Camp

Hello!  I have not fallen off the planet- we just had a very busy and dramatic week.  Both BB and I ended up in the ER on different days for different ailments and we still aren't exactly sure what either of us had, but it scared us nonetheless! I was in bed all weekend with a mystery virus and got it together in time to get the older children to camp on Sunday evening. 


Last year we took our children to this camp, but we rented a lake house nearby so they could sleep with us at night.  They had such a great time and begged and begged to spend the night there so this year was their first overnight camp experience.  We haven't heard from them at all since we dropped them off Sunday, but the pictures look like they are having the time of their life!  


The camp is at a Catholic boarding school so they stay in dorms 2-4 to a room.  Julia has a sweet roommate that we know from homeschooling, and Marc is in a room with 3 other homeschooled boys we know. 

Here's Julia getting dropped off in her dorm.  This is the last picture where her hair will be fixed for a week!  :)  I BEGGED her to have people help her fix her hair, but looking at all the camp pictures it is clear she didn't do that.  I guess that's the camp experience.

Sunday night they did team building exercises in the gym- cheers, dances, games- it looks like fun!

Monday- more team building games, pottery, tie-dying shirts, and candle making!  :)

Almost every single day of camp they swim, canoe and kayak in the lake- and they jump on "the blob"-

The girls' dorm had an icecream social Monday night!

Tuesday they went horseback riding-

And they made rosaries-

It rained so there are a lot of pictures of them playing kickball and dodgeball in the gym-

Wednesday they went rock climbing at a park-

Thursday  morning had more lake time- fishing, kayaking, swimming.  They also played tennis and Frisbee golf and did archery.  

After lunch they went to a water park and had a talent show after supper.

I can't wait to go see them this afternoon!!!!

Zoo day

Tennis lessons were cancelled this morning so we made lemonade and headed to the zoo.  It was a perfect day for it and I even let them play in the splash pad.

Sissy has been making picnics for the boys a lot with the play food.  She is so sweet with them.  

Tonight was kids night at Wings with free kids meals and balloon animals- it was a hit.  :) 

Sissy got a horse, Tucker and Charlie got puppies and Marc got a sword.  

Tennis camp and Tucker's buddy

Well, this week the older two children are going to tennis 'camp'.  It's really more of a clinic- just 2 hours in the morning, but they are so excited.  Last summer was a camp extravaganza and when it came to this summer and I said "out of all the camps you did last year- which do you definitely want to do again?" they said "tennis" of all things!  I was shocked, but I'm glad they like it.  And our neighborhood does have tennis courts so I'd love for them to be able to really play.  

They love going to camps and classes.  Marc said, "sign me up for as many as you can find."  :)  And because we are together all year long with homeschooling, I'm happy to have them off having experiences in the summer.  

Tucker has a special treat in store this week- he's going to BB's house for a couple nights by himself.  BB and Poppy like to have them one at a time sometimes so they can really get to know them individually.  They all talk more and open up more when they are one on one.  Tucker is such a character- it's going to be such a treat.  I will miss him!

He has made himself a "tinker toy friend" that he carries around the house.  He eats breakfast with "him" and takes him wherever he goes- he even sleeps with tinker toy friend (whom I call "Senor Tinker").  

I said, "go upstairs and get dressed."  I hear "C'mon tinker toy friend let's go get dressed!"  :)

Tonight we were cleaning the playroom after Charlie was in bed.  I always make everyone be SO SUPER QUIET when Charlie is sleeping because he's a light sleeper.  We were so shocked when we heard,

 "Evahwewon be qwiet!  I seeping" from Sharshee's room.  :)

------

Right after I blogged that I heard the shuffle of little footy jammies in the hall outside my bedroom door.  I said, "who's there?" and a little head popped out with a tinker toy cross and said, "Have mercy on you."  :)

Mommy: "what are you doing down here?!  You should be up in bed."

Tucker: "I'm just trying to put love on everybody.  Where's Daddy?"

Mommy:  "He's at the store.  You must go up to bed now."

Tucker:  "When he gets home send him up so I can bless him."

Mommy:  "Will do. I love you."  :)

Footnote:  When Daddy got home I sent him upstairs and Tucker was asleep.  Marc bent down to kiss his forehead and he woke up suddenly-

"Oh Daddy- wait- I have something for you."  He held the cross up towards Marc and said, "Mercy be on you Daddy."  :)  

Sunday pics