The Murphy's came back to Arkansas to visit. We ALL loved having them here. We got to spend some much needed time with them and the kids went right back to playing like they had never moved away.

This is Ava and her "beft fend Halle". Let me translate, her "best friend Ali" :) Oh how we miss you guys!



While here, the "big" kids went to a clay class and made some really neat totem poles out of clay. They really enjoyed going to this class and spending time together.

Just like "old times". Ian, Hayden and Cooper

Playing outside this summer.

I wonder where they get it....



Oh, that's where.

Stop in the name of love!
Backyard buddies :)
Ava imitating Macy.

New Life Ranch - Drake

Bunk Buddies! Drake and Hogan are rooming at camp. They were excited but SO nervous. If I would've let Drake back out at this point, he would've. He kept saying "I want to go home.". His nerves were just getting to him. This is a new experience and I know they will have a great time. We will miss him while he is gone this week!



Drake and Hogan with all the boys in his cabin plus his 2 councelors.

Getting ready for the swimming test.
Looks like the fun is already underway! (pictures off the website of what happened on Sunday night at camp)

Smile Ava!

This is what you get when you say "Smile Ava!"

New Life Ranch - Cooper

Cooper's first taste of Summer camp was Day Camp at New Life Ranch in Siloam Springs. He absolutely LOVED it! He and his 2 buddies went together each day from 8:30 to 4:45. They all three giggled and talked about camp and sang camp songs in the car to and from camp each day. They all can't wait to go back next year. They each are saying they want to spend the night next year, but I can't imagine Cooper making it a whole week away from home. We may just have to do another week of day camp next year.

Alex, Cooper and Davis on the first day of camp. They were nervous and excited.
That first day started with the boys finding a butterfly that clung to Cooper's finger in the parking lot. They were so excited to start camp this way.

Below are some pictures from the New Life Ranch website.

Davis and Cooper are in the background waiting in line for the relay.
Alex ( in the blue) looking at critters they found in the creek.
Cooper is way in the background looking for creatures in the water. He loved doing this.
The boys loved swimming everyday. Glad they got to swim...it was SO hot this week.

Cooper
Alex.
Davis
Playing some more fun games.

A lot of Friday was spent in the great outdoors. The boys had a hotdog cookout lunch, did Flock Fiest at the outdoor chapel, and went on a really fun hayride. It was a great way to end a spectacular week of Day Camp.

(Cooper is in the orange shirt with a green bandana. It was western day.)




The closing ceremony. It looked liked those kids had a lot of fun. They sang songs, danced, jumped and had a great time at the closing ceremony. Cooper would join in and then look back to see if I was watching. If I was, he immediately stopped dancing and singing. If he thought I wasn't watching, he joined right back in to the fun.
Cooper's favorite camp counselor was Mr. Connor.
Cooper was awarded the Character Award for "Agreeable" and "Available"