The first part of day one consisted of sandwiches for lunch from “Subway”, the bounce house from “The White Castle” rented here in Davis County, Utah, bubble guns and walkie-talkies from Amazon.

We also played games with a kids size parachute. After the three littlest ones left to go home for a well-earned nap, the rest of us got busy with our crafts. A few years ago I discovered a fun, positive little online company called “Natural Life” based out of Florida. I LOVE their products because they are not only fun, but upbeat, positive, and happy! I watch their sale section throughout the year, and order things for gifts and Grandma Camp as soon as they go on sale. This year I picked up many great things!

Large floral blow-up hearts I tied on the white castle bounce house.
Cute and sturdy recycled swag bags for each of the girls, big enough to hold all their things.
Latch-hook rug/pillow kit craft. This came with everything needed including the latch-hook tool, cut to length yarn pieces, and the canvas base with the design printed on it.
Scratch off coloring book complete with the stylus. This one was a particular hit, and the girls pulled it out more than once when they had a minute of free time. And it’s important to plan some free time!

Some of the other things I included in their “Natural Life” swag bags were:

Fjallraven mini-tote cross-body bag in their favorite color - Amazon
Cipher coin to help crack the code to their puzzle box – Amazon
Breaking and Writing Codes workbook - Amazon
Rifle notebook and pen to figure out codes with – Rifle Paper
Da Vinci Code Mini Cryptex Metal Puzzle Box – Amazon
Elephant Ring – Etsy
“Extra Yarn” book by Mac Barnett - Amazon
Elephant Bookmark made on my Silhouette Cameo machine
Macramé anklet with elephant charm made with nylon cording – Amazon and Etsy
Clear Clipboard – Amazon
Tiny tote for toiletry items – Hobby Lobby clearance section
Bath gel, lip gloss, facial mask, eye mask – The Body Shop, Smith & Edwards Dollar Days
Popcorn bucket – Amazon
Treats – I try to get two of their favorite treats to include in their popcorn bucket along with a microwave packet of popcorn. My littles LOVE popcorn!!! Sometimes they eat two packets each!!! My microwave is starting to die. My repairman told me microwave popcorn is a microwave killer. I had no idea. He told me it doesn’t have enough moisture in it to keep the microwave running cool enough not to overheat. He suggested buying an inexpensive one and use it just for popcorn. We did that this year - $77 from Walmart.
Stanley tumblers in their favorite colors

This year instead of doing the usual soft drinks, I bought limes, Sprite, and a bottle of grape syrup. We made Lime Rickey drinks in their Stanley tumblers numerous times. For the first time ever in the history of grandkids, I did not dump one un-used drink down the drain! I had the limes washed and pre-cut in a Tupperware container in the fridge. The Sprite was cold as well. And I had my trusty lime squeezer from “William’s Sonoma” - I’ll be doing this again for sure.

When Friday started to wind down, we made our traditional “Grandpa Ronnie make-your-own-pizza”using loaves of Rhodes Frozen White Bread Dough. I set them on a greased pizza pan the morning of the day we plan to make them, covered with a piece of wax paper. If they start to thaw too much, we set them in the fridge until we’re ready to use them. One loaf is enough to make two pie tin size pizzas. I just cut each loaf in half, have the girls knead it into a flat circle, and start spreading it in the bottom of a greased pie tin. Be sure to spray the tins with Pam cooking spray first.

I put all the ingredients in little bowls, and they can choose what to put on them. We start with the dough, then pizza sauce spread on with a spoon, shredded mozzarella cheese, and whatever toppings they want. We always have pepperoni, sliced ham, sliced black olives, sliced mushrooms, and pineapple. There’s usually none left by the time they are done.

After dinner, they get their jammies on. This year we all had matching “Lates By Kate” jammies. The girls loved them.

Oakley helped me get the Texas Sheetcakes out and arranged on the island, while the littles waited downstairs with Grandpa Ronnie to come up for the desert surprise. We put a candle in each one, and had a fun little party.

Then it was time for a potty break before we settled in for popcorn and a movie. This year’s movie was “The King’s Daughter” with Pierce Brosnan. It’s about King Louis the XIV at Versailles, one of his daughters, and a mermaid. Such a good, clean, engaging movie! Even the six and seven year olds loved it! Even now, a few weeks later, they ask about watching it again. After that, it was time for one last potty break, and the last movie “Ella Enchanted” with Ann Hathaway. Also a favorite. Not everyone made it through the second movie before falling asleep, but those that did were ready to turn the lights off and go to sleep when it ended.

We all slept in, and then Grandpa Ronnie made his signature waffles with vanilla ice cream and homemade strawberry jam topping.

Baths or showers were next on the list, and everyone got ready for the day. The two oldest girls, did the two youngest girl’s hair. I love watching them interact with each other! Then Grandpa Ronnie took them all to Maverick for a treat while I got showered and ready for the rest of the day’s activities. They had fun taking their walkie-talkies with them to Maverick to see how far they would go from here. Sadly, it was just about to the end of the street is all. The walkie-talkies were a huge hit. They have been back a couple times since, and brought them to play with each time. These were inexpensive, and from Amazon.

Everything that could be labeled with the kids names in matte gold vinyl, I labeled using my Silhouette Cameo. That makes it easy to know whose stuff is whose. They have so much fun playing with all their things as Grandma Camp progresses, it’s easy to get things mixed up. But if it’s all labeled that makes it easy. With each participant having a large “Natural Life” bag to start with, all their things fit in it as we go along, and when it’s time to go home, they just need to grab their bag and they are ready to leave.

When they got back from Maverick, I was ready for their first craft of the day. Just before Christmas I went to Michael’s Crafts. They have a dollar section there. I found some cute pre-printed canvases that came with the paint and a paint brush. These were normally $4.99 and I got them for 75% off! I love watching each kid’s personality come out in the way they freely create.

The younger ones don’t have as long of an attention span, and they were ready for the next activity pretty fast. One thing most girls like to do is make jewelry, especially bracelets. Last year before Christmas, Costco had pre-packaged jewelry making kits that came in a nice plastic fishing-type box with a handle. Each girl got one of these. So when the younger ones were done painting, I pulled out the jewelry making kits. They could play with these for hours on end.

After this it was time for lunch. We all had left-over pizza, so I warmed them all up on the paper plates we had labeled, and covered with Saran Wrap from the night before. They also had leftover Texas Sheetcake, and I made one last Lime Rickey.

After lunch Oakley taught us how to use the cipher coin and break the code for their puzzle box which contained the elephant rings I ordered on Etsy. I found the cutest saying about female elephants online. It talks about how in the wild female elephants are fierce protectors of their sister elephants. If one is sick, they close in tight around her and watch over her so predators can’t get to her. It likens us to these female elephants. How we are here to watch over and protect each other. How sometimes we are the one in the middle, and sometimes we are the one protecting the one in the middle.

The elephant theme and all the elephant things is a reminder for them each time they look at them to be there for each other, during good times and bad.

Grandma Camp is all about Light, Love, Kindness, Building Strong Relationships, Learning to Work Together, and Helping When Needed. Each year, I see these littles growing closer and closer, learning to love and serve one another as they build life-long friendships of sisterhood. When it’s over, it takes me a few days to recover, but I have a happy tired smile on my face through the recovery period. It’s all worth it to see how much joy and happiness it brings to all of us.

The fourth Grandma Camp is in the books. Next year will be a lot different when we add two more to the mix. We have two little boys – one watching over us from Heaven, and one who loves to run and be all boy!!! I’m already working on his masculine tent, and it will be ready for next year. It will be interesting to see what I come up with to entertain six kids aging from four to fifteen. Whatever it is, we will have a good time filled with lots of ENERGY, LIGHT and LOVE!!!

Love Ya, Grandma Les ☺

Family

Grandma Camp 2022 : Part Two