Groompa Camp - Tuesday/The Water Balloon that Would NOT Break

I took NINETEEN movies, each about a half minute long, of Ian with his water balloon. And wouldn't you know, it simply would NOT break!

(There are five movies posted; the last two are the ones in which the water balloons pop.)

Surprise!! But for some reason, Ian's will not break.

Ian goes to pick up the balloon (again) and realizes the sidewalk is wet. I love his reaction!

We even try having him throw the balloon to me - and STILL it remains intact!

Finally...

An accidental pop by Aunt Sarah! But the fun isn't over yet. Ian gets another water balloon from Trinity.

Annnnd.... POP!!

Groompa Camp - Tuesday/Bad Kids Camp & Water Balloons

These are the adults who attend (the self proclaimed) Bad Kids Camp - look tough, don't they?

They're really not...

 ...- in fact, Sarah and Lisa had to have help from Curt in getting their fingers to make their sign!

Their camp activities are things like going to the grocery, visiting grandmothers, and other grown up kinds of things.

So, the Groompa Campers decided to liven up the Bad Kids Campers' day.

Checking out what materials we had in the Groompa Camp tub, we decided a water balloon attack was the best way to help them have a break from their adult ways.

 JC and Trinity filled a bunch of water balloons with plans for an ambush when they returned.

 Ian (too young for overnights at Grammy and Boompa's, he is a day camper at Groompa Camp) stood ready to throw his balloon.

 So did JC.

 Because Ian was running around with us, it was a less frenetic water fight than our usual ones.

 He ended up with the balloon that simply would NOT break!

 Probably a good thing since he's so little.

Since this post is getting picture-intensive, I will continue today's events in the next one.

Groompa Camp - Monday

Our first full day of camp! And even though Mama is here, we sent her off to go do things with Aunt Lisa while we did camp things.

The Harpsicle
I had never even heard the term (and I have a minor in music) but Trinity brought hers so she could practice. (In my defense, the instrument was only invented in 2003.)

A harpsicle is like a mini harp with three and a half octaves and is used by beginning harpists. It has a strap to go around the harpist's body and rests on a wooden dowel.

A close up of the strap and dowel plus the interior of the harpsicle - that's how broken strings are replaced.

Trinity plays a bit for me - as Vanessa said, every time she heard Trin pluck those strings, she felt like she was having an epiphany! I agree; it sure is different to have harp music randomly playing!

Long Boarding

JC brought his long board to ride and I asked him to tell me about it. (To me, a skateboard is a skateboard is a skateboard.)

I wondered why the underside was painted so beautifully; I was told that it's so when a long boarder flips it during maneuvers, there is something to look at!

JC rides around our street.

And smoothly rolls to a stop.

He showed me how to stand on it.

And posed when I asked him to - JC is such a good sport.

I got to try it out, but the thing was WAY too wobbly when on the pavement so we moved it to the grass.

This was the best pose I could do without falling off!

Stepping Stones
Trinity compared her footsie at twelve with her baby footprints from years ago!

Then she tried her handprints.

This stepping stone was made when she was eight or so, so the difference wasn't quite so dramatic.

The Lindy Freeze
A favorite spot for Grooma Camp lunches! We headed down to Linden late this morning.

While waiting for our food, JC and Trin headed to the park to play. But as soon as their lunch was ready, they hustled back.

The food is average, and the location is right next to a busy highway, but the place has a charm that we all enjoy.

Prophet's Rock 
JC and Trinity always want to go to Prophet's Rock during camp. Due to all the rain we've been having, the place was very buggy. Luckily, I had bug repellant in the trunk.

JC beat the rest of us to the base of the rock.

Trin soon joined him.

Posin'!

Look closely and you will see that JC has made it to the top! Trin is still climbing (on the right) and Craig is on the left. I stay down below and act as photographer.

Tippecanoe Battlefield

Another "must see" on JC and Trinity's list!

Posing by this monument is an annual tradition.

JC balances on the curved lip on the side.

Trinity chose a different spot for her picture.

No pictures, but we went through the nature center on the ground and the Battlefield gift shop where we met Uncle Rick and had a chance to chat.

Homemade pizza, games, and s'mores wrapped up the evening.

Bring on tomorrow!

Groompa Camp Begins!

Sarah, JC, and Trinity arrived about 6:00, and after we brought all their bags in, we had a delicious BBQ meal prepared by Lisa.

 The temperature was in the low 70s, so JC, Trin, and I ate outside. 

 We brainstormed ideas for this year's Groompa Camp.

Late night/movie/popcornpalooza
Camping
Going to Prophet's Rock
Marshmallow Wars
Tropicanoe Cove
Mary Lou Donuts
Battlefield
Happy Hollow Park
Water Balloons
Lindy Freeze
Dog n Suds

Pretty easy/inexpensive list!

 Trin Bin asked if we could head out to the barn after dinner - you bet!!

Abby came up by herself (the other horses were in the barn and knew I would only give her treats so they didn't come visit.)

Back at the house, Sarah brought out the cookies that Isaac had baked for us and given her when they stopped to see him in Missouri.

 They were soooooo good!

 We sent this picture of us to him to thank him.

And... I discovered that BOTH JC and Trinity have passed me up, height-wise.

The fun has begun!

It's About to Begin!

High summer is about to begin! The dictionary defines that as the hottest part of the summer; to me, it is the best part of summer, the time when our kids flock to Indiana for a visit and we get to see everyone!

The visits are spread out this summer, with some coming today, some next week, and others coming mid-July. But an extended high summer is a-ok with me!

 Sarah, JC, and Trinity are slated to arrive early evening today, with Todd flying in on Tuesday.

They stopped in Missouri today to visit briefly with Isaac. (As he put it, "I see that squinting is a genetic trait." Yep!!)

I cannot wait for them to get here and the fun to begin!

Tick! Tick! Tick!

A Magical Soccer Evening

The FIFA Women's World Cup is underway currently, with the US National Team having made it to the semi-finals. As I watch the games, many of the players are familiar to me. Some I have even been lucky enough to meet.

Thanks to this gal, Ella Masar.

A close friend and high school classmate of Curt's, she was a soccer phenom at Urbana High School. She went on to play for the University of Illinois, then as a professional for the Chicago Red Stars, Paris St. Germaine, magicJack, the Houston Dash (currently), and the US National Team.

Ella, #16, playing for the US National Team in a match against Germany, 2011.

In 2009, we went up to Chicago to see Ella play against the Washington Freedom. Ella got us seats behind the bench and then invited us back to the clubhouse after the game to meet and mingle with the members of the Chicago Red Stars team.

Curt and Ella after the game.

Ella scoring on Hope Solo, who is the current US National Team goalkeeper and the best women's keep in the world. (Yay, Ella!!)

Mary Therese McDonald, Ella's friend and a member of the Irish National Team, also played for the Chicago Red Stars that night. (The University of Illinois, too.)

Mary Therese McDonald in a cap for the Irish team.

After mingling at the clubhouse for a while, we took Ella and Mary Therese out for a very late dinner.

Mary Therese (left) playing for Ireland against her Chicago Red Stars teammate, Megan Rapinoe (middle), who is playing for the US in this picture.

Megan Rapinoe and Ella.

Rapinoe has had a major impact in this World Cup for the United States, but when she played that evening, I really disliked her. She did not share the ball much, and Ella was open many times and could have scored had Rapinoe passed her the ball! (Still haven't forgiven her for that.)

Another of Ella's teammates who has been playing in the World Cup is Cristiane, a member of Brasil's national team. (Brasillian players only go by their first names.)

 Cristiane sticks her tongue out when she scores.

We met her in the clubhouse, and she was delighted that Curt could speak to her in Portuguese!

Playing opposite Chicago that night was Abby Wambach, the US's best player and one of my favorites.

Ella and Abby were guarding each other during the match. I don't have a picture of it, but at one point they were fighting for a ball, and Ella took Abby down and won it!

That night was a real highpoint for me as a fan of women's soccer. And so, as I watch the World Cup, I think back to Ella's generosity that evening in letting me meet so many of the world's best players.

Thanks, Ella!

Shades of Noah

Parts of Indiana have had 16 inches of rain this month! Especially north of us, areas are flooded, including roads and homes. Crop losses are expected to be heavy since there is so much standing water in fields, drowning out the corn and beans.

We're lucky in that we have not had quite that much (maybe 9-10 inches) but it is still impacting us.

 The road to the barn is partially underwater.

 Normally this is a pretty lawn.

 The lane to the new barn is also flooded.

Fortunately, the pastures are in good shape - they're squishy, but not underwater. At least, not yet.

This soybean field is mostly underwater.

Rain is forecast for the next seven days. I may need an ark!