my new boss.

please join me in congratulating my new boss, the baby!

lea is now officially the camp horizon program director.

lea will be in charge of the year-round camp activities,
including summer camp where she will be my boss.

we could not be prouder of her!!!

here's the guts of the email that went out:

With a degree in Social Work and a plethora of  nonprofit and volunteer experience,  Lea is now transitioning from Camp Horizon's Outings Coordinator  to our full-time Program Director! She will manage all Camp Horizon  programs including Summer Camp, Leadership Development Program (LDP),  Camp Horizon Adult Mentoring Program (CHAMPs)  and our Year-Round Outings. Please join us in congratulating Lea!

spin for kids.

slim & i will be spinning on october 20th.

there's still time to sign up if you want to join us! 

every penny raised helps send more kids to 

camp every summer. go camp horizon!

please sponsor me!!

special shout out to the amazingly

supportive planer family for their insanely 

generous donation & love!! xoxo

camp horizon.

as many of you know, camp horizon is an 

organization that jim & i are very passionate about.

like many non-profits right now, camp is struggling.

having seen the amazing and magical things that camp does

every year for both campers & counselors, it's so difficult

to think about the possibility of not being able to have camp every summer. 

come out & support camp horizon at one of our fun upcoming events:

we have spin 4 kids at camp twin lakes on october 20th &

the 2nd annual wine tasting on november 3rd.

donate today. please & thank you!

dona nobis pacem.

d&b

we had a post-camp celebration at dave & busters...

lea was slaying the skeeball game & scoring tickets!

packman was my favorite.

slim scored in the grab-a-toy game...

red sox? wtf!

rev, jeff & slim shootin' hoops.

lea, me & tara jane

.

slim got a great workout with the boxing game

cute & with a deadly right hook.

connect four with shannon. i lost.

cutest camp couple. awwww

bad boys, bad boys...

and then we went to west egg and had boozy shakes.

beth's was orange and zesty and was by far the best.

slim had banana pudding that was delicious & marshmellow-y.

i just settled for two cupcakes...

key lime pie & red velvet w/ cream cheese icing. yum!

post camp.

we're back from camp.

it's been a week and a half & i'm still trying to recover!

once again, camp was amazing & difficult & magical & challenging

and life changing & heartwarming & fun & a totally tear fest. 

our theme this year was camp horizon olympics.

i only have a few photos that i snuck in during the week.

since most of our kids are in state custody, we're not allowed to

show any of their faces or pictures.

we do however have a pro-photographer that donates her time 

all week and creates an amazing slide show and then sends the

campers a bunch of pictures of themselves at camp. 

some campers have said it's the only pictures they have of themselves.

here's a few pics i took...

slim & tara waiting for the camper bus to arrive!!

slim & i preparing for the campers to arrive!

slim taught his camper how to ride a bike!!

it was so hot & sticky and slim was sweating bullets running after him

for days & days holding onto him & shouting encouragement.

it was so cool watching this little guy learn & this big guy teach.

just when i thought i couldn't love slim any more, this happened:)  

a rare sight at camp.. tara not moving or talking...

the sexy male staff cabin showing their stuff at the variety show!!!

the fellas at the post camp party- gossiping i'm sure.

my partner-in-crime & the most amazing camp director ever, 

my tara jane. you made camp amazing tj, simply amazing.

i loved working for you & look forward to our future!

heading off to camp.

camp horizon starts tomorrow at 8am!

i have been preparing for camp for months.

since  taking on the materials gathering role this year

i feel like i have been totally camp supplies oriented 

and haven;t even been able to sit and think about

how truly amazing camp horizon is and the magic 

that happens once the kids arrive at camp twin lakes.

i've been so busy buying crayons, pillows, capri suns, flag pins,

poster boards, boy underwear, hot cheetos & puff paints...

all of this will become very important once i see the campers

climb of the bus and into their counselors arms.

it's hard to describe the magic that happens throughout the

week of camp, it;s almost a secret that only a family knows

and can understand. i can't wait.

i can't wait for our counselor & campers to become

wiser, braver, stronger together.

wish us luck & sunny days.
see you on the other side!

good wine, good cause.

the whole gang (minus the baby) attended 

camp horizon's 1st wine tasting.

it was loads of fun.

there was a chocolate fountain w/ bon-bons & berries.

i was in heaven.

i think we raised a lot of money and hopefully picked up 

some more support and future volunteers. 

gettin' the party started!

cabin 2-5 reunion.

molls in spirit & our camp mom, beth.

dona nobis pacem, can i get a hug?!

tj & jeffo- love-in-it-up.

the girls w/ our new camp director tj!

very nice selection.

cute boys. blurry pic. lots of wine.

gazing into each other's eyes..

*jim whispering, you've probably had enough...

is slim double-fisting wine glasses?

just finishing up.

raf & b scored a terrapin brewery package & a smoltz signed ball!

*raffy said she's never heard of john smoltz- say what?! atl newby.

our beloved camp mom.

 *this is one for the scrapbook.

the trouble started at our house- the after party.

*moma loves hangin w/ the girls.

no dogs were hurt in the aftermath of the wine tasting.

i do have video of kathryn & the dog door....

 do you want to see it?

spin for kids

we rocked spin for kids this past sunday!

camp horizon raised over 19 thousand which will cover summer camp 2012.

*slim alone raised $600 which scored him a spin for kids jersey!

the ride was perfect- the sun was shining down on us as we rode

 through adorable downtown madison and throughout the country
roads of rutledge & a sweet water beer awaited us at the finish line!

bravo to luke
our camp brother for dominating the (100 mile) century ride!

 i'm so proud of everyone and so thankful to all of our sponsors! 

you're making the magic of camp possible for more children!

much love, camp hugs & many thanks!

318 & 319 representin'

tara jane, raffy and me.

raffy and b got the cutest couple award.

couldn't have done it without sweet ole' slim by my side.

tandem road bike- what!?! love it.

the sun shining on me and the baby.

 smiling after we got yelled at for riding 3 across.

whatever! it's for the kids! where's your camp spirit?

 best pit stops ever: sport beans, pie, quiche, rice crispy treats....

can't wait to be back at camp twin lakes in july 2012 for camp horizon!

dona nobis pacem.

xoxo