Halloween to Hectic to Haven

We are home now from our mother/daughter retreat this weekend. I’m in bed and going to sleep soon so I can beat this bug that caught me. I got sick on Thursday, then it settled on my vocal chords so that I could barely talk all weekend. That was quite the challenge for being the event coordinator!

But, lets begin a couple weeks ago because I missed posting last week. On Sunday after our day of pumpkin hunting and games, the girls got right to carving their pumpkins. They did most of the work this year. The big girls even cut out their own faces.

 

Then at our Girl Scout meeting that week the big Girls threw a party for the littler troop. We hung the decorations they made and played the games they decided to play. Then we gave out the favors they made too. It was a great little party. They loved wearing their costumes early.

I only had to make Anika’s costume this year because Andrea sent the ones for the big girls. What a great aunt and sister! They looked so cute as a senorita, geisha, and super Anika!

Anika had a party in her class that week, but the big girls didn’t get to celebrate in their classes.

 

They had a half day and two full days off from school last week for conferences. Everyone is doing really great in their classes!

On Halloween we played it cool until after a Seahawks football game. Then we went over to visit Grampa Lohman and his fiancé. Even Michael and I wore our super hero gear! Then we stopped by Debbie and George’s where we trick-or-treated for chili!

Then we went to a church in town that hosted a “Trunk or Treat”. Here was the most creative, though disgusting car…

It was filled with some sort of hard jello and then the kids had to get the candy with their mouths! Ewww!

After that they did a little Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. There seemed to be way more kids than we usually have this year.

My baby made a big step last week. On Wednesday, she pulled out a front tooth. I’m really sad about it this time because  I know that means her sweet baby face is going to change for good and she’ll start really seeming grown up.

So, here’s where we get to the grand finale. All week…well really all month and before I’ve been working on this Girl Scout Mother/Daughter retreat…then on the Thursday before I got sick! I couldn’t believe it. Then I had to hobble through those last preparations and somehow, someway find our way down to the Girl Scout camp near Carnation. I couldn’t bail…I had the whole thing packed in my car and no one else knew the full plan.

On Friday I actually felt pretty good, so it was just fine. The weather was rainy so that was a bit of a disappointment. I didn’t realize all the dynamics of checking people into a camp in the dark that was 1 1/2 hours from home that very few had ever attended before. It was tricky. I sat in the rain for 1 1/2 hours on Friday evening to do it.

On Saturday morning, I had no voice. Oops. It didn’t matter. I felt good, so we just trucked along. We had crafts and play time. We even ventured out into the rain to explore the camp. I took some moms and girls geocaching around camp too. It was a lot of fun.

Here’s Anika in the bunk room.

Going for a hike in the rain.

Kelby and I made a modeling clay in the kitchen.

Out seeking a geocache.
 

Found it!

This is the main room for eating and activities.

Sing-a-long time with the other cabin.

Spa time!

 

Did their nails.

On the last morning we did a great little ceremony. Each mom and daughter lit a candle for each other and then they told something they loved or respected about one another. It was special and even a tear jerker. I don’t have a picture of me and the girls doing it, but I know a friend got one. This is Tegan’s friend Zoe and her mom.

Then we had to get packed up and cleaned up to go. We got in one more short hike on Sunday. I LOVE this picture!

We are home and now Tegan is sick too. We’ll mend this week. The girls have another half day Wednesday and two full days off on Thursday and Friday again…lucky ducks! Love to you all!