Church Family Retreat - Post 3

I had so many pictures, that blogger was messing up on me, so I had to stop my previous post and start a new one.

Egg toss game

Everyone was nice and sticky after this game

The Daddy team won this game

The Olympics was just too hard on Courtney, who only got about 4 hours sleep the night before, so she was happy to go and watch a movie with Autumn and Aubree

There was a ladder that went up the side of the wall to a little opening at the top. They had it boarded up and locked at the bottom to keep people out. But that doesn't stop Michael and Evan. They wanted to know what was up there. So Evan helps Michael up.

Michael said it was like a little loft, with a TV and movies

Wasn't quite as easy coming down. Took 3 of them!

Everyone was kind of tired Saturday afternoon. Amy, Becky and Lenita enjoying some quality time.

Erin, Mel and Evan

Courtney, me and Rod

Sandra, Vivian, Arlo and Mr. Savell

After we sat around and rested from our Olympics, we all went to Beavers Bend to take a train ride and look around. We saw lots of deer and a few armadillo's on our ride.

All aboard! Hailey and Courtney

Michael, Ryan, Reese, Mandy and Chuck

Tiffany, Aubree, Becky, Hailey & Court

We drove down the lake or river or somewhere in the park, and went walking around.

There were a couple of men out there fishing.

Rod, Lanny and Michael looking for crawdads

Notice Michael holding his sock. That is what they put them in. Nice.

Butler helped too

And of course, Michael and Lanny cooked them outside over the fire

And brought them in just in time for supper. Nasty! I do think that both Lanny and Michael ate one. And they are still alive, so I guess it was okay.

We had brisket, potato casserole, beans, rolls and banana pudding for supper.

A camp out is not complete without smores!

We all gathered around and sang songs before bedtime on Saturday. Which was earlier than Friday thankfully!

Rod and Courtney on Sunday morning

Everyone still trying to wake up

Autumn loves her daddy!

Everyone gathered at the cabin for worship service Sunday morning.

Evan had to go back to Blossom to preach, so Lanny preached for us and gave an excellent lesson

me, Rod, Courtney and Michael

And a group shot of everyone after morning worship service. Evan left early Sunday morning. And Lenita, Earl, John, Daphine, Arlo and Vivian had all left on Saturday, so they were not in the group photo.

On our way home, we stopped at a mexican restaurant in Idabel to have lunch. Somebody told the waiter it was Melanie's birthday (on Monday), so she had the honors of wearing the sombrero and we all sang Happy Birthday to her!

Well that does it for retreat pictures. And I typed these last two post super fast, so I apologize now for any misspelled words or bad grammar. I have unpacked boxes calling my name, and better get busy before Rod comes in here again and catches me on the computer...again :) I hope to post some pictures of our house soon!

Church Family Retreat - Post 1

We had our 2nd annual church family retreat this weekend. I took SO many pictures, that I will have to break the weekend up in several different posts. We rented a 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom cabin 12 miles north of Broken Bow. The cabin was SUPER nice. It was 2 floors, and had 2 living areas and nice big kitchen. Becky Blackburn and I headed up there early Friday afternoon to prepare some food and get things ready for when everyone arrived. We could not have asked for a more beautiful weather. The whole weekend went great and everyone who came had a great time. We are already planning our retreat for next year, which we have decided to keep on Columbus Day weekend.

A picture of the front of our cabin. The cabin is built in to a hill. The top level is actually the main level which has a living room, kitchen, laundry room, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The bottom level had a living area which also had a sink and refrigerator, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Friday night we celebrated Autumn's 7th birthday, which was on Thursday. Friday was also Becky's birthday.

Michael & Earl in the living room

Friday night we played the Amazing Race game and it was SO much fun. We divided everyone into 4 teams by drawing names. Here is team 1 - Rod, Lenita, Reese, Ryan & Butler. Melanie was there judge.

Team 2 - Michael C. and Shianna, Michael and Courtney. Becky was their judge.

Team 3 - Earl, Lanny and Erin. I was the 'judge' that traveled with this team.

And team 4 - Ben, Amy, Scott (who was the judge), Dolly and Ethan

One of the clues was 'Over the hill and thru the woods to grandmothers house we go. Find the gravel road and turn left. Go to the end' I believe my team and Becky's team are the only ones that went through the woods, the others went down the road which took a little longer. Earl & Lanny making their way thru the woods

And one stop, they had to move the hula hoop around them without letting go of hands

They also had a ROADBLOCK at this stop, and Earl had to do 25 jumping jacks. And they all had to say their ABC's. This was toughest for Lanny - who is an elementary school principal...lol

At the final stop, they had to find the cabin closest to a tree with the #10 and a tee pee, and knock on the door of the nearest cabin and sing the national anthem. They somewhat figured out that it would be someones cabin they knew - and it was, the Adams and Backus cabin. My team was the first to reach their Final Destination.

We hid out in the bedroom while we waiting for the other teams to arrive and find out what order they placed. The team that Michael and Courtney was on, knocked on the wrong cabin door (another cabin that had a tee pee) and soon realized they were at the wrong cabin. Luckily, no one was home!

Eventually, everyone reached their 'Final Destination'

Evan trying to explain to Lenita why she lost. She doesn't like to lose. At all!

We went back to the cabin and laughed at every ones stories.

Erin, Shianna, and Courtney

A cabin in the woods is not complete without a campfire.

Michael and LannyJohn Henry, Ben, and Rod

Rod, Chuck & Evan

Reese & Ryan playing ping pong

We are still in the processing of moving, so I'm not sure when I will get to update with more. I have lots of funny pictures from Saturday!

Catch up!

I have had a busy couple of weeks, and haven't kept my blog up to date. I should be packing/moving right now, but instead I will do a quick run down of the last couple of weeks:

Two weeks ago, I went to my 3rd cake decorating class. We learned to make rosettes and mums. It was fun. Last week would have been my final cake decorating class of the session, but I skipped it to work in our new house. Yes, I am a cake decorating class drop out, but my sister in law graduated. So she will have to tutor me on what I missed during the last class.

Here are some basic flowers that I made during class on my practice board.

I forgot what this flower is called and I have my book packed away - but it was easy to make.

I took my mom to see her heart doctor in Dallas a couple of weeks ago, and my grandmother went along with us. We stopped to eat at On the Border before hitting Target and TJ Maxx. We had a good 'Girls Day Out.'

Last week we became homeowners again. And what is the first thing we do when we buy a new home? Tear it up! The house we bought had tile counter tops, and I wasn't sure how easy that would be to keep clean. The grout was already kind of dingy looking, and I scrubbed and scrubbed with bleach and could barely tell a difference. So we thought it would be easiest to fix it before we moved in.

Rod and Evan beginning to rip out the counter tops

Michael and Caleb had to join in on the fun

I should be getting my new counter tops installed tomorrow.

This past Saturday we had our annual work day at church. Courtney went with me and did a good job helping out. She cleaned lots of windows and blinds. Now, if I can just train her to do that at home!!!

After we finished cleaning up, Mel and I decorated cupcakes for a baby shower on Sunday. Evan even helped us! We had a lot of fun decorating together, and I can't wait until we do it again in a few weeks for a wedding shower!

After our busy morning at the church building, we went to our new house to work. They delivered my new furniture, but since we still had some drywall repair and paint to do, I had them leave it in the plastic so it wouldn't get messed up.

Michael, Molly and Courtney testing out the new kitchen chairs

Mandy working hard. We took down the border that was in the kitchen. It took myself, Mandy, Molly, Melanie and Rod all taking turns working on it to get it down. It was not a fun process.

Sunday was the baby shower for Heather. I made a Texas A & M themed diaper cake to give to her as a gift.

The cupcakes Mel and I decorated for the sports themed baby shower

I am off tomorrow and Friday. I am working on packing/moving tomorrow. And Friday we head north of Broken Bow for a church retreat. I can't wait!