CSC 2015

CSC 2015

Some of us came to CSC 2015 physically injured (Mom, Dustin, Cameron) and some of us came emotionally injured (Tony, me, Cooper).  After three days of the healing that comes from the divine institution of family, we all left refreshed and rejuvenated.  There were several reasons that CSC was such a great success.  

First, we had perfect weather and awesome ski water.  Monday and part of Tuesday brought cool weather and even a delicious rain shower.  This helped stave off the dehydration and exhaustion that can lead to inevitable barfing.  

Secondly, we ate the best food ever.  Everyone went all-out on all the meals. From Aunt Chelsea's amazing pancakes and buttermilk syrup to Aunt Stacey's Carne Asada to Aunt Kimberly's coleslaw ice-cream,  it was food heaven.  Plus Grandma brought fancy-schmancy ice cream bars and I brought cinnamon rolls and homemade granola.  It just doesn't get much better.  

The third reason that CSC was so successful was that Cooper bought a jet ski and added it to THREE working boats!  The kids had so much fun on it and Cooper was really great about sharing.  

A fourth success were our unstructured campfire activities.  One night we played the bird call game then each family shared their bedtime songs.  Dad shared Old Shep of course and made all the grandkids cry.  Another night we played the gratitude game.  It was a bummer not to have a real campfire as a result of the state wide burn ban, but we smelled a lot better

A fifth success was family yoga.  Jeff wanted to call it YOLOGA, but we didn't get that crazy.  It was so beautiful to be together as a family under the trees celebrating our strong bodies.

CSC 2015 is also the birthplace of a new family business.  We are going to market Dad's jumprope game and call it "RIPROPE."  It is going to make a million dollars and  fund all our missions.  

Another great success was our night at Clay Island, which everyone argues is a bad name because it is not an island.  I think it was the kid's favorite activity.  We almost lost Grandma in the mud and Jill and Stacey indulged in full body mud spas.  

The mosquitos were really bad this year, but there were no wasps!  The other plague was a major frog infestation, but the kids had hours of fun torturing the poor creatures.  Some frogs took rides in water balloons others were imbedded in mud pies and many were carried in pockets and little hands until they gave up the fight.  

We continued the great tradition of the The River/Swim and Paddle.  The kayaks are so much fun for the kids and adults.  Aunt Jill, our family elite athlete, not only swam the river, but swam it back with Kate.  We were proud of both of them.  We even had closing ceremonies this year with the traditional "Birth right ceremony."  It was so sweet to watch the Riplets, Owen and Sophie wait their turn anxiously to join the family.   Kind of felt like the premortal life. :)

We had some good late night girl talks and it felt like relationships were strengthened in so many ways.  Our challenge will be to continue maintaining these bonds throughout the year.

My theory is that CSC was such a success because everyone did whatever the Alpha female told them to.  I don't know how long that will last, but this year was unarguably an awesome CSC.