Family Retreat 2009

Last weekend we went to beautiful Camp Lakeview for a family retreat with the church. The weather was a little chilly, so we didn't make it down to Lutheran Lake, but we had plenty of fun at the archery range, doing crafts, having a campfire, playing games, and just hanging out with friends

3 beautiful campers

Beautiful Lutheran Lake in the background.

Livi must have thought is was a bit chilly at the campfire.

Emma and her friend, Ava, enjoying lunch.

I think Liv is ready for greatgrandpa's compound bow.

The Hamilton Girls

Here's a picture of me and my girls on my birthday. I feel kind of funny posting it, but if don't, it would never get posted. It's always about the kids and the dads. The moms always get left out! The one day they get to be "in" the picture instead of "taking" the picture I guess is on their birthday!

COSI

The girls had parent teacher conferences on Friday, so after we met with Olivia's teacher at 8:00, the girls and I headed to COSI in Columbus with some friends for some "science and industry" learning. It was a great day, and the girls had so much fun! Olivia was the only one brave enough to ride the high wire unicyle. She was so proud of herself, but when she got off, she burst into tears--glad it was over, I guess. She had been planning for a whole year that she was going to ride it (last year she wasn't tall enough), and she was going to do it this year no matter what! The "Space" room was a real hit. The walked through the black hole about 10 times throughout the day. They had a really cool frog exhibit with frogs from all over the world. The day was great, the kids were having so much fun and they were great (I'm leading up to something). One of the last things we went to was the Gadgets Room and the "Explosion" show. We sat right in the front row and the kids were really into them blowing things up. They were shouting out answers, laughing, etc., even Emma yelled out an answer. Right before the last experiment of the internal combustion engine, Emma looked at me and said, "My throat hurts and I need a drink." I told her the show was almost over and then we would get a drink out of the stoller. She said, "O.K." and went on watching the show, clapping, yelling, etc. About 5 minutes later the show was over and we all stood up to leave. When she stood up, she began to cough and threw up all over the floor in the front of the theather! One second she was perfectly fine, and the next minute, she was throwing up and had a fever! The long and short of it was, that after a trip to urgent care last night, she has strep with scarlet fever! Poor thing!!! If she wasn't feeling well on Friday before she got sick, you would have never known it! With or without Emma getting sick, it was another memorable trip to COSI!

Grace in the "Ocean" Room waiting for the water to pop out of the floor.

Grace and Emma in Apollo 13

Olivia and Carson in the Submarine.

Olivia on the unicyle. It's right out over the atrium when you enter COSI-she is one brave soul, because I could never do it!!!!

Looking a little tense, but still peddling away!

Emma making music.

Olivia Turns the Big 7!!

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures from Olivia's birthday, which was last week! The weekend before her birthday, Grammy came down for a visit and we had her special birthday dinner of fondue and hashbrown potatos. On her real birthday, it was a crazy day (pottery class after school and swimming lessons in the evening), so she wanted KFC for dinner, with l,000 biscuits (her exact words). She had a great weekend and a great day! Happy 7th Birthday, Olivia! You have brought your dad and I so much joy over the last 7 years and we can't just can't tell you enough how much you are loved. You are a strong, beautiful, smart little girl, and we are so proud of you!

Posing with her new bike and her Hannah Montanna helmut.

Hmm, what should I wish for?

Livi and her sisters

Cool! I got a new game for my DS!