The weekend before Halloween we attended the second annual family retreat for our church. It was in Glen Rose at a retreat center. We had a great time again. It's nice to get away for a couple of days and just be outside with the kids. We stayed in cabins that kind of looked like a low budget motel room. :-) But we really only slept in them so it was ok. I have tons of pictures so I'll let them tell you about our weekend!
The retreat started at 9am but Ethan had his last baseball game that morning so we were late. We got to Glen Rose around 2p and played soccer for a little while then headed to the zip line!
This little pond is on the way to the zip line.
Caleb did a little fishing while Ethan was waiting for the zip line. 
He wanted to do the zipline with me but then he saw one of the teens and ditched me. :-( He didn't do the zipline last year so I was shocked when he said he wanted to do it. I thought he'd get to the top and then change his mind but he hopped right off as soon as they told him to!
Waiting with his buddy Will to do the zipline.
Just hanging out.
All done! No sweat.
Here's me hanging on for dear life. I zipped with Summer's husband. Mondo was conveniently taking care of Caleb. Mmm-hmmm....
Caleb trying to stop us from crossing the street. This is his new thing. Poor guy thinks he's actually big enough that we can't pass.
The kids had fun riding in the back of the car from the zipline to our room.
Have you noticed that Caleb has had this "cape" on in every picture? He put it on before we left the house for Ethan's baseball game that morning and didn't take it off...at all...until bed. He is my little superhero. He said he was Robin.
The kids played in this sand for hours. It was a volleyball court but they didn't play volleyball.
The adults played a little basketball during some free time.
I think someone needs a sandbox for Christmas. He kept burying his guys in the sand. I had to do some deep digging to find Spiderman. I thought he was a goner but luckily I found him.
His cape looked a little like a dress when he put his jacket on.
Mmmm...you have to have yummy smores around a campfire at night!
At the end of the night after a campfire devo, we all gathered to play games. My boys seemed so big. I remember last year we went to bed early while the others played games because the kids were tired and cranky.
Not this year! They stayed up till 11p!
Caleb played with the younger kids and watched a movie.
When he got tired of Beauty and the Beast he opted for Mondo's phone so he could watch his beloved Smurfs.
The next day we got up and had breakfast, church, then a group picture. Here is Caleb attacking one of the adults. Luckily he has two grown boys so he knows all about handling rough boys.
The kids went back to play on the "pirate ship" aka Noah's Ark.
Most people left after the picture but a group of us hung around and went on a hike. This picture doesn't do it justice. It was a steep hike down. Especially with a bunch of kids!
But it was worth the adventure because we ended up here! The kids (and adults) practiced skipping rocks for an hour.
Caleb played with the younger kids and watched a movie.
When he got tired of Beauty and the Beast he opted for Mondo's phone so he could watch his beloved Smurfs.
The next day we got up and had breakfast, church, then a group picture. Here is Caleb attacking one of the adults. Luckily he has two grown boys so he knows all about handling rough boys.
The kids went back to play on the "pirate ship" aka Noah's Ark.
Most people left after the picture but a group of us hung around and went on a hike. This picture doesn't do it justice. It was a steep hike down. Especially with a bunch of kids!
But it was worth the adventure because we ended up here! The kids (and adults) practiced skipping rocks for an hour. Will and Ethan skipping rocks. They were so excited when the finally figured out how to do it.
Mondo showed Ethan how to do it. Ethan was so intent watching him. So cute!
Someone stole Mommy's glasses.
Mondo, Mark, Scott, and Eric. Apparently it was Smurf day.
Mondo showed Ethan how to do it. Ethan was so intent watching him. So cute!
Someone stole Mommy's glasses. Mondo, Mark, Scott, and Eric. Apparently it was Smurf day. Maggie and Caleb. Future couple? They are if you ask Ethan. He wants Caleb to marry Maggie so him and Will can be "real brothers". Why is my 6 year old obsessed with marriage? Mondo and I must be providing such a good example. ;-)
On our way home. It was only an hour and a half drive but someone was so tired and refused to go to sleep.
Someone else passed right out.
We stopped for lunch about halfway home. Caleb acutally slept on me for almost the entire meal. He was super tired because he never does that!
At church on that final morning, each family was given a tree to plant where ever we wanted. The theme of the retreat was "branching out". We named our tree Charlie, like Charlie Brown. It is a sad, scrappy little tree that I hope one day will grow big and tall!
How cool will it be when these two are all grown up and can sit under the shade of little old Charlie. Let's pray he survives the winter!
On our way home. It was only an hour and a half drive but someone was so tired and refused to go to sleep.
Someone else passed right out.
We stopped for lunch about halfway home. Caleb acutally slept on me for almost the entire meal. He was super tired because he never does that!
At church on that final morning, each family was given a tree to plant where ever we wanted. The theme of the retreat was "branching out". We named our tree Charlie, like Charlie Brown. It is a sad, scrappy little tree that I hope one day will grow big and tall!
How cool will it be when these two are all grown up and can sit under the shade of little old Charlie. Let's pray he survives the winter!Here's a video of Ethan going down the zipline!
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