I have nothing to add to Gema's report today. I do however have prayer request. One of the youth from my Colorado church was in an accident Tuesday the 14th. Head injury and still not awake please keep him in your prayers for recovery. Blessings! and thank you!

Tuesday's Camp Report
It was much hotter today. Cheeks were rosey. But still, they spent most of afternoon outdoors. Girls got banned from chickens for closing gates that were propped open locking the chickens away from their water. Also, left gate to goat pen open. Big no-no's. But they learned their lesson.Everyone hungry after camp so was good idea to pick up pizza then and eat really early. Everyone had their favorite soda. Oatmeal pies for dessert. You can tell I spent lots of time cooking today....All wanted to swim in pond so that is what they did. I sat on a hot rock and took pictures. It was hot and still with thunderheads in the west. Huddy could feel a storm coming so wanted to sit in my lap--he gets so scared in storms. Kids and Pop-pop had a blast. Ariel is really doing well at learning to swim and turn flips in the water. She is a brave little girl. Don was a little ansy about kids swimming far from him into deeper water so made the rule they all had to have a noodle. Girls enjoyed jumping in the deep from the shore. Watching Bailey was like dejavue--my many memories of Amy (her mom) at that age jumping in. They look so much alike. I got a great shot of Bailey jumping in but it was just too dark and the photo was blurry. It was getting pretty dark and I could see lightning beginning so that gave me a good excuse to get them out of water. But, that was all of the storm we got. So many times yesterday it looked like we were fixin to get a good rain and it just went all around us.I tried a new ploy last night in that we kept them up late hoping that they would then fall asleep quickly. It did not work. But we did have fun watching movie SAMANTHA , another American girl movie, and Don popped us two big bowls of popcorn. After the movie everyone was hungry so had bowls of cereal before bed. They maybe got in bed by 11. Boys bathed last night. Tonight girls have to bathe. Sorry parents but that is best I can do. They were really pretty clean after the pond swim.....I know that Bailey was supposed to wash her hair three times while here...we might make it yet.KIDS COMMENTS ABOUT CAMP:Brock eats three helpings at lunch.Girls got to shoot BB guns, bows and arrows, and slingshots. Brock was envious.Boys went canoeing.Girls went fishing and everyone caught fish as soon as put pole in water.Two boys fight every day and one gets a bloody nose.Mason got to go to a cave where Indians lived.Brock and Blaine went horseback riding. Blaine got the biggest horse and Brock got the lead horse but it was little.Girls got to play on BLOB the first day and boys the second day.The water in lake is really low.During devotionals a kid asked what God's phone number was. Another wanted to know if he had a wife.Ariel sings songs she learns on the way home--remember LITTLE BUNNY FOO FOO?I know that is not much info but they are pretty wiped out when they get in the car and seem most excited about the air conditioning and food. I am going to try to get more camp info out of them today.I have failed in getting them to write you letters. Will give them chance today. It is hard to get them all together in one place for anything. Today we have a craft project for them when they get home. They are each going to make a stepping stone for my garden and put their hand or foot print in it and name and decorate it. Hope this goes well.Today, I promised them we would hit Sonic's Happy Hour and get them a cold drink when we pick them up. And I have a box of granola bars to go with it. Then tonight is homemade burgers, fries, and shakes. And probably another pond swim. I think I might join them this time.That's all for today.


We are on to Day 2 of camp
All the kids seemed to have a good first day at camp. Thankfully, it was overcast and cooler than last week so I am sure that helped. They were all a tad tired--especially Blaine and Ariel who were down right drooping like a flower in the hot sun. They were all starving, too, even though they described the food at camp as being ok. We had lots of snacks and an early spaghetti supper. Everyone perked up when we got home. I thought they might want to just veg out in the AC for a bit so I put on MOLLY, An American Girl DVD, but the girls headed outside to swim in the stock tank which I had filled up during the day. (Tammy and I enjoyed the part of the movie we got to watch.) Girls could not get over how COLD that well water was. No one was inclined to go pond swimming today, thank goodness, as Don and Brian had gone to the ranch to take our home goats back to ranch where there is actually something green to eat. Next, they discovered the old tree house from their parent's growing up days and began gathering all sorts of weird things--like snake skins, old chicken spines, various bones they found around, to decorate the treehouse with. Don't worry, Pop-pop checked out the treehouse and said it was sound.After supper the chickens were the main attraction as everyone wanted to catch and carry a chicken around. Bailey made the first catch, then Morgan, then everyone had one. Poor chickens did not know what hit them. Feathers were flying and much clucking and protest going on in the chicken world. But the kids all had fun and got their picture taken with their favorite chicken.I made snickerdoodles for a bedtime snack and got them in bed a little after 9 but it took awhile to get them to sleep--especially the girls. All were overtired and needed sleep (including me) and were cranky and not too nice to their bedmates but finally, everyone had the right blanket and pillow and place to suit them and adjusted to giving in to those who wanted a night light and wanted to listen to a tape...and then Blaine needed a breathing treatment as Dickens, the cat, had snuck in their room. I removed the cat and gave him a treatment while the other boys fell asleep and at last it was quiet. I actually got to sleep by 11:30.This morning, I did have to drag them out of bed, even with the aroma of sweet rolls coming from the oven. I would not let them eat til they were all dressed, shoes on, and bags by door. They all were cheery and very cooperative and left for camp with smiles on their faces. I will fill you in on more news from camp later. We have a meeting to go to. I plan to pick up pizza when I pick up kids and have real early dinner, then outside time if they want, then come in early for popcorn and a movie, in hopes that will make the transition to bedtime easier. Will let you know how this plan works.Rebecca gets a star for being the kindest and most helpful to Ariel.

Sumer camp at the barlow's

I'm using Julie's versions of camp week and will add when I need to. Sorry if your reading this twice but not all my friends read Gema's delights so hang in there all you tx folk. OK heres my take so far. Seeing Julie buzz around from room to room making sure cats are not where allergy kids sleep, finding another fuzzy blanket (cause everyone wants one of those) and baking cookies for dessert all this while making sure the bathroom doesn't get flooded; is truly a treasure. by 830pm Monday (prospected bed time) Julie and I meet face to face in the all and she said something that made no senses at all (but I totally understood exactly what she was meant), then and there we agreed that nothing either of us said this week would be held against us (just keep that in mind if you call or email). I try to help when I can but two chiefs really don't work well so I sometimes just went to my room waited for the cell phone call or knock on the door to assist. As you can see from my second picture even Brian is getting into the mix so don't let him tell you he isn't having fun too. GO GEMA! Monday night review of days events: How delusional I was last night when I wrote the previous post from upstairs where the air conditioner drowns out all the noise below me. I headed to bed only to find everyone was still wide awake but Ariel. The three older girls were all set on sleeping in the twin bed while Ariel alone was on the far edge of the double bed. It was crazy. Bailey had maybe six inches of space to sleep in. I tried and tried to get them to spread out into the double bed but to no avail. So I told them to just be quiet and go to bed. Next, the boys room was rockin'--Brock has some really "creative" ideas. I fussed at them and got them all back in bed--the teddy bear fan pull was making too much noise for Brock (yeah, right) so I clothespinned the fan pull to the light cover so it would not move and disturb Brock. Then Blaine had allergies--I had already medicated him so put that new nose medicine on him which, of course, required the other two boys to watch me doing it with Brock telling me how much he hates that stuff. Finally, they were all settled back into bed so I went to bed myself. I could hear them all talking and laughing for some time but I let it be as I figured additional fussing would not solve anything. At last it was quiet by midnight but now I was wide awake. By 1, I think I fell asleep. Hank, you really let me down tonight. My worries of having the kids be hard to get up the next morning so early were entirely unfounded. The boys were up at 6:45 and all HUNGRY so Tammy fed them. Girls were easy to wake up and got ready quickly. The morning went very smoothly. I forced the kids to pose for a group photo outside before we loaded up for camp. Don took the boys in his truck and I took the girls. The three big vans were already at HEB when we arrived and took our information and meds and seemed to be old hands at doing all this stuff. So you parents can relax knowing they are in vans with seat belts and not a school bus. They all got in the same van and sat together. There were quite a few other groups of kids with grandparents or aunts. All the kids did great--no tears or demands to go back home with me. So off they went. One little girl, who looked about six, was busy telling the counselor that she better be nice to her cuz she had a 14 year old brother who would beat up anyone who was mean to her. She was quite the little spitfire but the counselor looked rather experienced in her job and took it all in stride. Can't wait to hear camp stories when they come home. And I do plan to sit them all down and lay out a few house rules-- Like stay out of closets. This morning I could not find the boys and they were all three piled in the toy room closet with a flash light. This would have been no big deal but you see, Tammy and I cleaned out the toy room (remember Ariel's stuff has been added to mine) to give more space for beds and suitcases and boys and it was all stuffed in that closet--you could hardly close the door--yet the boys were squished in there, too. And the girls kept asking over and over if the camp seperated the boys and girls---and Rebecca said she sure hoped not. Not sure what that means..... Sunday night review of days events: LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN ! Sunday, 7 of my grandkids--ages 6-10 arrived to spend the week and go to day camp. There are three boys and four girls. They are all super great kids who love to be together. They quickly moved into the "toy room" (boy's dorm) and Beki's old room (girl's dorm) and began to play and talk and explore the house. Then I served them what will probably be the most nutritious meal of the week--a true "Sunday dinner" : pork roast, augratin potatoes, corn casserole, and a salad right out of the garden. They were not impressed. Pop-Pop told them they had to eat a tomato and a cucumber slice in order to get dessert…..they were all very clever in how they managed to get those veggies down, but they did it cheerfully. Brock had no problem with anything as his plate was clean quickly and Blaine only wanted his salad so that suited him. But we had a fun dinner and conversation anyway, then we headed outside to gather eggs and do the barn chores--the girls, Mason, and I. Blaine and Brock were having too much fun playing with a marble game. They gathered eggs, helped feed the goats, and just ran around looking at everything. Then we had our Dump Cake and ice cream dessert and said farewell to Micah and Tania who left dreaming of their quiet week ahead. Then, Pop-Pop took them down to the pond--all but Brock and Blaine who were still engrossed in the marble game. Tammy and I took that time to finish cleaning the kitchen and try and get the bedrooms organized for sleeping. It was getting pretty dark outside and still the pond group was not back so I turned on the lights outside to give them a hint; told the two boys to get their pajamas, on when in trooped some very soaking wet kids--ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING POP-POP. They had all gone swimming in their clothes in the pond and had a total blast doing so. Don said they exclaimed over and over how " my mama wouldn't like this" but he said he had never heard so much giggling and screaming and laughing. A good time was had by all. The floor was like a skating rink it was so wet; the laundry room was piled with soggy clothes and towels; the bathroom after they all bathed was flooded with water…and those girls played in the tub with all the bath toys from their parents babyhood and giggled some more. (sorry about the not bathing together rule, but I learned my lesson). They already asked if they could swim in the pond again tomorrow--but I think we will opt for swim suits next time and I will hose them off outside or have them dunk in the swim tank afterwards. I did force them all to let me put alcohol in their ears afterwards to avoid any pond germies. Finally, by 9:45 we had them all tucked in bed and bless Hank the Cowdog as they were all asleep by 10. (I got Hank books on tape from library and put them on in each bedroom for them to listen to as they went to sleep). That was a trick we used to use at the ranch when my younger kids were out there and we wanted them to go to sleep and it always worked. So glad it still does. It is blissfully quiet and I am going to bed. Morning comes early. I can't wait to hear of their adventures at camp. Thank you parents for loaning me your children for a few days--it all brings back so many wonderful memories as I make new ones. I am truly a blessed Gema.

Half of our Crazy Family; Brian's side that is.

Just gives you an ideal why the gators didn't bother us. Can't belive we got this many people in one picture and you can still see everyone. Jenny has a great talent.

Yesterday was the perfect day of play, nap, play, lunch, nap, play,big people time at the library, quick diner, and then bed time altho I went to bed way to late and am paying for it today. But we started of good with play, breakfast and nap so far today, thank you GOD! As you can tell by the picture we had water time. When it's 104 you have to get in the water if your outside.

I picked another book out of the Barlow library to start and did so yesterday. Oooh I forgot that part. Any way it's "I'm glad you know where we're going Lord". and boy am I. Cause I forget one room to the next what the heck I'm doing or why I went there.

I seem to see light at the end of the uncertain tunnel we've been in this year and plans coming together for the near future. I'm glad to say that includes continuing to take care of Hayden for Amber , if she still wants me to. I do so enjoy it and once again allows me to have Ariel with me while I'm working. Those two are so cute together with their morning love snuggles all flopping around on the floor together. I'm not sure if Hayden will like me much once school starts and Ariels not around as much but I'm sure I will find a way to bribe him into liking me. I'll close till next nap time so sleep well. Ha Ha! Glory to God for all of you reading.

summer fun

posting

We'll I know it's been a while. Last week I just couldn't beat the heat and was draggin butt. This week I feel refreshed and ready for another week of fun with Ariel and Hayden. I hope to get us on a schedule of fun and learning, I"m sure the teachers with appreciate that come the new school year. Guess I should be making a list of all the cool things I want to plan before I lose the energy. Amber and Jerry did alot of work on their house this week. Looking good Bekah your birthday present to her put mine to shame. VERY NICE. Family weekend was fun. Hurray that Ariel is big enough to go off and play with the many kids that were in attendance. We didn't lose any of them to the alligators. Thankfully we never saw one just warning signs that they MAY be there. I'm thinking they were hiding from all of us. Smart gators. It was really nice to see everyone and have the time to talk and play games with one another, no cell service or TV does have that effect on people. I finished my book the shack which is record time for me. It was good. I know some might have issues with some the ideals of God's image in it but it is fiction, so I categorize it as one of those things that each person needs to take away from it what they need for where they are on their journey. I really got refreshed by the story and hope it will be a tool I can use to strengthen my relationships with God and the people in my life. Next week Ariel and 6 of her many cousins will be attending camp peniel. Julie has taken it upon herself to manage this all on her on, braaaave women. I am sure it will be a fun and meaningful week for them all. I can't wait to see how tired and grumpy they are at the end of the week. I'm so grateful that Ariel will have this experiance. Glad Amber got the note to dress Hayden red today. TWINKIES! I hope my week is as protective and organized as I'm thinking it to be today. But it's only Monday so we'll see. Hope all is well with whomever is reading this. Please comment so I know your out there.