Hi everyone! We have had a really, really great time and have done so much!
I will get you up to date starting August 9th through the 2nd! !
We (Dad Joseph & I) left Snow Mountain Ranch to go to a father son retreat at Crooked Creek Ranch. It was really beautiful! The event was hosted by Vision Forum (www.visionforum.com ) we heard from Douglas Phillips, Geoff Bodkin, Little Bear Wheeler and an Air Force pilot, the messages were really great! We mostly got settled in went to dinner and then a meeting that was basically it!
We learned about George Washington, character and why men must stand up for what is right.
We had a lot of great lessons and food! The last day we had a huge game of tug-o-war! 13th
Back at the YMCA camp dad and JoJo and I woke up early and went on a 7 mile hike to a water fall. The hike was really Loooooooong and fun! Then we just relaxed and napped!
14th thru the 16th
Daddy and I went on a hike to an old gold mine, had Bible study and hiked back. We unhooked the RV and drove to the amazing craft room that they have. I made a walking stick and tie-dye shirts, the little ones colored with fabric markers on little bears (and their shirts too :) Joseph made a cool boat and some jewelry for mom. Then we drove to Grand Lake, and sat in the rain for three days…. It was actually fun to do nothing! And not have any internet or cell phone service!!
17th
We unhooked (in the rain) and because of 15 inches of SNOW we had to take a 6 hour detour instead of an hour and a half drive. The drive was amazingly beautiful. There was a river that ran by the road the whole way. We finally arrived at a KOA camp in Estes Park spent the night but the next day chose to go to a different RV park so we could set a tent up and have a campfire.
18th
At the new RV Park we waited for Gaumi and Poppa to arrive. Then we went to a restaurant and enjoyed some great food and conversation :) My favorite part was the “Hermit of Cloudy Ridge” story (told by Poppa) ‘round the camp fire with s’ mores!
19th
We went to the camp that Poppa was a counselor at (Camp Cheley) it was a beautiful camp full of precious memories, We went to the outdoor Chapel that overlooks a beautiful lake and mountains. Poppa brought his saxophone and played “He Walks With Me”. That was really great. After that We went to a small store and bought some things for a picnic. We drove over Trail Ridge RD, or route 34, the highest, continuous paved highway in the world at an elevation of almost 13,000 feet! Whew! The view was amazing we were driving above the Timberline and by snow!!
That night we enjoyed dinner at a really great restaurant, then back to the RV for another campfire and story.
20th
This morning Joseph and Dad went to go fishing at Camp Cheley, It was a privately owned, stocked pond. Dad could only catch one fish because Joseph was catching them so fast, Joseph caught eight 11 inch trout! Once they came back we left to go horseback riding, (mom and the babies had the day off) Let me tell you, Colorado horseback riding is very different than Texas horseback riding. We went through creeks and tight twisty-tourney areas up, down an around! VERY FUN!
Any way that night we, for some reason, had a really hard time starting a fire to cook the fish. Just the time we gave up it started…. Hmmmm…. But needless to say we cooked the best trout and veggies we had ever had! Tonight we decided to have everything indoors. We watched a hilarious Veggie Tails and then some A LOT of pictures.
21st
This morning we woke up late, so Poppa took Joseph to an old Indian Museum then we went to Bear Lake. We took a great picture on the very same rock that Poppa’s parents took their picture on. It was a really beautiful day! We had to hustle back to return the rent car.
22nd
We had breakfast, packed up and went to downtown Estes Park to look at all the neat shops, and eat yummy taffy! We went to a restaurant to celebrate Poppas b-day; it was super special we had delicious walnut pancakes and had him read the book called “If you give a Moose a Muffin” :) It’s time to leave to go to head for Family Camp now! But before we do Joseph and I went to a little glass blowing shop. The furnaces are amazingly hot, 2022 degrees! Wow that’s HOT. The people that work there gave us little glass stars!
23rd
Mount Rushmore here we come! We drove through Wyoming and South Dakota. When we were driving we stayed at an RV park just outside SD it was so clear we could see so many stars! Wow!
24th
Then we drove through Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. Because we aren’t on a schedule we decided to stop at a cave. It was really neat! There were formations that aren’t in almost any other caves! Now in Mount Rushmore we had an amazing dinner at the monument I loved that!
25th Now because we are at the top of America we decided to see Uncle Jeff in Wisconsin!
26th
We drove hard all day to Uncle Jeff’s and Aunt Jones! We arrive some time that evening and had really great BBQ!
27th
Uncle Jeff and a couple of his relatives bought a beautiful cabin near in the Chequamegon National Forest. They have 4 deer stands. It’s really nice!
28th
We said good bye and hit the road for Family Camp. We spent the night just a few hours away so we could be there early on Friday but we forgot the time zone change so we were LATE….. ;)
29th
Arrived!! Woohoo! Yahoo! Yippee! We set up (they actually have full hook-ups) cleaned up and left for dinner! ‘Because I am 14 I get to go to the main lodge and play late night games every night. This was my first time it was so fun!
30th
One thing we all appreciate about Family Camp is the schedule; its perfect, not to pack plenty of free time for naps or games. It is really well done! At the camp they have a blob, water slide, paddle boats, canoes, fishing, tetherball, basketball, and soccer field, zip line and volley ball!
We played Joey Ball that evening. It’s an outrageously fun game! Modified so any one can play with minimal rules and only 1 base!
31st
This year I got to help with the 5-7 year olds it was a blast we played drip, drip, DROP (like duck, duck, goose) had a skit that I got to participate in, and silly songs. Daddy and Joseph like to fish so we went to the paddle boats, I was fishing guide and because I am so good they caught 3 fish! Oh yea I even kept us in the shade! I know that Timothy Christianna Elaina and Victoria LOVED all the girls who played with them and baby-sat them, more attention in 3 days than what they would get in a week! (And you know I give them LOTS of attention!) That night we had a fun time at the talent show. The families are so creative. One family did a skit about NOT having a skit!!! So funny! We have to leave tomorrow. Oops I almost forgot, the little ones really wanted to get on a boat, so Dad and I took them on paddle boat rides! They were so thrilled! 
1st
We are sadly coming to the end of our trip, oh well every good thing must come to an end :)
We just drove straight home basically!
2nd
We drove straight home arrived and unpacked our house to our house!
(Wow! This document is 1,400 words)
The Great 8 Browns,
Team-work makes the dream-work!
Jim Monica Weston Joseph Timothy Christianna Elaina Victoria Princess and Dutchess
(our rving doggies)
