Catons Island Family Camp 2014

I dug through old photos and put together some from our very first family camp as a family of 7. All of us were able to attend in 2010. Kaylin was working at Catons and the rest of us joined her for a great new tradition. 

2014 was a little different. Josh and Emily couldn't join us but Snickers came for the very first time. She was so thrilled to be having this little adventure and she did so well. 

We had to keep Snickers with us at all times which meant we ate on the outside deck. But it was fun and she didn't bark once. 

Gaëlle with a family from our church. 

Everywhere she goes, Gaëlle manages to make friends. 

Kaylin and I couldn't make it until Saturday at noon. So we missed the first group game. Unfortunately the Churchill team didn't make it into the top 3 for the Highland Games. However, once Kaylin and I showed up, things changed. 

Our team came in 2nd for The Amazing Race. We were paired up with the Stephenson Family and a young family from Moncton. Let's just say one of the Stephenson girls is dating a strong man with amazing puzzle skills. 

Just hanging around. 

Dogs really are magnets for all kinds of attention. The young kids at camp ALL wanted to pet the puppy. Even if the puppy is almost 9 years old. She handled it really well and soaked up all the attention.

Gaëlle did the rock wall during the Amazing Race and did a great job. 

Peter tore through the Big Net. 

The Benjamin Family from our church were paired up with the Bandy Family. There was a bit of trash talking going on. All in good fun. 

The weather was amazing the entire weekend so the kids spent a lot of time on the water toys. 

Gaëlle is really into hand clapping rhythms. I'm not as much of a fan, but if there was a club to learn new rhythms, she would be in heaven. 

In the past, if the Churchill Family didn't get enough Monopoly money from doing well in the games, we had a son, Josh, who would scam money from the staff. For the first time in 5 years, we had to stop bidding for pies because we didn't have enough money. It didn't stop Robin. He still bid up the price of pies and then sat down. 

We all had enough to eat tho. More than enough. 

Can you see the line of pies down our table? It really is a lot of fun. Even for those of us who aren't pie eaters or pie makers. 

Saying goodbye to new friends. 

It seems as though we always leave Family Camp on a beautiful Monday afternoon. So this year, I decided if it was nice, I would stick around Beulah for the afternoon. Robin had to go to St John for work on Monday night.

So after a sunny afternoon on the St John River at Beulah, we got cleaned up and headed into St John to drop Robin off. First we had supper at the Reversing Falls Restaurant. 

Robin checked into his hotel while the kids spent some time in The Freak Lunchbox, which is a store that only sells candy. Pure Bliss.

Gaëlle and I found some photo opportunities downtown. 

John Hooper is an English born artist who moved to New Brunswick and started creating art full time after a career as a teacher. I can remember these statues used to be in front of the Canada Post Building. Apparently the city of St John took over their upkeep and moved them downtown. I love this type of folk art and so does Gaëlle. 

We headed home Tuesday morning and stopped in the Sussex McDonalds for our breakfast. Quite a treat. And a great way to end Family Camp 2014.