More CBLI Memories (and Photos)

For those who may be new to my blog and are wondering what CBLI is, here is how I introduced it last year. It is so thrilling for me to watch my son enter the teen track, since that is where I first began attending CBLI. All of my boys have developed such an intense love for this camp and eagerly await our annual trip there.

We had such a grand time during our afternoons this year. I wondered how it would work out, since Trevor, at 4, is really beyond naps while Sean, at 2, still requires them. For four of the days, we made our way to the pool as soon as it opened up at 1 p.m. and by 3 or 3:30 both boys looked like this:

Yes, that is one of Trevor's stuffed snakes at the foot of the bed!

On Tuesday, after the little boys woke from their nap, we went down to the dock to see if Todd was still fishing (he had invited the boys to come fish with him). Trevor was thrilled to find him there. As Todd had said, the fishing was good, and within minutes Trevor caught quite a few small fish and released them back into the water. I think his favorite part was touching the fish. Then again, when asked what his favorite part of CBLI as a whole was, his standard answer was "fishing with Todd," so maybe the time spent with Todd edged out the thrill of touching the fish.


While Todd and Trevor fished, Sean kept me busy running back and forth from the rock strewn drive to the dock. He would select four or five rocks (man, boys have a thing for rocks!), always wanting the biggest ones, and we would carry them back to the dock and place them on the wooden boards. Then, he would throw them over into the water while I gabbed for a few moments with Todd. Then, he would beg to do it all over again.

One day, we finally attempted a paddle boat ride. It wasn't very successful, however; once we were a few feet from the shore, both of the boys kept saying "I don't want to be on the boat now."

It was still good fun down at the lake front because most of the time Bryce would show up to ride in the various available boats. His favorite boat is the fun bug. It is a neat triangular boat, where you navigate by shifting the weight from your right and left feet. Of course, Josh Grindle, one of the dock workers, laughed because Bryce usually spent more time in the water than on the fun bug, intentionally.



Here is a short video of him attempting to flip the boat.



And more photos of fun on the water. The first photo is of one of our friends, Jordan, on a fun bug. Every time the little boys would see her they would call out her name. With friends, paddle boats, fun bugs, kayaks, canoes, and water, who wouldn't love the lake front?



The boys also enjoyed going up the hill to the playground near the Sandpiper cabin where we have been housed for other CBLI encampments. I forced the boys to pose for a photo, so that you could see the gigantic hill I used to climb, pushing their double stroller! The Wonderland Lodge is so close and convenient. We really enjoyed it (but I may regret not having that huge hill to hike up, since I ate way too many desserts).



Note the cardboard tube near Trevor's feet? Trash he found and had to bring home because he had an idea for turning it into art!

There is so much more to cover that you will just have to return again (you will, won't you? ... Say you will!). Stay tuned for Part II of this CBLI Recap! I promise more photos, more fun, and more trash being turned into art!