Groompa Camp - Day 3

Uncle Curt and the kids dragged into our home around 10:30 in the morning after a night of urban camping. He said they'd stayed up until 12:30 and gotten up at 6:15. Then he related the conversation they'd had:

12:15 AM

Curt: Hey, it's late. We need to get to bed.

JC & Trinity: But back in Colorado, it's only 10:15. We're not tired.

They went to bed anyway.

The next morning, as they pounced on Uncle Curt to wake him up.

JC & Trinity: Get up! It's time to get up!

Curt: Guys!! It's 6:15 AM!

JC & Trinity: Yeah, it's time to get up!!

Curt: But in Colorado, it's 4:15 in the morning!

JC & Trinity: Well, overnight we adjusted!

I am still laughing over that one!

When asked what they wanted to do, both kids agreed that we needed to head over to Prophet's Rock and the Battlefield.

 Posing at the base.

My annual heart attack moment - when the kids climb to the top of the rock. See JC on the right side of the top?

 Trin explores an alternate route up to the top of the rock.

 It didn't pan out for her, so I didn't have another heart attack.

Then we piled back into the car and drove to the Battlefield.

 Photo op with Boompa at the base of the obelisk.

Next we went into the nature center and watched the birds through the one-way glass.

The museum was closed which meant we couldn't go in to see Uncle Rick and the displays. So, we headed to another of our favorite spots.

 Dog 'n Suds!!

 Coney dogs...

 ... cheesy coney dogs, and frosty mugs of root beer!

We headed home for an hour or so of quiet time and then got notice that Mom and Dad were on their way over.

Immediately the kids decided they needed to practice the piano (this cracked me up - they whipped out their music so fast and got busy!

 Trinity chose the player piano...

...while JC took the Kimball in the dining room.

 I was impressed that Trinity was working on Toreador from "Carmen."

When the practicing wound down, we began preparations for Mom and Dad's arrival.

 Filling water balloons!

 "You got one hundred water balloons??"

 I sure did!

 And we filled every single one of them.

 Trinity plays with a leaky one.

Then we hid one crate behind the house, took the other to the front yard, and laid in wait for the parents to arrive. Mom reported that she even drove around the back of the house to scope us out before they arrived! Hmmm, how did they know??

 Starting with the car, the kids began tossing.

 Along with a bit of wrassling.

For dinner, we chose to head to 'mericus (how the locals pronounce the name of the town, Americus) and Roberts Restaurant for tenderloin sandwiches.

Curt, Vanessa, and Ian joined us.

Boompa and JC wait for their entrees.

Meanwhile, the baby-sharing began.

First, Uncle Todd took a turn with his newest nephew.

And then it was time for the baby-whisperer to work her charm.

I love this picture! Both are so happy.

After dinner, JC and Trinity were invited to a pool party with Uncle Curt at the West Lafayette pool - good thing it was heated as the temperature had dropped to 60 degrees! 

Technically, having the parents with us spells the end of Groompa Camp. But maybe we'll continue on with a bit of a day camp anyway. I don't want it to stop!!

Groompa Camp - Day 2

We had beautiful weather for our second day of camp! And that meant we could do outdoor activities. But first we had to wake up after our late night of  popcornpalooza.

We began the day by stealing Ian away from Curt so he could help his cousin, Holly, and her husband move. (They're moving to Urbana where Brad is part of the band, Elsinore.) Well, actually, I stole the baby while JC and Trinity slept in.

 Look who was happy to help out, even though she herself was still in her jammies!

 She is such a good cousin, and it warmed my heart when she began making suggestions for things to do with Ian when it was his turn to come to Groompa Camp!

Just before lunch, we returned Ian to his daddy and then helped Boompa take his car to the Institute for the new guy to use. That means Craig is now car-less until we can find another one to buy. But no worries - I'll share mine.

A quick lunch, and then it was off to Prophetstown to enjoy the new water park.

 The double slide is the dominant feature.

 There's a lazy river complete with overhanging water showers that pour water on you as you float by.

 A nice concourse plus a zero depth pool, a water-basketball court, and a giant bucket that was constantly filling and tipping (my favorite thing to watch.)

The water park was huge - there was lots of space and I was able to set up my camp chair under a huge shady tree and read while JC and Trinity splashed.

I was impressed with their sense of responsibility. At 13 and 11, and being good swimmers, I felt comfortable letting them wander where they wanted. All I asked is that they check in with me every half hour. And they did. ON THE DOT. So naturally I bought them ice cream when we left.

We detoured to Granny Slash's home and whisked her away with us. A fairly new soccer fan, she wanted to watch the USA men's national team take on Belgium in the World Cup.

 Our whole family gathered around the living room to watch.

Look at that intent look!

The game went 0-0 and then into two fifteen minute extra time periods. Belgium won 2-1, but it was a terrific game. Our keeper, Tim Howard, made 16 saves - he was phenomenal!

For dinner, Curt, Vanessa, and Ian joined us for grilled kielbasa, hotdogs, and burgers done up by Boompa, JC, and Lisa. I love summer evenings gathered around the dining room table for food and laughter!

An annual Groompa Camp tradition is camping in the back yard with Uncle Curt and Aunt Vanessa. With Ian added to the family, they did some urban camping at Uncle Curt's home in downtown Lafayette instead of our back yard.

The outdoor courtyard behind their home and in the back you can see the large lawn they have to the side of their home. 

 JC and Trin set up the tent by themselves.

 After all, they're experienced campers now that they live in Colorado!

Another favorite tradition of Groompa Camp - s'mores!!

 As it got dark, Curt lit a fire in his Webber grill.

And then we commenced another tongue-in-cheek tradition...

Playing with fire...

 ... and sharp things! You know, things to "needle" (haha) the parents of the campers!

Uncle Curt and Aunt Vanessa have a special treat for breakfast (or so they say)...

Strawberries! Growing right in their lawn. (Going to take quite a few to fill up those kids!)

Finally, around 10:00 Boompa and I took our leave and headed home. Day Two of camp was a blast - looking forward to the third one!

Groompa Camp - First Full Day

Groompa Camp got off to a bit of an inauspicious start with rain, wind, lightning, and thunder today.

Poor Millie! She's afraid of thunder, and she took refuge in the laundry room during the storm.

Not to be deterred by a little weather, JC, Trin, and I set off for breakfast at Mary Lou Donuts.

 We met Boompa, Uncle Curt, and Ian there.

 Such yummy donuts! After we ate, we took a box to Aunt Vanessa and got to see her office at TreeFrog Productions in downtown Lafayette.

Then we headed to the mall - with the lightning going on outside, the pools weren't open, so we had to figure out an indoor activity.

 Uncle Curt's help was invaluable.

 He helped JC find two new ties for church - on sale for only $15! A savings of $55!!

 Trin got two cards of earrings which were also on sale.

 Then JC found some World Cup socks with Brasil as the theme. Which was appropriate as we went back to the house for some lunch and watched the France/Nigeria match with Uncle Curt and Ian.

Extra fun since Uncle Curt served in the Salvador Brasil Mission, and one of the stadiums is in Salvador.

I took a brief nap after the game while JC and Trin read, and then we were back in action - a trip to the barn to visit the horses.

 Trin offers Diablo a sugar cube.

 Abbs accepts a carrot from JC.

As well as a pat on the nose.

It's a good thing we went out there - we discovered that Persuasion had figured out a way to duck under a temporary fence, and that she (and all the horses if they followed her) could be loose if they ducked under the other side of that fence! 

I had Trinity lure the horses away from the escape route, stationed JC at the other end to head off any horses who might decide to make a break for it, and then put a rope around Persuasion's neck and led her back to where she belonged.  I pulled together a couple of gates to keep the horses out of the area until Tim could fix the fence, and then gave him a call and let him know what had happened. Whew! (I could not have done that without the kids' help.)

Popcornpalooza was to be held after dinner, so we went to Marsh after the barn. JC and Trin each chose two ingredients to put into the popcorn, and then we went home and watched the second World Cup game, Germany versus Algeria.

Trinity helped me make lasagna and garlic bread, and Curt, Vanessa, and Ian came over for dinner and popcornpalooza.

After watching Despicable Me 2 with Curt and his family, they went home. JC and Trin showered, then after Trinity helped Lisa walk Millie one last time for the day, we watched a second movie (How to Train Your Dragon). (After all, popcornpalooza means you have to stay up until midnight!) And we made it - the kids went to bed at 12:15. 

Bet they sleep in tomorrow morning - I am sure I will!