Castaway "The Grande Finale"

OK...so we have been home from Castaway now for a little over two weeks. Things are finally starting to seem normal again. We had SUCH and AMAZING month!!! It was absolutely incredible. We loved the people that we got to live with and really enjoyed so many things about communal living. It was especially wonderful for Isaac who always had friends to play with. It was such a happy month for the little man. It was also wonderful to be in a place where God's presence was so easily felt. We are so thankful for the month and look forward to doing it again. Below are the rest of our pics.

Isaac is hanging out in the store with some of his many girlfriends. He is showing them one of his favorite juggling tricks...it actually doesn't involve throwing the balls...but just holding them.
The whole assignment team.

Me and Isaac hanging out at the beach. I think it was both of our favorite spots.

Daddy was finally able to join us on our last day. He doesn't love the beach and he was very busy, but it was VERY fun to have him there.
Isaac is enjoying his yellow floaty. He would float around forever endlessly entertained.

Isaac sporting his Young Life T at the beach.
"Hello friends...why don't you come and join me in the water...on a hot day it is so refreshing!"

This is mostly just for me. It is a reminder of the walk that I took each day. It was a wonderful time of peace and reflection. I miss those country roads and all the open spaces.

Dan decided to have a photo shoot with Isaac. I just LOVE the hair.
These are all our friends that were working with us. (two college students Ciara and Lindsay, and four hs students Phillip, Chesleigh, Michael, and Jon).

Isaac's first soccer lesson.

"Well...if you want to know what I honestly thought about Castaway...well....hmmmm.....let me think....I didn't love the food...got a little bit sick of sleeping in my pack-n-play....lots of noise....but other than that it was WONDERFUL!!! I hope that I get to come back here again!!"

Castaway cont.

OK...well I have kind of gotten tired of all the picture taking and posting. These pictures no longer really correspond to certain days at camp. Days 5, 6, and 7 kind of all blurr together as camp fun. So from here on out I will just post some of our fun camp pics.

This is the house that we live in at Castaway. All of the assignment teams live in these houses. It is a wonderful place to spend a month!!
Ond of the little girls that lives in our house (jenna) had a birthday a couple days ago. We suprised her with a little party...but a lot of fun! :)
Isaac and his daddy enjoying some of the party fun! ( I know that his hair is getting totally out of control. There are a couple reasons: 1. I don't have any hair cutting scissors here. 2. I know that when I do try to cut it, it is going to be a nightmare meaning that Isaac will hate it and try to push the scissors out of my hands. 3. I don't trust anyone else to cut it (I know... sometimes I am weird and controlling about weird things.) 4. I think that it is so cute. I always twirl his little curls around my finger and I love kissing his hair and just nusseling my nose into it.)

Chair on our deck overlooking the lake. I LOVE the lake. From our bedroom windown we can hear boats all the time. The other night I looked out and the moon was shining on the water in the most beautiful way. Also, there are Loons that live on this like right by us. If you have ever heard a Loon (sp?) they are such beautiful sounding birds...a big haunting at times...but beautiful none the less.
Our deck at sunset. Seriously people, this is the way it looks EVERY NIGHT!! Last night Dan and I got to sit out here for an hour or so after we put Isaac to bed and just enjoyed the beauty of creation.

Castaway (day 4)

This little swing is attached to our house and Isaac has really been enjoying it. It's nice because as I stand to push him I have a great view of the lake and of the cutest little boy in the world!!

Isaac dressed up in his pirate gear for the pirate night at Castaway.
Some pirates captured Isaac and quickly realized that he was more valuable that their treasure so the emptied out the coins and put Isaac in the box.

JJ and Kelly in the oprea (Rupert and Ruby Broarby). The opera was SOOOOOO good and funny. They all did a GREAT job!!
Dan, Dan, JJ, and Kelly entertaining the crowd in the opera.

Isaac and mommy hanging out in front of a pirate ship that pulled into Castaway (tableau).
Isaac hanging out with some pirate that came in on the ship.

Dan and Dan are leading a dance for all the campers after the opera finished.
Isaac hanging out with some of his new friends; three of the interns here at Castaway!
Dan and Isaac hanging out in thier natural state (no shirts).

Castaway (day 3 cont.)

I forgot to add a few images from day 3. Day three ends with a carnival for all the kids. Here's a couple pics.

Castaway (day 3)

Day three at Castaway was a good one. Again, we had amazing weather. Hope you enjoy some of the pics below. :)

Before breakfast I was sitting outside the dining hall with Isaac and it literally felt like I was in heaven. I can't get over how much beauty there is all around us here. This picture really doesn't do justice to the sceene that was before my eyes!

And, neither does this one. :) One of Isaac's favorite things to do around here is play with rocks. It literally entertains him for hours. He picks them up and throws them and tries to eat them.

Dan is riding into breakfast in the dining hall on his razor scooter. Didn't you know that's how presidential candidates get around these days??

Dan and Dan Nicholas (dressed up as a chipotle burrito) on stage in the dining hall.

Isaac is wearing Dan's wig, and isn't too happy about it, but I still thought it was funny and cute.

Dan and Isaac chilling on our bed during some free time. I have had a cold and Isaac just went out to get me some halls. Wasn't that nice of him??

Another wonderful performance of cops at club.Another beautiful sunset at Castaway. This is one of the docks that is used during the day for all the kids to go tubing and waterskiing. So serene!!
Some beautiful flowers around castaway. They take a lot of pride in their landscaping around here and it is AMAZING!!

Castaway (day2)

So, here is the update for day 2 at Castaway. On a side note, the first week that we were here the weather was horrific!! Literally it rained every day and we were lucky to hit 50 degrees. I was starting to mourn the loss of summer. Well, since then we have been really blessed. It has been about 80 and sunny with a nice cool breeze EVERY DAY!! It kind of feels like we are in heaven. Another interesting thing for me has been how light it stays so late. Us being so far north and at the western edge of the time zone keeps it light until 10pm, sometimes even a bit later. Kind of crazy!
On the morning of day 2 there is a volleyball tournement between all the cabins. Dan and Dan lead that on the beach.

All the kids heading down to the beach for volleyball.

One skit that Dan does during club involves him dressed up as a "lucky leprechaun" and he comes out by himself to irish techo music and is totally hilarious and then shows a funny You Tube video. This is him getting ready back stage.

Me and me lucky leprechaun.

The Leprechaun on stage doing his leprechaun dance.

After club and cabin time on day 2 there is something called Castaway Nigh Live (like Saturday night live). Dan and Dan opened up the night with a really funny skit that they are doing right here. Then all the leaders do different skits on stage. (One side note - Dan Nicholas got totally spewed on by a leader who had just done a skit where he had to eat 3 twinkies and chug three bottles of red gatorade. DISGUSTING!)

Close up of the skit in action. :)

Right after club Dan and I walked outside to find such a pretty sunset. No one was around so we just took pictures of eachother.

Enjoying the sunset!

Castaway (day 1)

So, it has been awhile since I have posted anything. We have been hanging out here at Young Life's Castaway Club in northern MN. I have decided that this week (our third week here) that I am going to try to capture a little of what each day at camp looks like and post pictures. There will be a lot of pics...so feel free to browse.

Right before the campers are about to arrive for the week, we are hanging out waiting to welcome them.
Isaac is trying to give directions to everyone from his stroller. This is the stage that they all stand on to welcome all the kids as they get off of the busses.

Dan enjoying a free moment to give his little buddy a kiss. (I must also mention that Isaac is wearing Dan's favorite outfit of his.)

Dan, Isaac, and I waiting for dinner to start on night 1.

Inside the dining hall Isaac is hanging out with one of his favorite friends that we live with. Caleb is 5 years old and a very fun little guy.

Dan in character as Johnny Bartocki who is running for president in 2012 with his partner "Melv". "Johnny & Melv in 2012". This is right before they are about to enter the dining hall to entertain all the kids.

These are all the little ones that live in our house. There are also two older kids that are not in this picture. We were all hanging out right outside the dining hall after dinner.

These are the three babies that live in our house. Ella is 15 months, then Isaac, and then Beatrice is also 15 months.

At club Dan and Dan come in as Officer Todd O'Conner and Officer James Presbaluski. Pretty funny stuff.

A more close up shot of Dan.