2010 Family Camp: Hogwarts (a.k.a. Woodchuck Flats)

Samuel's family has camped at Woodchuck Flats since he was a baby.

It's a tradition that's continued-

even amongst the in-laws,

who aren't as fond of roughing it for five days

in super-primitive conditions

(i.e. pit toilets and no running water!).

But it's bargain,

at $0.00 per night,

or at least it was...

Starting next year,

they'll begin charging per night

(like nearly everywhere else),

which means we're finally taking the plunge

and moving family camp

SOMEWHERE ELSE!

That's wouldn't be a big deal for most families,

but for this one,

it's a little gut-wrenching.

So for now,

let's just savor memories...

This year's theme was "Harry Potter"

and the kids were escorted to Hogwarts

by Hagrid (a.k.a. Houston).

Albus Dumbledore,
or Grandpa Gary,

welcomed them,

and shortly thereafter...

...they were issued their very own wands!

After some quick instruction,

they were ready to begin classes!

First up,

Divination with Professor Trelawney (Aunt Rachel)!

The girls were delighted!

After class,

"You-know-who" himself showed up!

He's always lurking just outside the walls of the castle!

Next up,

Potions with Professor Snape (Aunt Elizabeth)!

Next was a visit to Hogsmead,

but first...

...a stop at
Gringott's Wizarding Bank
was in order.

Though it's a bit unnerving to be escorted by a goblin...

It's worth it in the end to get your hands on some Galleons!

What to buy?

How about a stop at The Three Broomsticks?

A peek at the menu...

The lines were long, but Madame Rosmerta (me!) knows how to handle the crowds...

...Owen,
enjoying his purchases.

You can't have a proper Hogwart's experience without...

Quidditch!

The Quidditch Ref,

Yolanda Hooch (a.k.a. Aunt Jessica),

had a time organizing the first years.

Eventually,

they got the concept:

"Hands up!"

Though the kids game never really took off,

once the adults got in on the action the game got pretty intense.

In fact, after camp,

we sheepishly met at a local elementary school for a second go of it.

Yes, we're that nerdy.

And no, we haven't played again.

In addition to Voldemort trying to sneak into camp,

the dementors were swirling around too.

Lucky for us,

Lillian scared them away with her mad bat Patronus!

There's never a dull moment at school,

and next up was a Horcrux Hunt with Aunt Leah.

These kids were awesome and found all the Horcruxes

-and destroyed them-

before dark.

Voldemort made once last lame-o attempt to takeover Hogwarts.

Doesn't he know how the book ends?!?

And that concludes the
fantastical adventures of

Harry Potter
at
Woodchuck Flats!

 

For weeks on end the kids were shouting

spells at one another,
so we can all consider this year's camp theme
a roaring success!

...

When all our little Harry's weren't running around,

camp played out in it's usual, 

comforting way.

Within hours of being here the kids,

and most of the adults,

were pretty dirty.

And none of us can sit still either.

This year we attempted

-and CONQUERED-

Man Mountain

...the HARD way!

That means we pretty much picked a spot (the top),

and just started going up.

Sounds great,

except our ratio of adults to kids was sorely unbalanced!

After a solid go of it,
we considered turning back,
only to conclude that we were probably closer
to the top than the bottom
and that it was best to just push on.

We were wrong.

Of course.

But push on we did,

and eventually,

after much

BLOOD...

SWEAT...

&

TEARS...

WE MADE IT!

And yes,

it was worth it!

Samuel climbed this mountain with his cousins and Uncle Ron

when he was just a kid.

There are legendary stories about that hike,

and it was awesome to add our tale to the history books!

I'm so grateful we were able to take our entire family up!

...

On a personal note,
I took alot away from this experience.

While climbing up,
my sister-in-law urged me to breakaway from the brush
and take a moment to look out. 

What I saw took my breath away.

I couldn't believe how high we were,

and what we had accomplished so far.

Yes,

we still had a LONG way to go,

it was HARD-going,

and it demanded

100% of everyone there.

But the end was in sight,

it promised to be worth every struggle,

and it's true,

there is so much joy in the journey.

That's hard for someone like me to appreciate.

I am a total hard-head
whose completely
hard-driven

to get to my
chosen destination.

I struggle
with

detours,
u-turns,

and simply getting lost.

What I've learned

-and, of course-

the hardest way possible,

is that you

can't

give

up.

You press on,

you hold on a little longer,

and you maintain

-at all costs and if NOTHING else-

that perfect
brightness of hope.

 So there it is!

My great hit-me-over-the-head experience!

Whether or not it will stay with me,

is another story all together!

Remember:

I'm hard-headed!

Plus,
let's face it:

Most trials are not a cake-walk. 

Regardless,
I do appreciate these lessons
I'm having to learn over,
and over again.

It's not just some cheesey saying when they say,

"Adversity makes you stronger."

It's totally true,
if you let it.
...

And yes, that's my nephew Mason

bawling in the background. 

He did NOT appreciate the lesson of the mountain... :)

Samuel, appreciating the view from the fire look-out.

Some of the toughest little cookies around.

Uncle Bill and his Meggers.

As triumphant was our ascent,
was as humble our descent!

We called camp desperately begging for a ride down!

Uncle Houston and Aunt Elizabeth obliged (thank you!),

and Gabriel looked right at home in the four-wheelin' truck!

Evenings spent snacking and playing cards...

Fajita night!

Refried Black Beans...yum!

Playtime at camp...

and across the "pond".

I would have taken more pictures but

Owen's Bat Bogey hex caused me to return

with an Aresto Momentum spell

giving me enough time to turn tail and run!

Sigh.

The fire. 

My favorite part of camp.

Uncle Nathan & Lillian



Ava's delighted that her birthday

usual occurs while at camp

(that would be a bummer for me :).

Sometimes I bake cupcakes and bring them up,

this time I jammed seven candles into a Ho-ho!

Cousin Lennon.

My boys LOVE him.

And he loves them too.

The "hot" springs directly above the water hole.

After the dad's return from jumping off the rocks,

it's family time.

My Owen boy.

Ali, Iris, & Lillian!

Back at camp we had several rafts

floating in the creek/pond near our campsite.

Ours popped.

Can you guess why?

{Smile}

The kids,

running for their lives from the lava monster!

Gabriel,

still managing to pull out every wipe

even miles from home.

Whatever it takes to wear him out!

Abby & Bella

{Who unfortunately suffered from a mosquito bite on her eyelid!}

Owen's favorite part of camp.

He came home and "watered" the tree in our front yard too.

The grown-up Pinata!

The Grahams did a great job manufacturing it.

 

It was shaped like a broom,

and was pretty inpenetrable-

just the way we like it!

Pack-up & go-home day is always, always brutally hot!

That means one last dunk!

This pretty much sums up camp!

Fun,

family,

&

lot's and lot's of dirt!

It's exhausting.

And we do love it.

...

We'll see where we end up next year...