Camp Kurt & Jen 2009!

 

 

 

 

 

We are proud to have hosted and survived our 2nd annual camp!  What wonderful nieces and nephews we have!  Aged 4-11, the Bowersock Bunch kept us on our toes and entertained the ENTIRE weekend.  As a group, we devoured pounds of peanut butter,  vegetables, grapes and cheese cubes.  We won fists of tickets, then bought lots of bouncy balls and rubber eyeball poppy things (i’ve dug two out of the couch this week).  We spent an afternoon at the local aquatic park splashing, spraying, and sliding down some pretty cool slides.  Frigid water?  YES.  Did it faze us?  NO!  It was sunny and hot, and we told our goosebumps not to ruin the party.  We watched movies like Kung Fu Panda, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (GENIUS MOVIE!) and Horton Hears A Who.  We played Italian chefs and made our own pasta from scratch!  We had a backyard camp-out complete with smores, glow bracelets and scary stories.  And on Sunday at 4:30 pm, we rested.

 

This is a lengthy post but as you can imagine, we have many images to share.  Perhaps you may remember our campers from last year, but here they a year older!

 

 

Bryce – he was completely content to climb our apple tree and just be.

 

 

 

 

Brandt (aka Boots) – he is a mini-Kurtis in so many ways.

 

 

 

Caitlin – our referee and consoler.  She was first to resolve bumps, scrapes or hurt feelings.  Certainly made our job easier!

 

 

 

Ella – ticket monster!  She won over 200 tickets feeding colored plastic balls into a dog’s mouth.  Incredible.

 

 

 

Landon – chocolate fiend and super-smore maker.   He likes his marshmallows roasted just like I do.

 

 

 

 

Cadence – she’ll make you cry at cornhole.  She’s a little girl, but packs a whole lotta sass.

 

 

 

Libby – our free spirit and god-daughter.  A fiesty one, for sure. 

 

 

 

We opened camp with a classic game of cornhole!  Watch out, these kids are good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making birthday cards for our family friend, Tom.

 

 

 

We went on a “mystery trip” to The Incredible Pizza Company…the kids went nuts!  It’s like Chuck-E-Cheese on steroids.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, so make that 8 kids.  

 

 

 

Later that evening, we enjoyed a movie and caramel corn. 

 

 

 

It was rise and shine for a Cyclops Breakfast!  While they loved the turkey bacon, most weren’t too sure about the eye.  Some ate the toast, others ate the egg.  I thought it was pretty clever!  I would recommend it for ages 6 and older.  

 

 

 

Then it was off to the Greenwood Farmers Market!  I loved this.  We assigned a certain fruit or veggie to a team before we left, and each had to select and purchase that item!   The boys got tomatoes and jalapenos which were used in our homemade salsa.  The girls got a watermelon and cantalope. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, that’s a Watermelon in the bag!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The waterpark wiped us out.  I was thrilled when one said she needed a nap.  Somehow that turned into a party, and our bed became a “rocket ship”.

 

 

 

And for my favorite weekend activity – pasta making!  Each sifted flour and kneaded the dough.  We divided the dough into equal pieces and each had an opportunity to roll and cut pasta (with the help of our handy dandy Kitchen Aid mixer…it is THE best thing in my kitchen).  They were amazed throughout the process, and it was so cool just watching their faces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dough rings.

 

 

 

Here it comes….spaghetti!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished product…bravo…very bravo!

 

 

 

Once served, Kurtis and I could only grin from ear to ear.  THEY LOVED IT!  Not that it was an exotic dish, but by allowing them to participate in making their food, it made a huge difference in their enjoyment of the meal.  There wasn’t a noodle left!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tents were pitched.  Kurtis rigged a lean-to so he could sleep underneath the stars.  

 

 

 

Let S’MORE fun begin!  This was textbook smore making…Establish a solid flame atop a red hot simmering base.  Slowly rotate marshmallow slightly above hot coals away from flame until mallow is golden brown.  Let the flame grab a piece of the marshmallow and quickly extinguish it so as to make a bubbly crust with a subtle crunch.  For a little adventure, we used constructed our smores with chocolate grahams and chocolate chips.  BIG WINNER!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost every camper said that camping out was the most fun part of the weekend.  

 

 

 

7:00am.  

 

 

 

At our final breakfast, Kurtis once again treated us to a batch of smiley-face pancakes.  We like smiley faces.  And chocolate.

 

 

 

A family cookout and a few more games of cornhole followed to close out camp.  All said, it was a success!  

 

We are blessed with wonderful family, and we really love to be with them.  Can’t wait for next year!

 

- Jen