Grand Camp 2008- Little Pioneers

A few summers ago my parents started a tradition called Grand Camp. They plan a really fun mini camp for the grandkids and they have a fun theme for each year. This year the theme was PIONEERS, and it was so much fun! Grandma and Grandpa Reeves spent months preparing for it, (when they weren't at work, girl's camp, nauvoo etc.) and made it really special for all the grandkids. Their hard work included making a small handcart, pioneer outfits, little wooden boxes with each grandchild's name on them filled with little "treasures", a camping cup, guns for the boys, pioneer dolls for the girls, pioneer games, and pioneer stories, but the best part about it was that they shared their feelings and testimonies of the pioneers with the grandkids and taught them what it means to be a pioneer.

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the sacrifices of the pioneers and even giving it my best efforts and reading about them, I cannot imagine what they must have been through. Seeing my little girls in their pioneer clothes walking around (with comfortable tennis shoes) in the wilderness (a camp site) really made me think about how the mother pioneers must have felt. Really, how did they walk, and walk, and walk, and walk, and walk? They prepared the feast (so to speak) and I am the one eating.

I humbly wonder if I could wrap my baby in a quilt and lay her in the ground for the wolves, feed my girls only two or three ounces of flour a day (The Martin and Willey handcart companies), lay them on frozen ground, carry them across frozen rivers, and still be willing to say "All is well, All is well." Needless to say, it was a good opportunity for me to reflect on the faith of my forefathers, and even my parents and family right now. I still remember having a conversation with my sister Toni about this once, and she said, "Do you think we could do it? Could we be pioneer mothers? I think we could if we had each other."

My little pioneers
Helping each other
Ready for the trek

The youngest pioneer (and the dirtiest in the end)
Scout loved her "pioneer" every day she asks me if she can wear her "pioneer"

I am sure the Pioneers would love to have this cooking crew!


Or would they rather have a nice camper to wake up in?


Playing pioneer bingo in the camper

Boston wanted to be a "modern" pioneer in the Rhino
Thank you Toni and Scott for the awesome Rhino rides!
And for the Camper too. :)

Little pioneer children sang as they walked and walked

Jakey, Boston and Grandma

The little Handcart

Off they go!

Little pioneer children laughed and cried as they took pictures, and took pictures and took pictures.....

The handcart was loaded

Modern pioneers in the Rhinos!



Pancake mouth and camping hair




Our family as pioneers

Grandma and Grandpa

Ben's one-of-a-kind HUMONGOUS Burger

"The perfect burger" as he called it :)