Stauffer Camping 2014 - Part One

Last week was filled with a lot of work at my jobs and much preparation for the next big family event.  On Wednesday evening, while I was at praise team practice at Houserville, Dick was at home frying a LOT of breakfast sausages for our Saturday camping breakfast.  We've found it to be easier to do the sausages ahead of time and freeze them.  Then at camp we just throw all of them into a big cast iron pot that heats over the fire while Dick makes pancakes on two cast iron griddles.  Here's a pic of the sausages at home, but I did not get a picture of the pancake making this year.

Because Miki, Ingo, and Bjorn were in Lancaster County with my car, it took some careful planning to get packed up.  On Thursday evening Dick packed the tent, carpets, tarps, chairs, cast iron kettles, etc into the truck.  We were both so tired that evening, I was feeling like camping isn't worth all the hard work.  

On Friday morning I took him to work, ran some errands, then came home to make granola, blueberry sauce, and melon mix for our Saturday breakfast.  THEN I, by myself, packed everything else into the truck.  Just as the sun was beating down directly on it.  Bedding and towels for five people, cooking equipment,  food, guitar, coffee maker …..  I felt like superwoman, hahahaha!!  Because I knew I could not carry a loaded cooler chest by myself, I put the chest in the truck, then carried all the food out bit by bit to fill it!  I had already showered before I ever left the house in the morning, but I felt like I needed another one after all that.  But, alas, it was time to leave and pick Dick up at work.

We got a drive-up meal at McDonalds and headed for Camp Hebron near Harrisburg.   There were many Stauffers there already when we arrived, and the good times began.  There were a total of 38 this year, with about that many missing!   Here's our official group shot.

And the official silly shot.

Sitting around the campfire, just talking and laughing, even throwing a football back and forth, were some of the best times.

Austin liked standing in the smoke.

The fire at night.

Many fun hours were spent at the pool on Saturday.

Dick still likes to do his famous can opener off the diving board.  

Laura's seven-month-old Connor looked so cute in this floating device next to his grandpa Fred.

Austin had fun with a nerf water gun.

He also jumped off the diving board for the first time ever!

Sand volleyball was a good diversion for the energetic ones.

Ingo had fun in the water, then was sitting bare-chested in the sun without sunscreen.  He said he wants to go back to Sweden with a tan.  I said he'll go back to Sweden with a BURN.  Later I saw him like this, and he said he listened to mama!  He's so much fun!

Horseshoes was another favorite activity for the guys.  Later on Saturday Ray arrived and joined in the fun.

Gotta run now.  More pics on part two.