Showers: 3 minutes for $0.50

Thursday morning I left with two other adults to take 7 kids on a camping trip at Golden Gate Canyon just outside of Denver. We took four boys and three girls. We got up there and took what was supposed to be a "quick" 3 mile loop hike. I think it took us 3 hours! It was the longests 3 miles I've ever traveled...complete with whinny kids who wanted to turn back! We got to the 1.5 mile marker and this conversation took place.

Me: 1.5 miles! Do you think it's counting up or down!?!?

Connie: Does it matter?

Me: Yes!

Connie: Why? Either way--up or down--we're only half way done.

The first night the children were up until about midnight talking. Connie, Mary, and I took turns going to the girls tent to tell them to be quiet. I had had it when I heard a ridiculous version of "Yellow Submarine" being sung by Lauren. I made her get out of the tent and told her she better get her eyes closed as soon as she got back in the tent or I would be taking her to sleep in the van........................................ALONE!

To add to the late night, Lauren was up at 6am SINGING again! Friday was a very long day. The kids didn't want to go hiking again because of what they had begun to call "Mrs. Cordova's Death March" the day before. Instead they played on piles of rocks, went exploring, and "got lost". These three activities probably amounted to even more miles than the hike we had planned.

Favorite conversation of Friday night occurred during supper. Christian was wearing a REALLY, REALLY bright yellow hat. He was complaining because he didn't "even like chili and what would he eat?" and Alex looked at him and said, "Take off your hat and let your head air out!"

Friday night MOPS moved into the campgrounds around us. We played glow in the dark ultimate frisbee for about an hour. Then when it was time for bed we reminded the youth that they didn't want to wake the preschoolers. :) This worked like a charm and no one had to leave my tent to tell anyone to stop singing. And today they slept in until we woke them up at 7:30am! It was wonderful!

Here's a picture of the kiddies at Panoramic Point (this is the point where many of the pictures that show up on Colorado postcards are taken). Also a picture of pretty flowers that were in our "back yard".