Eagle Camp 2009

We almost missed our week at Eagle Camp this year. The camp managers shifted all of the camp-season weeks back by one, and we didn't realize the change until Jeff had already requested and received our usual (a.k.a. the wrong) camp week off of work. Oops! Luckily, Kristen clued us into the schedule change (thanks, Aunt KK!), and Jeff was able to trade weeks with someone at work in order to salvage our vacation. At least there were no plane tickets purchased or surgeries scheduled based on incorrect dates...right, Uncle Richard?

We had a great time at camp this year...as usual. There is just something so magical and wonderful about that place...something that makes us long for it and daydream about it for the other 51 weeks of each year. Is it the uninterrupted family time? Is it getting to spend time with great friends and extended family? Is it the week's worth of fresh air? Is it the wonderful, three/day, school-cafeteria-esque meals? Who knows...but we LOVE Eagle Camp!

Camp was definitely easier with a 2 year old and an almost 4 year old than it was last year, with a one-year-old new walker and an almost 3-year-old potty-trainer. This year, Jeff and I had occasional moments of downtime...and came to the realization that such moments will increase exponentially next year when both of our kids will spend three hours each day at playhouse...YIPPIE!

Avery and Noel loved everything about Eagle Camp. They enjoyed...

...running and running and RUNNING!

and playing with cousins and friends

and wrestling with Daddy and Uncle Rob in the field

and exploring

and getting sweaty and dirty

and cooling and cleaning off in Lake Champlain

and catching their first fish

and searching for cool rocks and sea glass (Avery)

and throwing cool rocks and sea glass (Noel)

and running and running and RUNNING!

and gathering and pressing beautiful flowers

and collecting bugs

and watching for woodland creatures

and falling asleep and waking up to the sounds of the lake

and learning a schedule dictated by bugle calls

and going out for ice cream

and running and running and RUNNING!

Here are a few (dozen) photos from our week...

On the ferry from Plattsburg, NY to South Hero, VT...

Checking out the tent line...

Roasting marshmellows...

The first sunset of our week...

Noel and Ainsley having a snack...

...and playing footsie...

Trying to move mountains...and Aunt KK...outside the Magic Hat Brewery...

Cousins...

Playing nicely...

Here fishy, fishy, FISHY!

Date night! (Yummy, YUMMY, Blue Paddle!)

Or maybe not...

Avery and our favorite waitress/babysitter, Abby...

More snacking...

Playhouse performs in Friday night's Camp Show (song 1):

(Avery and Cousin George are on the far left...)

Playhouse performs in Friday night's Camp Show (song 2):

Tent line kids...

And snacking some more...

"Got any more, Avery?"

They love Abby...

Baby Joe gets a snake kiss...

Happy Eagle Campers!

Saying "goodbye" to Lake Champlain...

Riding the ferry on our way home...

We are always sad to leave Eagle Camp and, of course, have already started thinking about and planning for our week (or maybe two?) next summer! Now, if our plans and daydreams can just get us through the long, cold winter...