Gran Camp Closing Ceremonies: Aloha!

As we received our leis, we were greeted with the Hawaiian musical talents of Matthew. (I know you won't believe it, but the two hula girls on either side of him are cardboard cut-outs... Mamaw is NOT a cardboard cutout.)Amy and Conner enjoying the Hawaiian music.Paucci, Hagen, Mason, and J enjoying some drinks in coconut shells.The natives.The hula girls teaching us how to hula.Look at those cute Hawaiian boys :-)Mamaw enjoying some pineapple cake, if she even got some! The boys kept pretty close to her until she didn't have any left!Hagen doing his best Daddy impression.Surfing anyone?After the luau, the boys had to do the Cowboy dance with Gran (I know, they should have done it the night before when they were decked out in their cowboy gear - complete with cowboy boots - which I didn't get a picture of!!).

Okay, back to the Cowboy dance. Gran does this cowboy dance with the boys. They love it! They sing a song while holding hands. Look at Mason's face, he LOVES doing this!At the end, they take off their hats! I need to get it on video, it is so cute!

So, that completes our Gran Camp 2009! It was alot, I am sure Gran and Paucci are glad it is over!! Now I can get back to regular postings... I have BIG milestone news about Hagen coming up!!

GC: Ring the dinner bell, boys... Supper's on!

We put on our cowboy boots and headed west (actually south) to Gran's house. After ropin' our cattle and waterin' our horses, we were ready for some chow. Pa, Ma, Bubba 1 and Bubba 2 picked up their kerchiefs (B1 and B2 picked up their sheriff's badges) at the door.

Here we are in front of the Wanted posters.

Here are all the Wanted posters! They were too cute! All the grandkids made up what their name was, crime, last seen, and reward.Hagen and Mason's: 'Hot-headed' Hagen & 'Moody-Man' Mason

Reward: $2 million

Crime: Snatching toys

Last Seen: Hiding in Toys R Us

Hagen eating his corn (he loves it on the cob)'Rutin' Tutin' Ruby (her reward was the highest at $9 million, so I told her to watch out)Then all the kids got on their die tie shirts from the lake house for a group picture.

Here are the boys playing ball... notice the little guys waiting for their turn.Mamaw teaching the boys how to eat an oreo.Joey reading us a cowboy story by the campfire (imagine the campfire).Hagen wanting to see the pictures.After the story, all the kids played until they got hot and sweaty. Gran helping the boys cool off with a Popsicle.

GC: Conner's Birthday Party

As a part of Gran Camp, we went to Conner's birthday party. It was at Boomerang's. The only complaint I had, was they won't let the adults get in the bounce house with the kids... the boys still don't like to venture too far out on their own, so we had a hard time getting them to actually play on anything. As soon as they saw we weren't going past the entrance, they didn't want to go much farther. But, after a little coaxing, they ventured out a little.

Wanna race, Paucci?

Mason playing a video game with Paucci.
Eating pizza with the other kids. (Ugh! They look so big sitting on the bench and eating pizza without any help from us!!!)

Mason climbing the ladder to a slide.

Hagen riding on a police car (he loved this thing and threw a huge fit when it was time to get out).

I didn't get any other pictures... I didn't even realize I didn't get any of the birthday boy :-( It's kind of hard keeping up with both boys and my camera... then also remembering to get pictures of everyone!!!

Greeting the Troops

Another activity for Gran Camp: Greeting the Troops at DFW airport. Wow, what an emotional experience! Since DFW is an international airport, many of these soldiers have come straight from Afghanistan and Iraq. This is one of those activities that you have to do at least once to really appreciate what it means to greet the troops. I just felt such a sense of pride for our troops and our country. Check out this website, Meet and Greet the Troops, you can also find information here, heroes.

We met Linda Robinson, her son is currently deployed and will be returning home in 3 weeks. Please keep Micah Robinson in your prayers. Her mother, Selma, and Jeremy's Mamaw live near each other. Selma invites Mamaw over frequently to check out the blog! We love that Mamaw has access to the blog from her sweet neighbor that has become a very good friend. Selma: your daughter is wonderful, she welcomed us and made the experience that much more special!

Here we are with Linda, Gran, and all the grandkids

From left to right: Linda, Lily, Ruby, me, Mason, Matthew, Hagen, JoeyHagen loves sticking his hands in his pockets, here he is waiting for the troops.There was a veteran there taking pictures and he posts it on his website, Welcome Home a Hero. He got a few pictures of the boys and told me to check his website in the next few weeks in case we make it on there :-) I will post a link if I see it on there. I know he took one kind of like this, with the flag in Mason's back pocket. Gran was talking to this veteran. He was a really neat man. He told us lots of neat stories, said he comes everyday except Sundays. He shook every soldier's hand that walked by and said "Welcome home, Soldier." What a great honor to meet him. He said the soldiers that are leaving to go back leave out of Terminal B. A very different mood in that terminal, I can imagine.Here are the heroes coming in.The boys watching as the troops come marching in. American pride songs playing in the background.This nice soldier came back in to say thank you to all the volunteers that were there to greet them. Linda grabbed him and had him take a picture with us. Very nice young man.

Again, I can not express how great of an experience this is. We will definitely do it again ~ and if you haven't done it, you should really check into it.

God bless our troops, please keep them and their families in your prayers!

Gran Camp, Opening Ceremonies: Part 2

My posts are backwards - this post about Opening Ceremonies was really suppose to be first. This was our first day there...

The boys learned the 'life jackets on' rule for the dock. They did surprisingly well! Daddy and Hagen on the dock.

As soon as you get in the water off the dock, it is about 4 to 5 feet deep, as you swim (walk) out, there is a sand bar that stretches pretty far out. It varied from 1 ft deep to ankle deep! This was actually nice because the boys could play and we didn't have to worry... but they didn't like the texture of the sand. We ended up holding them most of the time. Jeremy actually got them to jump off the ladder into his arms a few times!

Paucci with Mason Daddy with Hagen, Mason with Paucci.Here we are sitting on the sand bar.After swimming, we got cleaned up, had a big dinner and it was time for some chillaxin' :-)

... or playing with/wearing Paucci out!

MasonHagenfollow the leaderblowing some bubbles with Lily and HagenEveryone relaxing on the back porch.Paucci and the boys taking a little stroll.

Gran and Mason feeling the beat.

Paucci really getting the rhythm ;-) Everyone at the closing of the opening ceremonies!

From left to right, starting at the top: Jeremy, Leslie, Paucci, Gran, Travis, Leah, Mason, Hagen, Ruby, Lily, Conner, and Amy

We had lots of fun! Shout out to my Uncle Mike for the great lake house!! We have lots more to come. Here are a few hints, cowboy hats and flowers!! Hmmmmmm....