Star Wars Summer Fun

Today was Nathan’s and back by popular demand, a Star Wars theme from last year with Darth Vader (a.k.a. Daddy) as our guest. Teagan and Landon joined us from Nathan’s new class and his buddy Andrew who is in the same program, just next door in classes, played with them as well.
We set up things differently this year, where the boys, Jedi’s In Training, ran obstacles in the home shooting down the Droids that were all around! Their precision was impeccable (and boy, their moves were smooth)!

We made light sabers with pool noodles for the boys to “fight” with when eventually the Dark Side came out with music to introduce his arrival. Oh how the boys loved going against Darth Vader! They could have done it all day if it wasn’t for the 115 degree weather for poor Darth Vader who was of course, all in black!

Jedi Landon

Jedi Andrew

Jedi Teagan
Jedi Owen
Jedi Nathan
Jedi Baylee
This year the boys swam during the party as well and continued to use their light saber/pool noodles as they splashed about. We also dipped pretzels in colored chocolate melts, red and green, for yummy light saber treats as well as drank green Yoda Sodas and red Darth Maul floats.


Because of today, Nathan has two new buddies in Mrs. Runyon's class to play with on the first day of school as well as continue his bond with Andrew, a sweetheart. Today was just the beginning of friendships that will continue all year long, I just know it. And all the boys are eagerly anticipating the first day of school. {Goal accomplished!}

Closing Ceremonies at Camp Richiak

Our week had to be cut short due to other circumstances, but we were elated to have three days of Camp Richiak! Today we met twice, once in the morning where we painted frames for our camp photo then the Richardson’s returned in the evening as well for our closing ceremonies. We had to show off to the two dads what we had been up to all week, teaching them the handshake, oath, and our favorite camp songs. Then it was dinner time with Walking Tacos on the menu! Afterwards we swam, made S’mores, then went on a memorable hunt locally. Jon took the amateur cousins on the golf course once it hit dark, (as many of us adults know, snipe are nocturnal). With a flashlight in hand, the “call” Jon taught the kids and a brown bag…they were off to catch that fast critter. Even our neighbors joined us as we tiptoed through the open area keeping an eye out for a beady eyed hairy tiny beast. Score! We actually caught one but somehow that hasty thing made a hole in the bag and sped off before we made it home to show him off to the eagerly curious kids. Ugh! Maybe next year we can outsmart that thing!
Although Cousin Camp has come to a close, we plan to reunite in October for a family campout then begin making plans for Camp Richiak 2010!

Swimming Success!

As a young adult I remember once reading, "The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure!" and it stuck in my head. It's so true! In my younger days, often times I’d find myself paralyzed in trying something with the total fear of failing and hearing the word, “No!” or “You’re not good enough!” Wanting as a parent now to break that thought cycle, I found an opportunity right in front of my face during Baylee’s first swim meet on May 30th. She was so excited for her first competition but eventually when it was time to stand on the lonely board facing the long lane ahead to swim the freestyle heat, she froze. Tears, shaking, and the thought of “I can’t” circled her sweet head. She too, was paralyzed and it broke my heart.

After pulling Baylee aside, reassuring her that no matter what, we loved her, Jon and I prayed with Baylee, and quoted some of her verses we have around her room, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Philippians 4:13) and “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7). Minutes passed and then Baylee dug deep and found the courage in her that God created her with and did it…she swiftly dove in the water and swam her heart out! To me, she could have taken four hours to swim the 25 yards, and I would have seen it as a huge success since she triumphed over fear. But she did even better than that! She scored 36.64!

Now fast forwarding to the end of the season, it’s amazing to see the growth that took place this summer during swim team practices and meets! Baylee was able to put her faith into practice, has great confidence, and learned first hand the definition of perseverance. She swam in 7 meets, all stokes (butterfly, breast stroke, back stroke, and freestyle) improving in each category, leaps and bounds! In fact, from Baylee’s first time in freestyle of 36.64 to her last, 20.5...the progression is impressive! She advanced an entire 16 seconds!

This summer Baylee didn’t progress to the swim finals but she has it in sight for next season. We rewarded her and Maggie with an honorary family lunch celebration and ceremony of our own, presenting both athletes with a trophy to remember their first season of swim team. From here on out, Baylee has a visual (her trophy) to remind her that “Success does not come to you, you go to it!” And boy did she ever go to it!

(Checking out her competition) (Breast stroke...Baylee in the closest lane to the camera)
(Swim team friends from 2 teams...Maggie, Kaelan, Baylee, and Emma)

(Baylee and Coach Bryn...a great man of encouragement!)(Maggie, Baylee, Kalena, Emma V, Matthew, and Landon...at various meets during the summer)(Baylee wearing her courage shirt next to Matthew and Landon)

(Kaelan, Baylee, Maggie, and Landon)
(Baylee, Maggie, and Kaelan)

We're Still at It, Camp Richiak Day Two

It wasn’t hard to get the kids out of bed today. They knew what was ahead of them, Camp Richiak day two! To launch off the day’s activities, after our camp song and secret handshake, Dylan inspired us to write an oath. We listed things each thought was important and began the writing process setting it aside after awhile for us to ponder overnight and complete tomorrow.

We made rockets and set them off today with Alka Seltzer, made plates as a ‘forever memory’, went on a scavenger hunt, and let’s not forget making our ice cream in individual baggies which everyone gave as a BIG thumbs up!

During lunch today we had some thought provoking questions to get to know one another. We asked:
- What are your three best qualities (honest, loving, etc.)?
-If you were in a movie, what kind would it be and who would you want to be acting with you?
-What do you want to be when you grow up (job)?

The favorite songs of the day we sang were; Bananas, Toot-e-tah, and Boom Chica Boom.

Tomorrow we have planned another grand slam! I can’t wait!

Camp Richiak, Day One

Let the festivities begin! Oh how excited we all were for this day to finally get here!

Our opening ceremonies included each child’s initiation into our elite group, creating then learning the Cousin Camp secret handshake then singing our Camp Song created by one of our very own family members, Jon! We mean business!

With our own hands and hearts, each camp participant worked together to make our camp flag to hang each day outside. Laura and I loved seeing the cousins all plan and conquer their work of art using paint, gems, hot glue, feathers, and glitter. It turned out sweet.

Moving right along, we laughed our heads off with the next item of business, “Laughing Hands!” Since not all would want to do it, we took volunteers on who was willing to get messy and silly (all of Laura’s kids and none of mine…go figure ☺). Then, we assigned a person to either be the ‘face’ or ‘hands’ of the act. Pretty much what happed was, the ‘hand’ acted for the ‘face’ with the pulling of a card then following the task. For example, one card pulled was brushing teeth. As you can imagine, the laughs didn’t end as the ‘hands’ (who couldn’t see at all) spread the toothpaste onto a brush then brushed the teeth of the ‘face’ person’s teeth, without getting up from behind their back (thus not being able to see at all!)
(Here's Blake being a good sport with sister Carlie being his hands! She's shaving his face with whipped cream!)

(Dylan's letting me brush his teeth even!)

(Kaydon's loving joining in on the "manly" act!)

(And Carlie...Baylee's her hands as she 'dolls her up' with lipstick. Check out the before and after photos!)

We also sang silly camp songs, danced the Cha-cha slide, Macarana, and YMCA. We made personal pizzas for lunch, Oobleck, and set off Mentos and soda!

The kids were not ready for our day to end together at Camp Richiak. The good news is this… we all get to do this again tomorrow!