Camping at Zion's Camp

Friday night and Saturday, we took our family to the camp, owned by our church. It is called "Zion's Camp" after some very significant historical events and places in our church's history. The typical use for the camp is for Boy Scouts and Youth of the church. It can also be utilized by the different wards for family camp outs and such. We invited and were joined by our friend, Thom and his two eldest daughters, Olivia and Chloe, who are almost exactly Bethany and Malia's ages. Thom's wife is in her first trimester with their 5th child and opted to stay home with the two younger boys. There were several instances during the trip where I felt as if I had taken a Girls Scout troop camping.

The girls had a grand ole time going on expeditions around the campsite. They called themselves the "Adventure Kids" and even dubbed Jessi "the Junior Junior Explorer." Amongst the things they found on these expeditions or adventures were some grasshoppers, a couple toads and a hand full of caterpillars.

We had a wonderful time with wonderful weather, only raining a little at night, I guess as Heavenly Father's way to make sure we doused our fire correctly. After a hardy pancake breakfast and an exploratory hike around the camp, we topped off our trip with playtime at the lake.

We took the girls out on the lake in canoes, Thom, Bethany, Olivia and Chloe in one and Jessica, Kaitlyn, Malia and I in the other. Arnie darted in and around us in a little kayak. I tell you what, those guys at the olympics make rowing look too easy. I definitely regreted letting Bethany go in the other boat with her friends. I missed my co-oarswoman.

After a tour around half the lake, we headed back for some beach fun. While the girls played in the water and sand, Arnie decided to take up winding surfing. Some sail-boards had been donated to the camp and Arnie took it upon himself to test, not only the boards out but himself. He kept at it for a good hour and by the end, he could not only get up on the board and get the sail up but he had actually went out into the lake and back on wind power! If it was me, I probably wouldn't have gotten as far as getting onto the stupid thing and if I had, I would have been carried out into the lake needing to be towed back in again because I probably wouldn't be able to get back or fall off in the middle and couldn't get back on. We all enjoyed seeing Arnie accomplish this great feat of daring do. However, I am not encouraging yet another expensive hobby!

All in all, fun was had by everyone, even me. I have decided that Jessi is just the right age to enjoy camping. And all that activity wore out the girls so much that all four of them fell asleep on the car ride home.

Our campsite (complete with chairs, lot of chairs)

Jessi in an empty tent

The "Adventure Kids" hunting caterpillars

Jessi jerking me around by my ponytail

What is that lying on the dock? Oh, it's a Malia cocoon!

Daddy and JR enjoying a kayak ride in the lake

Daddy discovering yet another expensive sport

Gotta love sand and water pies!

Jessi doing some amphibious sand fun.

Life jackets are also great for imitating otters at play!

First Day of Elementary

The four little Hammari women

Thursday was the first day of school for my older girls. All the girls got new outfits for the occasion from a store call the Children's Place. They specialize in coordinating outfits and accessories. The girls decided to be twins and of course, their younger two sisters got to be twins as well. Bethany is now in the 3rd grade and Malia is in the 2nd grade. Bethany was so excited that we had trouble convincing her not to wake up at 2am like she had set her alarm clock for. Malia was...well....Malia. She is very hesitant with new things and changes to routine. You can tell from the pictures that she isn't as bubbly as her sister. Perhaps she would have rather hung out with our neighbors' dog Charlie. (note: see Malia's blog)

Two pretty girls in blue

My three oldest with our new neighbors. Olivia (standing next to Malia) is going to 1st grade

Jessica didn't really keep the hat on

A day at the lake

Yesterday, I took the girls to the end of summer Mom's playgroup activity at the lake. This lake is at the church-owned camp up in Raymond. Compared to the last lake I let the girls swim in, this was very clean and nice. The only unfortunate part about the location was the stiff wind that came rushing at us. It turned out that the water was warmer than the air though and one by one the girls got in. Bethany, being the boldest, was the first to rush in. Malia wasn't too sure that it was swimming weather and hung out on the dock a little while until she was convinced that she'd be warmer in the water. Jessi was raring to go as soon as I got her over-clothes off and Kaitlyn had a little problem when we couldn't find her swim suit in the bag. Her solution of just going naked would have been just fine in her birth place but not in conservative New Hampshire. I convinced her to put on a swim diaper even though she doesn't wear diapers anymore. I wasn't planning to go in all the way, just wade up to my knees where Jessica was, just to keep her upright.

I had my swimsuit in my bag in case I changed my mind but the weather at the time hadn't done anything to increase my desire to get wet. This all changed when Jessi decided that wading in the shallows wasn't enough excitement for her. Before I realized what she was doing, she was up on the dock and walking right off into deeper water. I fished her out of the waist deep water with me all wet and she unfazed as she bolted for the dock again. After preventing a replay, I decided that my little fearless one got to wear life jacket for the remainder of the activity.

The life jacket came in handy when we went out in a canoe a little while later. Bethany and I rowed while Kaitlyn and Jessi sat in the bottom of the boat between my legs. We didn't go very far out. I had enough trouble getting Bethany to paddle with me and not against me. The last thing I needed was to be in the middle of the lake with an inexperienced rower behind me. Jessica found it fascinating to hear me chanting, "In, Back, In, Back," and even tried to join in a couple times. I am just glad she didn't try to jump ship.

Later, Bethany decided to try to solo on a little kayak. She stayed within the boundaries of the dock, just in case I had to go rescue her. She didn't need it though. She did great. After a little nervous parts at the beginning, she got the hang of paddling and was turning circles in the swimming area.

We ended the activity with popsicles and ice cream (the perfect thing on a breezy, somewhat chilly day). I am a little sore in my shoulders but have recovered pretty well from all the excitement.

Kaitlyn, Jessi, Bethany and I in a canoe about to depart into open water.

Malia attempting to warm herself on the dock.

Bethany in her first experience in a kayak.

Jessica, a pink shirt and a blue popsicle. 'nough said.

Kaitlyn and her friend Betsy playing with their shadows in the sand.

Water Park

We have finally had a couple of nice, sunny days lately and we went to the park with the water pad. It works great for the kids. They keep cool while they play. I, on the other had, have to bring my own shade. I have started dragging along my large golf umbrella to keep from being scorched. I got some good pictures today of them playing. Enjoy.

Bethany hanging out to dry

Malia and her new friend (we don't know her name, which is typical)

The only picture I got of Kaitlyn. I almost didn't get this one.

Bethany likes posing with Jessi. I'm not sure how Jessi feels, however.

Jessi had great fun with this plastic container and the sprinklers.

The yellow thing is a bucket thing that will fill with water and dump. The blue pin wheel looking thing behind it sprays water from each of it's compartments.

Jessi, wondering where the water went.

Ah. There it is.

It works great as a hat too!

FRG BBQ

A bunch of guys in Arnie's company lining up for food just past the Go Army canopy.

On Friday, Arnie's company had a BBQ at a park on a lake called Opechee (Oh-pi-chee). FRG is the acronym for Family Readiness Group. I am the FRG leader by default. It is difficult to get the families here together as we are spread out throughout all of New Hampshire. This turned out to be a good gathering. The girls had fun swimming in the lake but I tell you what, lakes are not for me. Not very clean water. Thankfully the girls are not sick from the experience but maybe I am a tough judge, growing up in the beautiful waters of Hawaii. Oh well.

I felt a little bit like the little red hen planning this event except no one said "not I" because no one said anything. I am used to planning big events thanks to my job at church as one of the activity committee chair people. I am hoping that now that this first get together that more people might step in and help next time.

Kaitlyn and Jessi guarding the buns

The older girls learning how to do face painting

Bethany figured out that face paint worked on her leg too!

Jessi always gets Daddy's attention when he has food

Jessi and Kaitlyn taking a break from swimming in the lake to play on the fire engine.

Pebbles and BamBam

Well, maybe not Pebbles, but definitely BAM BAM! Yesterday, Jessica and Kaitlyn discovered how fun banging on pot and pans was. Today, the other girls got into the act. No one seems to care that Mommy has a head cold and banging isn't very appreciated. Nope. Having too much fun and they wouldn't hear me anyway.

Bethany, Kaitlyn and Malia playing pot drums and lid cymbals.

Kaitlyn and Malia doing an ear-splitting drum duet

Kaitlyn's solo, which isn't "so low"

Can we say enough?

New haircut

I cut Malia's hair last night to help with the dilemma with her chewing on her hair and not liking her hair brushed. She looks absolutely adorable! Bethany and Malia decided to dress alike today because their hairstyles were so similar.

Blueberry pickin'

This morning we went blueberry picking at a church member's house. They have an extensive blueberry patch (seen in picture behind the golf cart). Not only do they have a blueberry patch, they also have a huge open field that they let the grandkids learn to drive the golf cart on. Bro. Glod was kind enough and patient enough to teach Bethany to drive also. She will have more details on her blog, I'm sure. We ended up getting around 3 gallons of blueberries, even with the golf cart distraction. Now, all we have to do is figure out what to do with all these blueberries!

Bethany learning to drive...a golf cart

New Car, Dead Battery

A month ago, we decided to trade two cars for one and save some money. We got a Toyota Sienna AWD Limited Edition. It has "all the bells and whistles" as they say. Well, today, I discovered a disadvantage to that. The girls think that car is so cool with the automatic doors that open and close with the touch of a button, that they get in and play sometimes. I went in the garage to get in the car, I found the driver's door and one sliding door wide open and the electricity dead. Traditionally, one locks the car to keep it from being stollen. We'll be locking it to keep it from being a club house and having the battery drained again.

Our new van charging in the driveway.

Bethany's Blog

Bethany has decided to start her own blog. She will take her own pictures and write her own journal entries. I am hoping that this may save my paper supply by giving her a different medium in which to express herself.
Her blog address is http://happybethany.blogspot.com
I will, however, restrict access to only those we invite to keep her safe. Be looking for your invite and please let me know if you haven't gotten yours yet.

Lizz B-day

note: posted by Bethany (Elizabeth is a good friend and babysitter)

This is Lizz's 19th b-day. Doesn't she look proud?
Mommy is carrying a delicious cake.
Enjoy That cake!
I am the photo girl.

Room Swap

Last night, Malia came up to her dad and I with extensive drawings of her room with the beds unbunked. She even added the night light for detail. We could see she had thought seriously about this and since it wasn't the first time the idea has been brought up, we decided that it was time to unbunk the bunkbed. Shortly into the project however, we came to the conclusion that, although the princess room was bigger, the layout of it didn't allow for two beds. So the proposal of a room swap was made and unanimously agreed upon. The girls are happy so far. We as parents are not as much as they are still awake with the excitement of the change. We'll keep ya posted.

Yellow room (view from window)

View from door (girls not ready)

View from door (girls ready now)

Kaitlyn and Princess Lamp (view from one of three windows)

Daddy and Kaitlyn rockin' out in wide open spaces (view from doorway)

Rocking chairs and books (view from closet)