COUSIN CAMP - WALKING IN PIONEER FOOTSTEPS - 2009

This year's cousin camp was the best yet. The kids were so good and so fun. We took the 9 greatest kids in the whole world - Katlyn, Becca, Rocko, Charly, Quinn, Carter, Gage, Maverik, & Parker. It was Maverik and Parker's first year and for only being 3 they did really good. Katlyn, Becca, & Rocko were our oldest campers and we couldn't do it without their help.

Everyday was filled with activities and play. Raising and lowering the flag was one of the best times. Even the littlest ones helped and you really should hear them sing "God Bless the U.S.A."

Pioneers kept their spirits up by singing and dancing at the end of each day. Check out the Hokey Pokey of our modern day pioneers - Put you elbow in.



"That's what it's all about!!!"

Arts and Crafts were a part of everyday. We all made our own covered wagons while Grandpa read the directions.

The best time at cousin camp is when the parents come and we show them what we have learned. Here we are doing the Virginia Reel with the parents.

Even though it was cold - everyone was excited to help make ice cream for dessert.

We love Cousin Camp. Yes, it is a lot of work and at the end we are dirty, tired, and sore. Is it worth it? If it was a hundred times more work it would still be worth it. We love how the kids are excited, we love how they laugh and play together, we love how they want to help, we love how the simple things make them so happy, but most of all we love being with them. We love being there when they figure out that they can do something new. We love seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they get recognized for doing a good deed. We love sitting around the campfire and listening to what they are thinking about. We love listening to their wishes as they see the first star. We love how they still want to sit on our laps or next to us and watch the fire.

Thank you for letting us have this time with our grandchildren. You do not know how much it means to us.