The Growing Caldwell Family

Every Friday evening we head to the lake and look forward to spending time with the kids! Charlie is so brave and jumps off the high dive! I miss them so during the week. They are usually having too much fun to want to talk when I call, but on the weekends we are able to slow down and hear about their fun. 

I left my camera at the lake so that the kids could document some of their fun! Being the shutter bug that he is, Charlie captured some of the fun! Notice how she gives a big smile for Charlie! They did some soap carving. They have had so much fun with these cups! Cup stacking was just the beginning!  Striking a pose for Charlie. They did a fun stem activity building molecules out of toothpicks and marshmallows. Some marshmallows may have been eaten in the making of this project! Many thanks to Lovie and Pops for planning and leading these activities! They made it feel like a real camp. 

The kids are doing so many things while at Camp Chickamaw! They hit the trail and explored.  Sissy is always ready with her camera and her stuffed animal! Charlie read signs aloud to the group  When Lovie and Livy got a little tired, they sat here and waited for Pops, Sissy, and Charlie to pick them up in the boat! Sissy said she might have stayed with them, but she was hungry and had a snickers in the car! They came back and learned about cooking dinner over a fire! They made hamburgers, cornbread, and popcorn. We learned that cooking cornbread over an open flame takes a little practice! What a fun afternoon!

We went out for a perfect sunset cruise! Good odds, favorite people, beautiful weather, and a great soundtrack made for a fantastic evening! Their future's so bright, they have to wear shades! How it looks when Pops drives the boat fast! We came back to the dock and continued our cocktail hour in the boat listening to Aaron's playlist, which included Stars on the Water and enjoying chatting together.  As we try to reimagine life with COVID-19, they say having a quaranteam is a good way to go. This is mine, and I am so grateful for them and our time together! What a wonderful way to kickoff summer!

Time hanging out on the porch relaxing together is always so nice.  Sarah Graves loves fashion and crafting new clothes. She enjoyed dancing around in this skirt, but said it was a little "baggy!" Lovie and Charlie have a special bond. A sweet moment between the two of them. Their love for Lovie is as big as her love for them! Sissy took joy in beating Lovie at a new game that practices math and relies on chance.  This dude just hanging out on the breezeway. What joy to spend some time swinging with her mommy.

So much thought went into planning real camp fun. One of those ideas was to have camp t shirts, tie dyed! Sissy's was shaped like a unicorn horn! The kids enjoyed the task of dyeing their shirts, but took it very seriously.  Sarah Graves made herself protection for her clothes. Lovie and Pops got in on the action too!  I regret that we didn't get a picture of their shirts finished! 

With Covid-19 altering plans for going to sleep away camp, Lovie and Pops came to the rescue with their own summer camp, Camp Chickamaw.  The kids were eager for the fun of being at the lake, doing crafts, and having time with Lovie and Pops! I am so grateful to them for going to so much effort to give the kids good memories and a fun summer! Mom and Dad working all day doesn't mean a lot of fun, so I am so happy they had the chance for this fun!