Hunting Island

The boys are so excited that Tiger Cubs and Weblos (Boyscouts) have begun. Our first camping adventure with the scouts was this weekend at Hunting Island. Somehow the word "primitive" was overlooked by me. We arrived on the island just in time to pitch our tent before the sun went down, and in just enough time for me to realize that we were really going to be camping. There were no outlets, ants were everywhere, mosquitoes galore, no running water, the bathrooms were a mile away, without showers, and the raccoons were ruthless. HMMM. Then I looked around, my boys were running through the woods with their friends, of course with sticks in hand to use as their swords.....they were gathering wood for the campfire, tending to the campfire - sometimes a bit too enthusiastically :).....they were helping others pitch their tents, they were toting items from cars, they were happy. So, Ryan and I took our seats and enjoyed watching them soak in the primitiveness of our excursion. The weather was perfect, the boys enjoyed tug-o-war on the beach, swimming, a nature hike through the marsh (the pic of C was taken just before our hike in the nature center....I didn't take a camera but someone caught this shot of him enjoying the snake), they searched for sharks teeth and, before the day was done, our family climbed the 175 steps to the top of the lighthouse. All the while, Mason-Kate was enjoying some undivided attention from all four of her grandparents. We have not left her with anyone overnight in almost a year so I was a bit concerned about how she would do....not to worry, she awoke Friday morning asking for her shoes (aka "plip-plops"), her bunny blanket, her baby and her "nother blankie." When all of these items were in her possession, she proceeded to the car saying "bye-bye home." Although I feel she continues to grow up way too fast, I do love that I can tell her how things are going to happen and she gets it.
In other news, another toddler is coming home from Dianjiang, China.....MK's birthplace. Check out www.francescabrinifay.blogspot.com to see this little girl being united with her family today.