CCR Week 2

We are having such a good time out here at Crooked Creek Ranch!  The weather is PERFECT - about 70 - 75 degrees during the day at about 40 - 50 degrees at night.  Jackson is still doing great and he is loving all the attention he gets.  Here are some firsts for him:

- He had his first pair of stinky feet (pew!)

- He no longer uses a bath seat when he takes a bath.  He is loving playing in the tub!

- He tried and loves strawberries.  He doesn't like eggs though.  

- He saw his first horses.

- He is starting to get opinionated about food.  I think he's entering a "texture" phase where he doesn't like certain textures.  He is spitting out deli turkey, and even bananas sometimes.  He loves bread of all kinds, though.  

This is how I keep my active mover contained when I get ready.  :)  

Ryan is greeting one of the Capernaum (special needs) campers.  We are LOVING having them here!

This is the little tiny truck that Slim & Roudy use to make their entrance.

"Sam & Steve Simmons," Motivational Speakers Extraordinairs.  They lead the games at club.

This game is called "Dive For Pain."  3 guys jump off the trampoline and belly flop into the water.  It's so fun!

Kids loving club.

Ropes Course.  (Mom and Dad, this one is different than the one you guys did a few years ago)

Watching Daddy.  

Volleyball Tournament.

The little boys "helping" heir Daddy's.

A giant game of Angry Birds.

We let Jackson try Banana Pudding and he LOVED it.

Laynie and Rebecca being silly.

David's mustache for Western Night.

Carnival.

Some of the kids playing with dry ice.

The Rest of Week 1 @ CCR

We are having an amazing time here at Crooked Creek Ranch.  There is just something about the beauty of the Rocky Mtns that God uses to minister to my heart....I love these mountains! Ryan made it through his exhausting, non-stop week without getting sick and without losing his voice (small miracle).  

God has been so good in so many ways that it's hard to really sum up.  The most exciting thing is that 130 campers stood up last night and professed that they began a relationship with Jesus this week!!  It's breathtaking to see them stand up in front of their peers to say that.  Wow.  Living in community here has been such a blessing, too.  A lot of us on staff come to camp weary/lonely/tired after a year of being in the trenches with kids.  Living with one another here has rejuvenated us all as we are able to encourage one another, share common struggles, and talk deeply about life.  (It's also nice to have other moms watching out for your child!)  A few of my friends (old and new) have surprised me by saying they would watch Jackson for me or keep his monitor while he slept so I could get out and enjoy camp, and that is such a blessing to me!  

This is the GIANT swing here.  It's ridiculous.  

Jackson and I ready for Western Night.

Slim and Roudy Pickins 

(Thanks, mom, for helping with the patches. They look great!)

Jackson's new friend, Addie.  She is 10 months old and she loves to crawl after Jackson.  He crawls ahead, then turns to wait for her to catch up, then takes off again.  He's playing hard to get!

I love this one!

"Mommy, can we go outside yet?"

Somebody got into the poker chips.

Everyone here loves Jackson.  It's so sweet.

Making boy noises.

I think Jackson thinks that dirty thumbs taste better.

It's awesome to see YL leaders spending 1-on-1 time with their campers.

This was not staged.  He really fell asleep on the floor...ha!

Jackson holding court.

Playing with Daddy.

Crooked Creek Ranch

We celebrated Jackson's birthday on the actual day (the 15th) in Colorado with our assigned team.  Jackson loved getting to eat icing again...

His little fingers couldn't wait for the picture :)

We got a pinata for the other kids to enjoy.

Watching the kids hit the pinata.

The party started right at his bed time, so by the end he was SO TIRED.  Look at that poor little face!  Jackson is holding a piece of candy that his sweet new friend, Hall, shared with him.

This is the view from our porch at Crooked Creek Ranch.

Jackson is LOVING the Ergo he got for his birthday from Grammy & Granddad.  I put him on my back in it this morning and walked about 3 miles and he never complained.  Also - Mom and Dad - all the kids here LOVE that little toy you got Jackson for his birthday.  The one with the 4 balls that you hit thru the holes.  All the kids (including Jackson) play with it everyday!

Carson and David Long.

Ryan and Bryan as "Slim & Rowdy Pickins" at the Pool Olympics.

Our sweet friend Carmen Long with her 3 kiddos, Rebecca, Carson, and David.

More sweet friends, Matt & Lensey Richardson, with Laynie & Jack.

I bring Jackson to the pool and what does he prefer to do?  Play in the dirt!

He loves trying to figure out how to buckle this.

My great friend, Ryan Leeward, sent Jackson this sweet shirt for his birthday!