The coolers are home. The kids are in bed. Mom and Dad are both breathing easier again. Our princess had the time of her life learning great skills like how to make a fire starter, how to open a pocket knife and how to make home made ice cream. She also caught her first fish, rode a horse, and did her first Zip! She has driven her brothers crazy with the songs she's learned, acquired a ton of decorated safety pins on her camp hat, grown closer to her best friend and made some new ones. All in all, a successful venture for the girl.
What about mom? What has day camp done for her? Besides sharing some time with these girls, and helping them learn new skills, I got to see, once again, our children are more capable than we give them credit for. Sure I felt nauseous watching my daughter climb a 25 foot rope web to the zip platform. I felt like they were nuts giving the smallest girl the biggest horse. (I didn't care if she asked for it!) And what mom isn't a bit freaked by live bait and barbed hooks in the hands of their five year old? Yet she didn't just "do it" she excelled. She was so proud that SHE went backwards on the zip line. (THANKS MM for that story. She would have done it blindfolded too if she had remembered her bandanna.) She caught and landed a fish! She climbed on that horse herself, and sat tall. SHE was amazing...(as were all the girls.)
Some of the other girls wormed their way in too. And Miss S, I'll miss you too.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Girl Scout Camp. Girl Scout Camp.
We have just completed day two of Girl Scout Camp, where I am princess D's adult unit leader. Lucky for me, Mickey Mouse (our teen) does the leading. The girls all have proclaimed her their best friend. The weather, while scorching yesterday, was quite pleasant today and supposed to maintain decent temps and sunshine until we're done. I hope so!
Day one was getting to know you, set up, and the worm lady. Worm Lady?
Yes, a nice lady with a compost bin, complete with worms, in her garage came around to each group to have a "worm petting zoo" and talk about composting & recycling. It made the girls day, nothing like squirmy and helpful. They can related to that.
Today was our HORSE day, and the girls just couldn't have been more excited. REAL horses, and they were going to ride them! Miss D, true to form was the first one to speak up.
"I want a BIG horse!" And so the smallest rider got the biggest horse. Such spunk that girl has!
Painting in the morning, horses after lunch, and learning how to open and close a pocket knife can really wear a girl down though. She slept all the way home.
Tomorrow is day 3, our big walking day, with four activities scheduled. Can't wait to see how it goes.
Day one was getting to know you, set up, and the worm lady. Worm Lady?
Yes, a nice lady with a compost bin, complete with worms, in her garage came around to each group to have a "worm petting zoo" and talk about composting & recycling. It made the girls day, nothing like squirmy and helpful. They can related to that.
Today was our HORSE day, and the girls just couldn't have been more excited. REAL horses, and they were going to ride them! Miss D, true to form was the first one to speak up.
"I want a BIG horse!" And so the smallest rider got the biggest horse. Such spunk that girl has!
Painting in the morning, horses after lunch, and learning how to open and close a pocket knife can really wear a girl down though. She slept all the way home.
Tomorrow is day 3, our big walking day, with four activities scheduled. Can't wait to see how it goes.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Happy (Late Birthday) to Bob (E1 from here on)
With VBS and cub scout camp, we haven't really caught our breath long enough to celebrate. I owe him a present and a movie, and our newly deca-dent child is okay with that.
Being able to roll with the punches and deal with things that aren't "exactly right" are new character traits in our second born son, and ones that take a heap of anxiety off his mom.
E1 has always been my exacting child. He had to have the "right clothes", a clean room, and perfect grades for his world to be going right. My favorite quote from him, was in anguish one afternoon he exclaimed "I just want ONE perfect day!"
In the last couple of months he's learned perfection is great to strive for, but imperfection is a part of life. Even if he's perfect, the rest of the world is not. Thankfully he's aware he makes mistakes too, sometimes painfully.
So now we celebrate him being okay the way God made him, imperfections and all. He makes the rest of us toe the line a little more seriously, eat healthier, attempt to be neater, and watch our words more. So he's a perfect fit in our family.
Being able to roll with the punches and deal with things that aren't "exactly right" are new character traits in our second born son, and ones that take a heap of anxiety off his mom.
E1 has always been my exacting child. He had to have the "right clothes", a clean room, and perfect grades for his world to be going right. My favorite quote from him, was in anguish one afternoon he exclaimed "I just want ONE perfect day!"
In the last couple of months he's learned perfection is great to strive for, but imperfection is a part of life. Even if he's perfect, the rest of the world is not. Thankfully he's aware he makes mistakes too, sometimes painfully.
So now we celebrate him being okay the way God made him, imperfections and all. He makes the rest of us toe the line a little more seriously, eat healthier, attempt to be neater, and watch our words more. So he's a perfect fit in our family.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Mr. M, another year has flown the coop for you!
This year, my dear husband is 41. Middle age is telling on him a bit. He has to wear a hat or sunscreen on his head when we're outside. There are little crinkles around his eyes from his smile. He goes to bed earlier, most of the time. He's definitely a bit softer than he was when I met him at twenty-seven, and I don't just mean his shoulders either.
Being married and having children changes a man. In Mr. M, he's had to find his courage and come out of his shell, to jump off high dives and lead Tiger Cubs. He's found the end of his patience, after telling a kid to do a chore for the billionth time, and then extended it when another child is trying to put on their own clothes and shoes when we're already late. He's had to learn how to be a somewhat social being instead of a hermit, because having children introduces you to so many people through their activities.
In our marriage, he is the anchor and strength. While I'm juggling kids and calendars, he quietly makes sure the laundry and dishes are done. While I'm driving to three different practices, he's vacuuming the living room floor. He brings order and stability to my energy and chaos.
Happy Birthday Bear. Hopefully your years will double, and then some.
Being married and having children changes a man. In Mr. M, he's had to find his courage and come out of his shell, to jump off high dives and lead Tiger Cubs. He's found the end of his patience, after telling a kid to do a chore for the billionth time, and then extended it when another child is trying to put on their own clothes and shoes when we're already late. He's had to learn how to be a somewhat social being instead of a hermit, because having children introduces you to so many people through their activities.
In our marriage, he is the anchor and strength. While I'm juggling kids and calendars, he quietly makes sure the laundry and dishes are done. While I'm driving to three different practices, he's vacuuming the living room floor. He brings order and stability to my energy and chaos.
Happy Birthday Bear. Hopefully your years will double, and then some.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
VBS 2010 is a wrap
Last night was the cumulation of Saddle Ridge Ranch. Each child had their own idea of what the highlights were.
Our oldest was the "adult" in the play, earned by his ablity to memorize and being an incoming 6th grader this year. Of the VBS itself, the uncontested favorite activity of both him was the crosses they made out of burned out matches. I just hope the kids weren't the ones lighting all those bonfires before-hand.
Bob's favorite thing was that his birthday was Friday and now he's deca-dent. (10). His other favorite things were the imitation bacon bits...and singing, loudly.
Chip & Princess D both enjoyed their craft times immensely. They both brought home covered wagons made with real fabric! They also were proud to memorize the A'B'C's of VBS. (Admit your a sinner, Believe Jesus died for us, Confess your sins to him.)
Princess P and Si guy were there too, back in the pre-school/nursery department. Princess P had the coolest teacher EVER, getting to wash dishes, go on hikes with her "fire-fly lantern" through the halls, make crafts every day, and more!
Si Guy was in my room, which was interesting to say the least. His favorite parts were the pretend horses and cabin, the building toys, and being Captain Clingon whenever I paid attention to the "wrong" child.
It was first, and hopefully only year, being a lead teacher. I LOVED my kids. It was great sharing with them about creation, Joseph, Zaccheus, Jesus, and Paul. It was great seeing their beaming smiles as they realized God is into the little people. Now I get to sit back and watch the seeds we planted grow...(literally too. We planted grass seeds on Thursday.)
All in all it was a blessed year, a great time for all, yet somehow I'm still relieved that it's a wrap.
Our oldest was the "adult" in the play, earned by his ablity to memorize and being an incoming 6th grader this year. Of the VBS itself, the uncontested favorite activity of both him was the crosses they made out of burned out matches. I just hope the kids weren't the ones lighting all those bonfires before-hand.
Bob's favorite thing was that his birthday was Friday and now he's deca-dent. (10). His other favorite things were the imitation bacon bits...and singing, loudly.
Chip & Princess D both enjoyed their craft times immensely. They both brought home covered wagons made with real fabric! They also were proud to memorize the A'B'C's of VBS. (Admit your a sinner, Believe Jesus died for us, Confess your sins to him.)
Princess P and Si guy were there too, back in the pre-school/nursery department. Princess P had the coolest teacher EVER, getting to wash dishes, go on hikes with her "fire-fly lantern" through the halls, make crafts every day, and more!
Si Guy was in my room, which was interesting to say the least. His favorite parts were the pretend horses and cabin, the building toys, and being Captain Clingon whenever I paid attention to the "wrong" child.
It was first, and hopefully only year, being a lead teacher. I LOVED my kids. It was great sharing with them about creation, Joseph, Zaccheus, Jesus, and Paul. It was great seeing their beaming smiles as they realized God is into the little people. Now I get to sit back and watch the seeds we planted grow...(literally too. We planted grass seeds on Thursday.)
All in all it was a blessed year, a great time for all, yet somehow I'm still relieved that it's a wrap.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
June is here!
It's ironic that the more I have to share, the less time I have to write. Such is June.
Events of June include four important birthdays, VBS, day camp for both boy and girl scouts, an out of state trip for our oldest, and hopefully lots of trips to the pool, thanks to my awesome in-laws.
It's sink or swim time.
Week one was the warm up. We've had a great time trying to clean the house, hanging out with friends, and going to the pool twice! This is a new record for us. In the past, we made it to the pool about once a month. Twice in a week to two different pools even, was quite an event. So what's changed?
Well, for starters, Si has. Until about two months ago, any trip to the pool had to include a separate place to hang out for him. He didn't just dislike the pool. He'd scream from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Such a trip to Matt Ross started out, where we HAD to wait at the pool until my friend arrived to hang with the boys. Then Si discovered the water was warm. And then he discovered fun noodles, currents, and that floating was fun. We spent two HOURS walking him around that little "cruise loop".....and then he discovered the joy of waterslides. A tadpole was born.
The other thing to change was Princess P. Last summer, unless both parents were going and she was wearing a life jacket, forget it. She'd find the deepest spot of any pool and try to jump in. Ever see a hippo run??? If you saw me at the pool last summer you did.
This summer, she wants to learn how to swim...or just go down slides for hours on end and hog the air-filled foam mat at the bottom. Works for me, as long as they both want to slide.
Events of June include four important birthdays, VBS, day camp for both boy and girl scouts, an out of state trip for our oldest, and hopefully lots of trips to the pool, thanks to my awesome in-laws.
It's sink or swim time.
Week one was the warm up. We've had a great time trying to clean the house, hanging out with friends, and going to the pool twice! This is a new record for us. In the past, we made it to the pool about once a month. Twice in a week to two different pools even, was quite an event. So what's changed?
Well, for starters, Si has. Until about two months ago, any trip to the pool had to include a separate place to hang out for him. He didn't just dislike the pool. He'd scream from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Such a trip to Matt Ross started out, where we HAD to wait at the pool until my friend arrived to hang with the boys. Then Si discovered the water was warm. And then he discovered fun noodles, currents, and that floating was fun. We spent two HOURS walking him around that little "cruise loop".....and then he discovered the joy of waterslides. A tadpole was born.
The other thing to change was Princess P. Last summer, unless both parents were going and she was wearing a life jacket, forget it. She'd find the deepest spot of any pool and try to jump in. Ever see a hippo run??? If you saw me at the pool last summer you did.
This summer, she wants to learn how to swim...or just go down slides for hours on end and hog the air-filled foam mat at the bottom. Works for me, as long as they both want to slide.
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