Vacation

Last week we traveled to "Camp Arcadia" on Lake Michigan for Tom's annual family vacation.
My husband's family first visited Camp Arcadia 35 years ago, when he was 2.  They have not missed a year since, and the group gets bigger and bigger. There were 30 of us this year. Tom's parents, his 5 siblings and their families.  Quite a crowd.  

So many people ask about "Camp Arcadia", I figured I'd dedicate a post to it.
First of all, don't let the name "Camp" mislead you.  It's not a camp like "camping", but more like "Camp David", without the secret service.

The front, center part of the Inn, from the beach

No, it's not that fancy, but it's not rustic either.  They deliberately do not have many things like tvs, phones, and internet access.  They want you to "turn off" that part of your life while there.  It's not easy, but I do appreciate it. They DO have good food, a lot of planned activities (think back to the movie Dirty Dancing, like that, without the dancing) and a wonderful beach.

We set up our beach tent on day one and left it there all week! 

Second of all, Camp Arcadia is Lutheran. There are morning religious programs that most people participate in and prayers before the meals and evening worship services.  This year we did not participate in the evening service and I  skipped the morning program, since it was my only two kid- free hours each day (this is when I worked out and showered). 
You don't have to be Lutheran to go and enjoy it (I'm Catholic, but married a Lutheran), though I'm not sure someone who was not Christian would enjoy it.  While I don't think it's overly religious, I'm biased, being Christian and all.  There are prayers starting and ending each meal, but besides the program, I don't notice it much.  Again, if I wasn't Christian, I might not feel the same way.


Third, it is very historical and tradition is very important. Things there don' change much and people like coming up year after year and seeing that most things are exactly as they were the first time they came.  If you are someone who likes things with some "history", you might really enjoy this place.

One of the hallways is covered by plaques made by families over the years.  They typically are made at camp, have the family's name and the years they have been coming to Camp Arcadia.  Many families have been coming for over twenty years.

I'm not sure how many guests are up there each week, but if I had to guess, I'd say between 200 and 230.  You can rent a cottage or stay in the Inn.  We started renting cottages, but switched to the Inn because it is so much more convenient with kids. The Inn rooms are small, basically beds, a sink and a dresser.  Works out fine since you don't spend much time in your room anyway (think cruise).  

Typical Inn Room, photo from www.camparcadia.com

Most meals are in a big dining room, family style (assigned seating, you sit with your own family). 

image from Camp Arcadia's website

Here's a sample menu for an entire week.  If you don't feel like clicking, I'll give you a typical day: 
Breakfast:
Fritatta with ham and cheddar
Homemade scones & muffins
Fresh fruit
Lunch
Chicken breast and 
provolone on ciabatta roll, Guacamole, lettuce, tomato, & chipotle-lime ranch
Chips and  homemade salsa
Homemade Cookie
Dinner
Salad
Homemade Bread
Chicken Breast Fillet with Proscuitto-Sage Cream, 
Sugar Snap Peas
Wild Rice
Strawberry Shortcake

That's roasted turkey breast, sesame green beans, salad and smashed sweet and red skinned potatoes.  I really dropped the ball on food photos, but I felt like a huge dork taking a picture each time I ate! I need to work on that. 

Here's Mack at Dinner.  He is trying to make his spoon stay on his nose. 

And here's Tommy having some cheese. And saying cheese.

The days are pretty packed.  Here's a typical day:
8:00: "Quiet Time" ends
8:30: Breakfast
9:30 Morning program/nursery open (kids go to their own programs, Tommy was with all 3 and 4 year olds in the "Ark").
11:15: Program Ends
11:30: Teen Archery Tournament, Kid's Critter Race, Adult Ping Pong Tournament
12:30: Lunch
1:30: Beach Carnival
4:00: Adult Volleyball
6:00:Dinner
7:00: Arcadia Improv
9:00: 
11:30: Quiet time.

Tommy and cousins at the Square Dance

Mack getting his groove on

Tommy playing potato toss at the patio carnaval

 Tom posing only! 

 Mack didn't want to throw the wet sponge at "Sandy"

 But Tommy had no problem with it! And he had a pretty good arm!

Tommy was so excited to get his face painted.  Initially, he wanted the whole thing painted black, like a "Panther", but we talked him into whiskers and a nose. 

Tommy put on a stellar performance at the Camper Talent Show

Here he is clearing his throat for his singing debut

Making faces at me when he should be paying attention at Story Time

While the schedule is packed, you don't have to do anything and there is always plenty of time for the beach side playground,

Perfecting Superhero poses

Spending HOURS on the swings

Going for a walk

Relaxing on a porch

Checking out the goldfish pond..for the millionth time

Hanging out in the room watching videos and eating in bed

 Building Sandcastles and 

Hanging with family

or, just watching the light show. Every night.

In a nutshell, that's Camp Arcadia.  

Mother's Day (better late than never)

(Yet another post that I meant to publish and didn't-it's only a month late!)

Hope everyone had a great Mother's Day.  Mine was pretty good. I mean, I had to work, but sometimes that is better than staying home and wrangling the little monsters all day.

I did get some early morning Happy Mother's Day cuddles from Tommy.  That boy is all sweetness! Except when he's rotten. I was hoping for coffee in bed, but that didn't happen.  In fact, I had to tell Tom to make the coffee.  He got up at least 40 minutes before I did.  I was sure there would be coffee, but no.  The first thing I do every single morning is make the coffee!  (actually, it's the second thing I do. First I pee.  I can't handle filling the coffee maker with water while my bladder is full).

I also didn't have to run.  I usually run Sunday mornings, but this Sunday it was raining. Awesome! No guilt sleeping in.( I can run in the rain, but not on Mother's Day. That's just asking too much).

Which reminds me of a little story.  Come along with me as I digress...

Last year, about this time of year, Tommy was learning the "Rain, Rain Go Away" song.  But- he thought it went "Rain Rain Go Away. Come Again on Mother's Day".  He refused to believe me that it should be "come again some other day". That made no sense to him.  Mother's Day- that made sense.  To a 3 year old.  Anyway, wouldn't you know it, it rained on Mother's Day.  Thanks Tommy.

Back to Mother's Day.  I worked. Blah. blah.  I went to GoBarbell during my lunch break.  I had to leave early due to work coverage issues. But I still got in a good workout.  I then headed to my in-laws for dinner.  We celebrated Mother's Day and birthday's for my SIL Laurie and her daughter Rachel.

Laurie is a runner and has been eyeing a Garmin for awhile, so I got her a gift card for Amazon.  I hope she gets it soon and I can hear what she thinks.  I expect her training will seriously benefit from knowing her pace.

Dinner was awesome.  Twice baked potatoes and tenderloin.  Right up my ally.  Since I didn't get lunch Sunday (it was lunch or workout), I was starving!  I splurged with the potato and two slices of tenderloin.  I did however forgo the cheese bread, biscuits, Asian coleslaw, cookies and ice cream cake.  I did not forgo the wine- which I started on an empty stomach.   I was pretty sloshy for a bit. But heck, it was Mother's Day.  It really was a nice night.  I love spending time with my sisters-in-law, or is it sister in laws? Whatever it is, I like it.

We talked about the key incident and we examined the key.  We all decided I am far too intelligent to have NOT tied the key to my shoe and the key was at fault.  Here is the key:

You see the metal ring? That's what I threaded my shoe lace through.  It's the cheap, flimsy ring that came with the key.  The overlap is very small and the metal very pliable.  We all decided, in our collective expertise, that the shoe lace must have worked it's way out and the key broke free. (Otherwise, wouldn't it have fallen off before the mile mark?)

My husband, the engineer, clearly disagreed. He was wise enough to simply walk away when asked his opinion, but it was clear. He votes user error (aka: I'm an idiot). Thanks honey.

It doesn't matter. Diane and Laurie are much, much smarter than my doubting husband, so what they say goes.  The verdict: Bad design (see, my engineer husband was biased!) and an escapist key.

Love my SILs! I think it could have been a Master padlock, they still would have taken my side.

As far as presents went, I got some great gifts.  I told my husband not to get me anything, just like Laurie, I'm eyeing a Garmin, so I just want to credit Mother's Day towards it.  The boys however, spoiled me.

Last weekend Tommy had stayed the night with my mom and he picked out this ginormous bag from the Brighton Farmer's Market.  My mom says he thought it was a good bag because I could carry all of his and Mackie's stuff in it (heck, I could carry HIM and Mackie IN it), plus, according to Tommy, my purse is "used". I'm not sure what to think of this, but it can't be good.

Anyway, I love the bag and will be sure to post a pic of it soon.

How was your Mother's Day?