Camp Makaweekee

Hannah and I went to Camp Makaweekee in Chiliota, FL this past weekend with her Girl Scout troop. I did this blog backwards, so you'll have to go to the bottom and read it to the top.

The girls went to bed early on Saturday. Again, Mommies, stayed up and played cards and talked...we finally went to bed. I woke up when I heard Justine say, "Candice, Candice, I thnik I broke my ankle"...she had gotten up to use the bathroom and climbed out of the tent in the dark missing the steps...She was a trooper and stuck it out. She was going to make eggs for breakfast but with all of the rain the night before, we cleaned camp and took the girls to McDonald. We were back home by noon on Sunday...Hannah and I took a good nap that afternoonAbout 4:30 pm Saturday night, we were all wiped out! We roasted hotdogs. Justine made Mac and cheese...again...on the grill. We built a small campfire and made smores, but this was short lived because the rain came.Hannah and Brianna looking at their swaps.The famous "Swap". Every troop makes little keepsakes about the Camp's theme which was Winter Wonderland. Candice and Justine made little sleeping bags, taco and mittens...each glued to a little safety pins...I think I heard them say that made 100 of eah kind...our girls exchanged these momentos with other girlsWe played a game with the girls. One girl was blindfolded and had to listen to her friend's direction to avoid stepping on a bomb (pine cones)while she made her way across the field. This taught them to listen and that we need one another to help out. Thank God for friends!This is Candice, our troop leader and her daughter, Kaitlyn.This Grandma came to camp to teach the girls how to make their Winter Wonderland braclets.Every girl scout and leader was suppose to where a bandana...for a couple of reason...there was close to 100 girls at camp and this helped us know which troop the girls were in and kept bugs out of our hair. The girls got to go to different areas of the camp ground (240 acres) and do different crafts. At this table, we made snow globes. And as we waited for the next craft time, the girls walked around and saw nature, played with one another and made up songs.So, this is what the tents look like in the daylight. They really were pretty nice for tents...off the ground. had four cots with matress..wood slats for floors that allowed us to sweep the sand through the cracks...there was TONS of sand.The girls woke up around 7:00 and were ready to go after their night sleep. Us, Mommies, though, had stayed up until 1:30am talking and playing cards, got up at 5:00am to make sure that we got showers with hot water before everyone else got up and used all the hot water...I went back to sleep for a bit while Justine and Candice made breakfast on the grill...frenchtoast...yummy!They finally went to sleep. Hannah is way in the back.We got to our tents after dark on Friday night. The girls just hung out with one another.

All this stuff for six little girls and three mommies. We were so thank ful to be able to have a trailer that took everything to our tents which was a mile from where we had to park our cars.
Here is Delia, Bailey and Hannah when we were getting ready to leave.

We made "sit-upons" (what we sat on around the camp fire) out of Caprice Sun cut open and duck tape...learning to recycle.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

I am still getting used to the thought that another year has come and gone. 2008...this means that I graduated from high school 20 years ago...I can not be getting that old!!!! We spent New Year's Eve with my family in Brent and Emily's home! I was battling a cold (I don't get colds very often, but this one really hit me) Anyway, we put a puzzle together, started on another one, had dinner on the neighbor's pool patio and when most families toast one another to bring in the New Year, several of my family jumped in the pool. Then we did toast one another. Sarah, Andrew and Hannah spent the night at their Uncle and Aunt's home with their Mama and Papa, too. Richard and I came home. I slept in VERY late on New Years day! (I forgot to take my camera, but wanted to post about the beginning of 2008)

December 29th, 2007

One thing that I prayed for when my parents came to visit was warm days. God gave them to us! On Saturday, the 29th, we went to Ponce Inlet and had lunch outside at North Turn. Right there at the beach. Dad called his boss in Idaho to tell him that we were taking a walk on the beach. Idaho was snowing!!!
My thin HubbyMama and AndrewSarah and Hannah in the waterEnjoying the warm sun as we had lunch outside at North Turn.

The Best Gift

I had not seen my parents since my father was diagnosed with Lymphoma and to be quite honest, the last time I saw Dad, he looked VERY sick. In planning for Christmas, I really wanted to be with them, but at the time Brent, Emily and family were thinking about going to Idaho and Todd already had a ticket to spend Christmas there. Richard thought that it would be great to fly Mom & Dad here instead of all of those flying there. We picked them from OIA on the 24th at 4:30pm (Their flight made it on time) and off we went to Northland for Christmas Eve Service. That is where we met Todd, Brent, Emily, Tyler, Colton, Wesley and Dakota. Our entire family took up a whole row in church. The service was beautiful, but was even better was seeing my parents worshiping and my Dad looks so good.

We had everyone at our home for Christmas dinner.

Christmas Morning

Look at the gifts! We have so much to be thankful for!!!!
Hannah wasn't sure what she wanted. She got a V-Smile, barbies and clothes and more.
Andrew had asked Santa for a video camera that he can take night-time videos. His cousins and he have great plans to video the night life on the lake. He, also, got a video game chair.
Sarah, true to teenageism, loved the clothes, makeup, jewelry, bath items, DVD player and the boots. She is becoming quite the lady.

Christmas Caroling

Hannah's Girl Scout Troop caroled last night. They went to all the girl's home, sang a couple of carols and ate treats. Hannah came back home on a major sugar high!!!

Christmas has arrived in the Williams' Home

For the last few years, we go to Santa's Christmas Tree Farm in Eustis, FL. We have made some wonderful memories. Santa's Tree Farm has a petting farm where you can pet animals and ride the horses, take a hayride around the farm until you find your tree and then cut it down and then there's a bon fire that you can roast hotdogs and marshmellow. This year the kids rode horses but we bought a fir tree that was brought down from one of our Northern states (the trees on the farm were pretty sad looking...like a Charlie Brown tree). We still had a great time together...and we got to wear short sleeves :-)

These two pictures are just showing Richard's and Boozer's help in decorating the tree :-) Actually, Richard does a pretty big job of getting the tree ready for decorating...cuts the tree to fit the house, makes sure it is straight in the stand and then puts the lights on.

Hannah Makes her Cooking Debut for Thanksgiving

Hannah made her cooking debut for Thanksgiving. She did most of the Cherry and Pumpkin pie and was very proud of herself....espcially since all of us complimented her...they tasted SOOOOO good!!!

We had a beautiful time with Richard's Uncle Bill & Aunt Priscilla and his cousin Lynn and Max. (We missed my family though and are looking forward to Christmas)

Making Gingerbread Houses and Men

The kids made gingerbread houses and men on Thanksgiving morning. (Top picture: From left to right: Hannah's, Andrew's & Sarah's)

Sarah Turns 13!!!!!

I remember the night that my daughter was born...I remember calling Mom and all three of us crying on the phone...Sarah because she was just born and Mom and I from joy and wishing that we were together. I remember the day that we brought her home from the hospital. Grandpa came and picked us up from the hospital. Grandma had Thanksgiving ready for us and that was Sarah's first day home...

I can't believe that my daughter is 13 now. She is beautiful, very smart and kind!!!! I tell her all the time that she'll bring us a big bride price. She can cook, clean and has high aspirations for the medical field.

I'm very proud of my little girl and the young lady that she is becoming!!!! Sarah, may you lean on God who made you as you grow. He will direct your path and cause you to prosper!!!