Family Camp

After a week of Vacation Bible School and NI Week (finally!), we set out on a two-day drive for Lebanon, MO, and the Cedars Camps, where Brad spent about 12 summers gro

wing up. While there, we attended the five-day family camp with his family--10 of us in all. 

We spent the week horseback riding, canoeing, tie-dying, swimming, fishing, making jewelry, and EATING. Plus, Brad and I got to try out the zip line, the high ropes course (45 feet in the air), and even going for evening strolls ALL BY OURSELVES. It was a real treat to share the childcare duties with our family and the camp staff.

Abby, Brad & Rooster

Abby's favorite parts were showing off her swimming skills for the family, making a necklace for her new counselor friend Ashley, and riding a horse named Rooster. Oh, and then there were the family silly string fight, stuffing her face on s'mores and marshmallows, and painting her nails with Ashley, Jenni, Anne, and Brett (??). Plus there was the time when she and I were walking back to our cabin after jewelry making and the skies opened up to a deluge. She ran as fast as she could in the pouring rain, in Crocs, on a dirt road. Then, when she couldn't run any more, I scooped her up on piggyback and sprinted the remaining quarter mile back to the cabin. I think the latter was her preferred method of transit. At least when the golf cart wasn't available. All in all, I think she enjoyed herself.

Jenni & Marshmallow-faced Abby

As for Will, despite still talking about his ride on "Apah" (Apollo whispered), I think by far and away his most favorite part of camp was the 300-foot water slide. Even when I couldn't hold him up above the last dump-out splash like Brad did, he was giddy for more water in the face. He wanted more, more, more, to the point of making his diapers less than pleasant. Ahem. Any of you who have seen Cocoa in the water know that we Buchanans are prone to doing something we enjoy until it makes us sick! 

Will on Apollo

When he wasn't sliding, Will also enjoyed playing tennis and ping pong (or pretty much anything where he can hit a ball with something), and learning how to bray like a donkey.

Racquet Anyone?

Travel Travail

The week at camp flew by. Before we knew it, it was Thursday night and we were preparing to leave Friday morning. I stayed up to watch the parent (camper) vs. counselor basketball game, which the parents won for the first time in years (so I hear). Then, I headed back to the cabin, went to bed, and faded off into dreamland. 

About that time, the cabin door opened up and Brad comes in, saying "Ah goh mah fwuh teef nah ow."

I sat up. "What are you talking about? I was almost asleep."

"Ah goh mah fwuh teef nah ow."

"What? This better not be a joke because it's not funny!" I was thinking he and Brett were playing some kind of mean joke on me.

Turns out, it wasn't a joke. He was missing something. See if you can tell what . . .

Ah goh mah fwuh teef nah ow! (picture taken 2 weeks later under much less stress)

Oh yes, he got his front teeth knocked out by someone's elbow when playing another round of basketball. Here it was, 11 p.m. in Lebanon, MO (Pop. 12,155), and Brad had one tooth (crown) completely gone, while the other clung to his gums for dear life. He was bleeding and dizzy. I was confused. His mother was frantic. And did I mention that I had taken an Ambien? Luckily the rest of his family was able to be awake and coherent enough to bring in the (Christian Science) nurse and get the bleeding stopped. I, on the other hand, couldn't keep my eyes open.

The next morning, I was on the phone with my insurance company trying to find a dentist in Springfield (50 miles away) who could see us immediately. Like our trip to the reunion, we were lucky it was Friday and that I had my insurance cards with me! We left camp at 7:45. (It was the one morning Will slept past 7 the whole trip, so that helped us pack up the car quickly!). 

We spent 2.5 hours at the dentist's office, where they took x-rays and pulled out the other crown. Brad said they didn't use nearly enough Novocaine. I could tell. He was shivering from shock and pain. Not an easy thing to watch. Again, I'm so grateful that we had family with us because it allowed me to be with him while they occupied the kids.

So in short (sort of), a two-day drive, three dentists, and two weeks later, he finally got screws in his jaw and temporary teeth, to be replaced with permanent ones after the holidays. So, all he wants for Christmas are his two front teeth. And at the price we're paying (even after the so-called insurance portion), that's all he's getting this Christmas and the next and the next . . .

After the summer we've had, I told my mom that I was never leaving town again.