Family Camp at Fort Stevens State Park

     After two missed opportunities, we finally made it to family camp this summer. We spent a long weekend at the end of July with many other families from our church, enjoying the coast and lots of fellowship. We stayed up late (too late, according to some :-) playing games, climbed the dunes in a friend's Jeep, flew kites, rode bikes, explored tidepools, and had an all-around great time. The kids loved guessing games, scavenger hunts, nature programs, chalk contests, exploring the batteries in the dark, glowstick bike parades, and PLAYING with many friends nonstop for three days. 

Here's Ascha "Scavenging." The little kids had to physically find items, while the older kids had a digital hunt, taking pictures of the items on their list and showing them to the officiators. 

The boys asked for Jeremy's help in sketching a ship outline, then had fun filling it in. They also drew an ocean scene and a forest scene. Alas, they didn't win the contest, but they sure had fun!

Our first night, it rained. The rest of our time there, the weather was "mostly cloudy," but on two occasions the sun broke through victoriously and we headed to the beach for spectacular views and fun in that fleeting sun.

Ascha with her peregrine falcon kite

Pepper loved watching Jeremy fly his kite. Jeremy loved teasing Pepper by flying the kite very close to him.

 Jer showing the kids the ropes...er, lines.

 Our kids celebrated every moment on the beach! Here's Aric...

...and here's Taylor. They were both jumping for joy.

Ascha loved playing in the ocean. This was her first time really playing in the waves, and she did great. She was actually a little TOO brave, so I had to keep calling her back toward shore.

Like I said, the boys were jumping for joy...

...or running...

...or splashing...

...and always giggling!

(I found out later that they'd told dad they wouldn't get their clothes all wet. Whoops!)

Sunday morning, after we had packed up, we went to the museum portion of the park for a few minutes. The kids loved it and are already looking forward to taking the underground tour sometime in the future.