Camp Life = Happy Kids

So you may ask "How are the kids doing?"

Well these pictures tell more than my words. Here are a few captured moments to make you remember when you were a kid.

Zoe is in the front on her girls campout night.

The kids get to pick out activities to do as well for a week and mini daily activities. They both adopted an animal as you see and learned about how to care for them.

They get personal 1on1 time and also classroom time with other adoptive parents :-)

Since it is hot and summer, there is always some pool time mixed in either in the day or evening.

Zoe took archery class. Check out that bow!

She also did some GEM finding in the quarry. Zander is taking comic book drawing and learning about rockets. They both had a class together where they made sock puppets.

Water is key to survival and they always carry it with them for a quick thirst quencher.

One night they had a big bubble party as you can see from the suds on the kids.

They are having a blast and enjoying every minute of their camplife.

Yes - this is the life!!!

If you want to write them, feel free. Here is the information:

Zander Pratt (Kentucky Cabin) or Zoe Pratt (Texas Cabin)

c/o Bear River Ranch

16795 Hwy E

Rolla, MO 65401

Speed Blind

Meet ROXIE... (more on that in a moment)...

OK --- so to bring everyone up to speed... this update is WAY WAY over due... so much has happened in the weeks (month?) since the last update. So... Tracy went on her New York, Chicago, Iowa, Wisconsin, Iowa trip....

This was the house Ray and Ag owned and lived in many years ago, then their daughters (Alice and Gail --- and their husbands and kids lived in later). It is downtown Chicago.

Then back to Iowa --- where Tracy got to share Ryan's second birthday.

Then she was off to the northwood (Lac du Flambeau -- for those of you keeping score) to see Ray and Ag. Tracy's mom, Sue, took her up -- and she is going to stay for awhile.

Then it was back to Iowa...

This time, the kids and I got to go up to fetch her. And we had a nice, enjoyable time while we were there. We went to a LumberKings game, with a big fireworks display afterward -- and had a nice BBQ on Sunday before heading home on Monday.

MANY more of Tracy's photos can be see here: Tracy's world tour

More good news... Karina had her and Amy's baby (Ayden Jasio Major) last Saturday.

And, on Sunday, we dropped the kids off at camp (Cub Creek Science Camp, at Bear River Ranch).

If anyone wants to send them a snail-mail (or care package)...

Zoe (Texas Cabin)

c/o Bear River Ranch

16795 Hwy E
Rolla, MO 65401

Or Zander (Kentucky Cabin)

One cool thing about this camp, is that -- as an animal and science camp -- they will take in (adopt?!?!) any animal that comes their way. Which includes many abandoned domestic pets (mostly puppies and kittens). The near-by vet comes by each Thursday to care for the animals and teach the kids. Also, he will spay and neuter any strays. The intent is that each kiddo adopts a pet, bonds horribly, and then when dear old mom and dad come back in a few weeks to pick up the kid... WA-LA the stray has a home too... "But DADDEEEEE, I love him sooooooo much..." (Well, you get the picture).

Anyway... as we were leaving, we saw Clementine and Jamal (brother and sister beagle-mutt mixes)... and they were quite cute, and Tracy and I began discussing the potential for adopting them, after the kids finish their four weeks there. BUT THEN... someone brought over their other sister, Roxie... I picked her up, and didn't put her down until we got back home.

Interestly, Alvin and Rose went to Wayside Waifs the SAME DAY and got a Katie...

Here are more pix of Ayden and Roxie. BABIES BABIES BABIES

Oh... and I flew to Denver at 0'dark hundred yesterday morning for my new job orientation, and have just returned...

Holy sh!t, I am tired just writing all this stuff....

Later,

D.