Camping at Bellefonte KOA - pictures AND stories

Ok.  I'm going to try to remember all the things I had written on Tuesday before I lost it all.  Here's what I wrote about that on Tuesday:

"I just had something happen for the first time in years - all the stories I had added to this post were apparently not saved.  What???  I do not have time to do it again right now, because I'm going to be going down to Destiny's place later this afternoon.  We're going to Hershey Park tomorrow!  So later this week I'll add all my camping stories to these pictures.  As you'll see from the pictures we had FUN!!!"

The week before we left for camping I was busy getting things ready.  Cookies too.  I made Peanut Blossoms, this time with mini Reece's Peanut Butter cups on top instead of Hershey Kisses.  

On Friday I went to pick up Sammy and Bianca.  I met Sam about half way between our places.  He had other plans and didn't come along this year.  I was always glad for him to be with us, because he's so fun and energetic with the kids.  But they're older now and can do more things on their own, so it was ok.  

When we got back to my house we checked out the sunflowers.  They are spreading and blooming!  I just love them!

We were so intrigued by the water I had frozen in a glass container to put into our big jug.  Isn't it cool?

When everything was loaded into the van we headed over to the Bellefonte KOA, about 20 minutes from here.  As always, the first thing the kids wanted to do was the jumping pillow!  But about ten minutes later we heard thunder, and sure enough, a storm was coming!

So we hurried to the cabin.  Yes, cabin, not camper.  This summer Lori has been having fun reburbishing our pop-up camper.  She's a Pinterest girl!  But because her sister was visiting from Atlanta, and because rain each day that week was preventing her from being able to open up the windows for ventilation when she was applying the ceiling and floor tiles, she just couldn't get it finished in time.  So she told us to sleep in the cabin reserved for them, and they would sleep at home each night.  I told her we still have a tent we could use, but she insisted we use the cabin.  I did not argue.  The last time Dick and I and some grandchildren slept on air mattresses on the floor of our tent it was wall-to-wall mattresses with our heads toward the door.  Getting up without losing our balance was no easy task!  I was afraid we would need to put out an SOS, "Help!  I have fallen on my grandchildren and I can't get up!!"  

So all weekend we and Sammy and Bianca had ongoing jokes about the hardship of camping with air conditioning and TV and kitchen and bathrooms!  It was really, really nice!

Anthony and the kids came over for the evening while Lori spent one last evening with her sister.  We had the pizza and wings that the campground offers on Friday evenings.  We also had the craziest game of LIFE!  Austin and Bianca were a PAIR!  Sammy and I just tried to keep order, haha!  

Of course there had to be more jumping pillow that evening.  Hunter was not too sure about it at first until Anthony got on it with him.  Then he lost all fear!  

After they left for home Dick and I and the kids tried to get our stuff organized in the cabin.  We also set up our canopy over the table on the deck.  It was quite late when we all settled in.

In the morning Dick started a fire.  He made bacon while I made eggs and English muffins in the cabin.  We ate our breakfast around the fire and played some games.  The kids said that we each should name three friends for each letter of the alphabet.  How crazy that became!!  Names you've never heard of, let me tell you!!  

Here are some pictures I took as we walked by the office that morning.  So beautiful!!

The bubble machine was much anticipated!  Half an hour of bubbles, using a gallon of Palmolive dish detergent!

Austin's main interest when they arrived was panning for gems.  In the office they sell bags of sand with shells, stones, and gems.

Then there was slime-making in the pavilion.  I have never made slime before.  It was so fun!  Each child picked the color they wanted and what kind of glittery stuff they wanted in it.  Then they had to knead and stretch it till it became manageable.  The staff kept coming around adding more of something to it, but I'm not sure what.  Glue?  The finished product was really beautiful!

Bianca's slime bracelet!

We spent hours and hours in the pool.  So much fun and so refreshing on such a hot day!

The four stooges!

This door to one of the rest rooms in the pavilion (adjacent to the pool) caused quite a story.  At some point Sammy had told me that he went to the bathroom and was afraid he couldn't get out because the door stuck so hard.  I had that in mind when I went to use it while we were at the pool.  But I really had to go and didn't feel like walking back to the cabin.  

WELL!!  It stuck alright!  When I was finished I pushed on the door and it did not even budge.  So I banged on it pretty hard a few times, but still it did not budge. I considered calling Dick (I did have my phone with me), but first I decided to try again, this time heaving all my weight against it. It went flying open and I flew right along with it, losing my balance and banging my cheek bone against the door.  Thankfully I didn't fall, but there was a boy, probably about 12 years old, standing there with such a look on his face!  He said, "Are you alright??  I was going to ask if you need me to go get someone!"  We both got a good laugh out of it.  I'll never forget his surprised look when I came flying out.  I'm glad I didn't knock him over!

Eventually we got hungry.  Dick started the fire again. He and Lori made hamburgers and hot dogs.  I set up a side table of condiments, lettuce, tomatoes, chips, grapes, cookies, and drinks.  The kids ate at the table on the deck while we adults ate around the fire pit. 

Later we headed down to the pavilion for another one of our favorite things - ice cream!  Berkey Creamery ice cream and toppings!  We just love the pavilion.  It's so airy and comfortable and we have established a few years of memories here.  We adults were reminiscing our weekends here since 2017.

We also had to check the heights of these growing boys!  Austin (12) is officially taller than me now - I'm 5 feet.  Sammy (soon 10) is not far behind!

On Sunday morning the camp offers breakfast.  It used to be served in the pavilion, which we prefer, but this year it was delivered instead.  We had ordered a combination of pancakes, sausage, bacon, and eggs.  All very good too.  

I got this beautiful picture of Sammy and Bianca outside the pool fence that morning. 

The kids had to have one last chance on the jumping pillow!

We had to check out by 12 noon, so for our last meal we went over to Anthony and Lori's place and set up on the new deck on the lower level of the barn. We had Mexican Pile-up.  There was a pleasant breeze and was really, really nice.  Except when the smoke from Anthony's brush fire came our direction, ha!

Dick and I took Sammy and Bianca part way home.  Jenn met us to pick them up.  They had their first day of school the next day!!  Jenn told me to look for the first day of school pics, and I was not disappointed!  Second grade and fourth grade!

Then Tuesday was Austin's first day of middle school - 7th grade!!  I just can't believe it!

And Wednesday was Hunter's first day of kindergarten!  Anthony said that he told him, "You look super cute for your first day of kindergarten." Hunter said, "Yes, I already knew that."  Hahaha!

One more pic.  After I was home I found some artwork from the weekend.  Bianca had continued coloring the page she had started a few weeks prior.  Austin had asked for paper to draw on one evening when we were on the deck, which I gave him, but I was too busy to notice what he drew until I found this dinosaur!  

So now I have this post finished, but there's another one to work on right away,  I had a few fun days with Destiny this week!