Best Two Weeks

This might have been the best Independence Day weekend yet.  Family. Country. Camp.

We started off the holiday weekend with the Leevers.  Dad even drove all the way from New Mexico to spend his birthday, and America's, in Texas.

These two were inseparable! The Leevers stayed at our house with Mike while I took the boys to Comfort for the Fourth and to drop Cole off for his first time at Laity Lodge Youth Camp. Tate was sad to leave Sawyer, but was excited for a trip to the Hill Country.

I am thankful for a wonderful SIL who helped Mike man the house while I was gone. She is a trooper to put up with a house full of five boys alone!

We were so happy to be in the Texas Hill Country.  We went to the BEST little Fourth of July parade in dowtown Comfort: the boys had a blast!

And nothing says "Fourth of July" like camels... HAHAHA!

We are each very grateful and thankful for all of our military members and their families.  We come from a long line of veterans, and we know first-hand that we could not enjoy our freedom without their sacrifice and love of country.

Tate loved the parade. Tate LOVED the candy.

We also had a great time taking rides and driving the Mule, tree swinging, feeding the deer, hunting for butterflies and fireflies, making cookies, lawn surfing, and target shooting.  Good ol' fashioned fun. No TV all weekend except for a show each of Lone Ranger and The Rifleman that Cole watched with Mimi and Papa Jim while Tate didn't nap. ;)

We also were able to eat a nice dinner and visit with my beautiful Mamaw.

Then it was time. For the best time of his young life.  

LLYC 2015 - Session 3

We have been packed up for more than a week!

Over the river and... oh, wait... THROUGH the river to camp we go! Cole was very, very excited, and a little anxious, but the short drive through the Frio calmed his worries and as we pulled up to Singing Hills (the side of the camp for the younger kids), he jumped out of the car.

Bunks are randomly pre-assigned, but Cole thought he hit the jackpot with a top bunk in the middle of the cabin and close to a new friend.  I had made a poster of photos of his friends and also taped up photos of family to decorate around his bunk.  I might say that over 6 years as a camper and on Work Crew has given me a bit of insight ;) I am not sure I saw any other decorated bunks - at least on the boys' side!

Cabin 4 for this cutie!

One of his cabin-mates is Brody, the son of a guy I grew up with in Odessa, David Bobo.  Brody lives in Amarillo, and these two have actually only met once before at a TCU football game (David played football for TCU).  They made fast friends, and I've already seen photos from the official LLYC site of them side-by-side.  Reagan's daughter, Hadley, is there, along with several other kids of friends of mine from back home -- though Hadley is only one Cole actually knows. I am so thankful for a couple of familiar faces for Cole, and for all the friends he will make the next two weeks.

I bought him an LLYC shirt just for him to have (he'll get an official 2015 camp shirt at the end of the session).  He was SO excited, that he immediately changed into it. This independent, fun-loving kid ROCKS!

Being back the Valley brought back so many awesome memories - I can't even begin to explain what a magical place LLYC is, and we are blessed to be able to send Cole for the best two weeks.

Tate and I had a nice, but short stay with the Andres on the way back home.  Tate didn't fare as well this morning for breakfast and the ride home after a full and busy weekend, but he has settled into a routine and is sleeping in Cole's bed with all of Cole's stuffed animals.  No one tell the camper! ;)