Biking Barefoot

Well Levi LOVED camp, but since I wasn't there to take pictures of him every day, I can only show what Luke did in his brother's absence. :)   To the coffee shop for a donut, as requested.... The zoo, where he bought a little stuffed red panda that he had his eye on during our last trip to the zoo. He was a little long-faced because playing in his favorite spots isn't the same without your best buddy...so I could hardly say no to a camel ride! Watching the otters, our favorite. He really, really missed "Wevi."  He made him a special drink out of cut up strawberries and LaCroix so he'd have a fun, cold beverage when he came home. Went to the beach The closing program was great fun, they sang the same songs I learned at every camp I went to as a kid! One of the chaplains for the week was Joel Schoon-Tanis, a local artist who involved the kids in creating this picture of the chapel at Camp Geneva. ...

So Levi started his foray into summer camp this week with day camp at Camp Geneva. He was very excited. Lots of nervous, loud energy yesterday morning. A little bit of trouble sleeping the night before...but hey, handing a sleep deprived, hopped-up seven-year-old over to energetic college students sounds straight-up wisdom now that I think about it.  My first indication that Geneva is a little ritzy: spotless conference center where we were introduced to the counselors.  No log building, no musty camp smell. Hmmmmm..... Fancy-pants playground, splash pad, perfectly manicured landscaping...hmmmm...    But what's not to love about being right on Lake Michigan??  Levi had a fantastic first day and loved every minute.  He had fun, learned about God, saw some friends and made a new one...so goal achieved for day 1. :)  Geneva is a win. (But we've decided that next year he's going to go to Sonlight Christian Camp.   Mountain...

Levi plans to ride in a mountain bike race next month that has a beginner race that is 8 miles long.  Since we've only ridden at Riley Trails most of his riding life, we're branching out this summer to longer, more difficult trails.  We tried out Luton Park yesterday in Rockford. It's quite a drive, but I told them it would be well worth it. I really didn't feel like going, and they had been arguing in the morning...but MAN, am I glad we didn't bag it!!  We happily whooped and shouted through every loop - even those that were labeled "most difficult."  There were large roots and narrow singletracks and rock hops and switchbacks and fast and furious looping downhills, and these boys rode six miles of hero dirt like it was their JOB.  I could not have been prouder of their strength and bravery! We found a turtle in the middle of the path.  He looked squarely at us and actually hustled off.     Snack stop by the stream ...