A couple of years ago, Lorelei requested to go to horse camp. Not just any horse camp, but one from her horse magazine that was located in Cloudland, Georgia. There were very specific reasons this horse camp stood out to her from something local. We told her that if she saved up her own money to pay for camp, we would get her there. She worked hard to save money for the last two years, and in early November decided that she would do the one week session (she really wanted to do two weeks) because that way she could go this summer vs saving one more year for the following summer.
That should catch you up on the somewhat odd title of this post. While it was not technically on my wish list of family vacations, it was what we prioritized this year. The area was absolutely beautiful and we had a wonderful time.
We arrived around the Franklin, TN area after a full day of diving and treated ourselves to dessert at The Factory Franklin. (Never underestimate my love for ice cream!) We also grabbed some special donuts to enjoy the following morning - including a keto donut treat for Brad!
Watson brought delight to many EVERYWHERE we took him. It is always amazing to me how much people light up when they see him...I'm amazed at all the joy he brings.
The took an old stove factory and put in shops and restaurants. Love it.
Sunday morning we headed off to bring her to camp!
Five Daughters Donuts earned five stars from us! YUM.
The view out the front door of her cabin!
After drop off Brad, Makin, Watson and I headed back to Chattanooga for a grocery run before heading back down to our house rental. We found a special place to grab lunch. I absolutely love when they restore old buildings! This location was an old train station that now has restaurants inside, and apparently you can even stay the night in a train car! So fun. There is also a song from the 50s called Chattanooga Choo Choo, so this is a great way to lean into that.
The boys and I filled our week with golf and adventures while Lorelei lived her dream at camp. Makin jokes it was vacation boot camp. Brad and Makin knocked out golfing three states because we were so close to the borders of Tennessee/Alabama/Georgia. (Reminder: Brad is trying to golf all 50 states...Makin is along for the ride for now but not quite with the level of enthusiasm ;) ) We were also very close to the time zone change so we juggled that throughout the week. I ignored TLC's advice and chased many waterfalls. ;)
Evidence it was not, in fact, boot camp. ;)
Our Golf Pup
The McLamore - Georgia Course (The most beautiful course we have been to!)
Cut that a little close. ;)
Sunset at the cabin.
Pizza with a view.
Amazing view in Cloudland Canyon State Park.
Waterfalls Trail
Cherokee Falls
It felt like another world.
Hemlock Falls
Sitton's Gulch Trail (The hike that has ruined us for any other hikes because it is so amazing!)
We ate lunch on top of a large rock with a small waterfall nearby. I was THRILLED that there was a Publix for our grocery run... which means I get my beloved pasta salad! YUM.
A teensy bit tired of smiling for pics.
Showing you the rock we ate our lunch on.
Glad we weren't standing here when this thing fell down.
Roasted hot dogs for supper.
The Course at Sewanee - Tennessee Course
Orange Day Lily (These were everywhere!)
Ruby Falls Cave Tour
Waterfall in a cave. Amazing!
I am just amazed at all the varieties of flowers!
Worn. Out. (Good thing he got a power nap as we had more adventures coming up that afternoon!)
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - John Muir
Checking out Little River Falls
This kid. I really wanted to float at the bottom of a waterfall. We headed to Little River Falls thinking it would be an easier hike to be able to do that, only to find out there would be no floating there...SO, we went back to DeSoto falls and he agreed to do the fairly strenuous hike wearing water shoes and carrying a floatie so that I could have my wish, even though he was really ready to be done. Thankfully, it was so worth it! He heartily agreed. :)
DeSoto Falls
We were thankful for the pink paint markings to help us know where the trail was to get to the falls!
Another beautiful sunset.
Had to capture the smokey mountains close to sunrise.
Lil' Mole Run - Alabama Course
Island Green - they both cut that a little close!
Just another day in the life of the golf pup. ;)
Lorelei said camp was even better than she hoped it would be and was one of the best weeks of her life! She was fully responsible for her own horse and could do basically anything with him that she wanted to do. She took seven classes throughout the week and went on two trail rides. She took two classes in rodeo, two classes in stock, and two classes in hunt. She also had one vaulting class.
Highlights from each were...
Rodeo: Bonding with her horse, Pete. Being able to do barrel patterns.
Stock: Being able to have fun riding while they played music and cantering a lot.
Hunt: Posting well her first time ever posting in an English saddle and trotting over cross rails that were either 12 or 24 inches.
Vaulting: Being able to be on a draft horse and being brave enough to do the positions they asked for on the horse.
Trail Rides: Seeing a lot of nature - dear, trees bent by the Native Americans to point towards water, walking within inches of ruins from a building where they made alcohol during the prohibition, being able to canter through the woods.
Other camp activities she enjoyed were crafts, reading, card games, skit night, scavenger hunts, campfire, tie dye, and the country store.
She loved falling asleep and waking up - fell asleep to the sound of crickets chirping and horses neighing and galloping by the cabin, woke up to the sound of birds chirping and horses ready to eat breakfast. (Their cabin was in the horse pasture, so the horses would be right outside the windows at times.)
Only two girls in her cabin signed up to be a CIT (counselor in training) and they normally have 6-9, so they allowed the girls to be unofficial CITs which meant they woke up 45 minutes earlier than the other campers and went out and watered and fed the horses and brought them into the barns from the pastures. She had to muck out her own horse/s stall as well as two other horses' stalls.
She also loved her cabin and the food. The cabins were really fun. They got to play lots of games and the counselors were really fun and awesome. The food was "super super super super good." "The cooks were awesome too and they would even cook anyone their own birthday cake if it was their birthday." Her favorite camp foods were fried green tomatoes and she also learned that she likes regular tomatoes way more as well. They had dessert for both lunch and supper. She didn't eat it all those times but she just liked the fact it was an option.
Orientation
Games
Book reading during down time.
The girls in her cabin.
Tie Dye
Friendship circle was every day before bed at The Roundup. This included announcements and the friendship circle song.
The view!
Makes my heart so happy to see her dream come true.
We picked Lorelei up Friday afternoon and then celebrated Brad that evening with some treats and a movie.
Tiny little ice cream shop only open Fri/Sat/Sun so we had to stop after camp pick up!
Reunited!
We attempted a few pictures.
Happy Birthday Brad!
The next morning we headed part-way home and stopped along with way for ice cream and a putt putt course I couldn't pass up.
Slept on the back porch for her night in the cabin!
Tuckered Out.
It was raining when we arrived so we changed food plans and found this girl some fried green tomatoes.
Yes, more ice cream. It makes me happy.
One of Makin's favorite things to do on vacation is play putt putt golf, so I wanted to prioritize that and found the PERFECT place. It included a golf ball vending machine and you pushed your button for the color you wanted. So fun.
Yep. Robot theme. Loved. It.
Added bonus, they had go karts.
I couldn't resist putting a video together for this one! Hope you enjoy!
I'm so thankful for Lorelei getting to achieve her dream and also LOVED this part of the US that I hadn't seen. So thankful for all the gorgeous sights and amazing memories!
Makin wrapped up his school year May 21st, just in time for his milestone celebration the next day. This picture was taken in the evening after a hard-working-wrap-up-day, because he wasn't 100% sure he would get it all done!
(Lorelei has had to continue a couple of subjects into the summer so her photo will come later!)
Makin's favorite subject this year was math.
His favorite parts of school were the flexibility and that it was a "chill school year", homeschool PE (even though it was brief this year), robotics and the study hall and friend time at HOPE Prep.
Makin enjoyed field day with our homeschool group this year.
Adventure Club - Kayaking
We were excited to go kayaking for adventure club! It was a gorgeous day and we had an amazing time!
First time kayaking and loved it!
May Date
Treasure hunting! Golf!
Mother's Day
We had a mostly restful Sunday. So thankful to be their mom!
New Favorite Breakfast
Breakfast tacos/burritos!
Andy's HS Meet Up
Our homeschool group met up at Andy's for the last HS event of the school year.
Adventure Club - Arbor Hills
On the months when the weather is gorgeous we hope to fit in two Adventure Club meet ups, which is what happened in May! The boys led us on some trails we haven't ventured to yet and it was fabulous!
First Communion
We celebrated Makin's first communion this month. He spent some time learning about what our church believes about communion and then the families of that class took communion together that Sunday during the service.
Work From Golf
Brad found a super-fun office space he can use with a day pass.
Makin's Milestone Day
We wanted to mark the milestone of Makin's transition from middle school to high school. We made it a celebration day.
Supper choice was Red Lobster - "I'm just here for the biscuits!"
Robot Combat
Makin had been working months on his ant-weight robot and finally had a date to compete! He said he "failed miserably" but that he learned so much. The community has been super supportive and he can reach out to many of the more-experienced designers and they are happy to help/give advice/feedback. He is gearing up for his next tournament, but has to re-design, so unsure when it will be ready.
Golf - The One Where We Learned Some Courses Allow Dogs
Yep! We were surprised to learn Watson could come along, so Lorelei kept Brad company while he golfed one Sunday afternoon.
Camp Prep
She spent weeks packing and even brought some items to hang in her space.
