Boat builders...

 We went to family camp this last Labor Day and one of the activities was to give each team (about 17) a pile of cardboard, 2 rolls of tape and one utility knive and about 1 1/2 hous to build a boat that could float. 

 It took us about 45 minutes to devise a plan and then we discovered we used way too much tape at the beginning because we ran out of tape. 

 Our boat was one of the smallest.  Your boat had to hold two people from your team.  Isaac and Rebekah got the honor of being our representatives in the boat race.  Isaac had some design ideas and Jordan used some tips she learned in sewing to put the front of the boat together. 

 We named our boat the Mighty Mrs. Sip after Mrs. Sip who puts on the camp with her family.  She's pretty amazing.  We call her Mighty Mrs. Sip at our house sometimes so thought it was a good name.

 Ready to launch. 

 A few boats sunk right away although I was too busy watching our boat that I didn't notice.  We were number 4 across the finish line!!!  After the race, all teams were instructed to come back towards shore for a battle to see who could be the last boat on the lake.  We did not win this part as our boat was small and tipped easily.

 Here is it getting down to just a couple teams.

A lot of wet, soggy cardboard was the end of the activity.  It was great fun!  We came home Monday quite exhausted from the swimming, rollerskating, tubing, eating, walking, etc.  Gregg Harris, home school giant, was the guest speaker and he was excellent.  I have some of his family's materials but have never heard him speak.  It was wonderful. 

A very Happy Birthday for our Lena...

 We were camping in Wisconsin when Lena turned 5.  Emily put together a scavenger hunt and made it a bit like the "Amazing Race".  They ran from clue to clue gathering the gifts Em had acquired for Lena.

 She's five!!

 Silly fun!

 Her birthday present was a violin!   Hoping for some lessons from big sisters!  She wants to play it all the time so I'm thinking she'll catch on quickly.  In 15 minutes she was doing a song already by plucking not with the bow.

 The favorite gift was a sock monkey that is currently misplaced.

 Silly Lena!

 Boyka and Lena.  It didn't take long and he had the hat off :)

 Thanks to Grandpa and Don for the beautiful birthday cake.  She loved it!

Sisters who look so much alike sometimes!