Family Campout Time at Claytor Lake State Park

We drove to Claytor Lake State Park in Dublin, VA on Thursday, Oct. 24, for three days of camping with our kids and their families.

Blueberry pancakes for Fri. breakfast.  After I made them all with blueberries, Easton declared he didn't want blueberries in his.  He just wanted peanut butter and applesauce on his.  So he ate some of Ryan's GF pancakes instead.  Sun. morning when I got out leftover blueberry pancakes, he wanted one, and another one!  And when Carrie asked him back at home what his favorite part of the campout was, it was GRANDMA'S BLUEBERRY PANCAKES!  Just another day in the life of a five-year old   :)

Claire loves her very own camping saw for cutting up wood.  Easton uses his mom's and they made a nice pile for the fire.

Wood scavengers bringing home some kindling to cut up

This is how they made themselves swing (or attempted to) since Grandma who usually pushes them was relaxing in her own hammock, the third side of the triangle.

Amy n Jeremy's rig

Carrie's picture

We were on sites D1 and D2 - our favorite sites in Loop D.  Amy n Jeremy were on D-36 down the road.

The kids loved riding the biking woods trails in the campground.

PC Carrie

We hiked and they biked all over the park - to the boat dock, gazebo, playgrounds and beach.

Surf's up! (Carrie's picture)

PC Carrie

Claire's raft that she "sent out to sea."  The beach was a very busy "port" as we sent out boat after boat!

The lifeguard with her "store" of treasures for sale

I found this Mickey Mouse-looking acorn on the beach that she added to her treasures to take home. (PC Carrie)

A garter snake in our path when we hiked with Amy, Jeremy n Jay Sabbath afternoon.

Destination. . . Claytor Lake Overlook with Amy, Jeremy n Jay,  their Cane Corso

The colors were beautiful

PC Carrie - Jay was a year old in August.  He's still growing!

PC Carrie

Our last night around the fire after the kids went to bed (PC Carrie)

A wedding had just happened at the gazebo - so we made use of the decorations before helping them load them up to take away.

Thank you, Carrie, for these family photos in this favorite spot where we have made so many memories with family and friends.  While we lived in VA, lots of folks came to camp and boat with us - the Fords, Curtis's from Oshawa, Toby Imler and his kids from MN, Mom n Coleman. . .  And more recently, we rented the lodge where our family gathered with Mom and Coleman for weekends of feasting, hiking, and worshiping together.  May the Claytor Lake chapter of memories continue to grow until Jesus comes.  Can't wait for reunions in heaven when Coleman and Ken will join us again and we gather round the throne to see Jesus!

Back at Home a lot has happened

The ten days at home (Oct. 14-24) before our family camping event the end of October were packed.  Randy winterized the boat that we were only out on 4 times - 3 were with Ryan n family in July and once with Terrie.  We hopefully will improve on that dismal boating record next summer.

The beautiful Harrison Bay shot when driving away after winterizing

Time to empty out the guest room closet since Mom is moving in!  

Bagged up and ready to donate to the Samaritan Center

Still more

Going through closets and dressers and purging! 

And then there was the box of HATS and sunglasses!

The brown sofa was donated too to make room for Mom's.  We bought it in 1976 when we lived in NC. It didn't owe us anything. 

We emptied out Mom's room and stretched the carpet to get rid of ripples.

Our first attempt at selling anything on FB Marketplace went very well - our guest room queen size bed and frame went for $50 real fast.  Mom's bed will be so much more comfie for her.

And there it is - her furniture was delivered on Mon., Oct. 28, by Mayflower moving company.  Her sister's paintings are up on the walls and her dresser in place.

We want Mom to feel at home with her sofa and vibrator chair in our family room.