Family Fun Week and Summer Camp 2016

We packed up the camper and headed south to Biloxi this past Saturday. Our main purpose was for the boys to attend a week of summer camp at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies. We camped in Biloxi at Southern Comfort Camping Resort. Our friends, the Morris's, camped right beside us!

John Gannon, Jackson and three of their homeschool friends attended the camp and loved it. They got to do all kinds of things like: shrimping on a shrimp boat, fishing on a pontoon where the Gulf and the MS River meet, going to Ship Island, dissecting fish, seeing/learning about dolphins and all other marine animals, seining in the Gulf, etc. I only have a couple of pictures-I let John take the camera one day and Jackson took it the next day. Here are the results:

John had this picture taken and the rest were "usies" with his friends :)

Jackson obviously took pictures of the friends he made and his teachers. 

Here is John, Jackson, and Zowie--ready for the first day.

Just like at the beginning of kindergarten, Jackson had some anxiety when pulling up to the camp. He talked about it and wasn't about going to let it keep him from going. He was super excited and wanted to go, he just said my stomach gets nervous for some reason. By day 3, all of that was over. Every day (including the anxiety mornings), he wanted to go early and be picked up late!

On Sunday, we (us and the Morris's) drove down to another part of the beach and watched the "Blessing of the Fleet." This tradition began in 1929 when a Catholic priest would go out into the waters and bless each boat at the beginning of the shrimp season. Sure enough, boats passed by and the priest would hold out his hand and "bless" each one as it passed.

The campground was right across from the beach and had a pool, so every day when the boys got in we took full advantage. We usually would get back to the camper around 8 to cook/eat dinner and get ready to do it all again. Here is a look at some of those adventures.

John Gannon did his usual fair share of chatter and entertaining. I am glad he gets to make real connections with other adults that he can trust!

Jackson got into these pictures--we had to do our hands, fingerprints, and our feet another day! After doing them, he would want his picture with it!

 Late night spontaneous photo-op with your friend...fun times!

 They wanted to go out and touch the pole.

 One day, the boys found a hole and decided to have some fun.

 We discovered a mermaid on the shore!

 And then much to our surprise, we found a two headed mermaid and a crab trying to attack them.

As for the day-time hours, Johnny and I would enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the campsite, ride our bikes, relax at the beach and pool, and read some books!

On Thursday, we all drove over to New Orleans while the boys were at camp. For an entire year, Johnny has been talking about going to the Big Easy to eat some of these and drink a cup of coffee. I am so glad he finally got to. But get this-he was too cheap to buy the coffee. It was $3 for a tiny cup so he was out! He just ate the beignets without the coffee!

One day during the week, our friends Mandy, Blake, Aiden, and Luke joined us at the campground pool for some friend time. The boys wanted Aiden to be with them so bad everyday, but they were staying in a hotel a distance away, and they like to keep Luke (a toddler) a little more contained. And to make it even better, Kathy was at a conference and came to visit that evening too! Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera to the pool with us that day. 

We finally got home about two hours ago and got everything unpacked. We are trying to decide between two directions (East or West) for our next adventure this summer. As I reflect over the last seven days of this trip, I am so thankful for good friends and community. We really enjoyed being with friends every single day. Watching the boys play together and creating memories is really priceless.

Live a Meaningful Life!