  The morning wrapped up with chapel, lunch, and goodbyes.  I also may have shoved snow in Gwen's face...  :)  At last, it was time to lead the way to start another adventure with Alison and Lu. Look for a Chicago blog in a couple of days.  I already have plenty to say about that!  :)