Author Archives: Natalie King

A gorgeous, sunny, lovely day at camp. Tuesday is beach party day- a favorite for everyone (including me and the boys). As always, they spent over an hour leaping from the dock (seriously, why aren’t my arms completely rock hard yet?!).

After dinner, Meghan and I ran the camp store, which is B team at best (neither of us knows what anything costs and we were SLOW!). Luckily the employee of the month, Xander was there to help. He was eager to get rid of me though, he kept saying, “you can go”, so eventually I took Augustus for a bath and left him and Meghan to run the show.

Augustus went to bed shortly after bath time, but Xander went to the campfire. I am so thankful every day for the wonderful staff who all take amazing care of my children, which allows them to be part of everything. Xander always comes back looking so triumphant and proud of himself. It is so cute and wonderful to watch him be independent and confident.

Today was a low key day. The boys slept from 6:45am-7:30am and still seemed kind of tired when they got up. Those 3 late nights and several busy days have really caught up with them. This week is teen week, and so we have late breakfast, so it was nice to relax and not have to be to the dining hall until 9:15. 

After breakfast, Katie took the boys to play and I got some work done. But by 11, it was SO hot and I was NOT feeling great (the steroids for poison ivy are making my stomach kind of delicate), so I was back to the air conditioned trailer and when Katie brought 2 fussy kids back, I told her to leave them with me for a while so everyone could chill for a bit. We ended up skipping dining hall lunch and eating in the trailer instead. It was cool, they ate lunch on the couch and it was much needed. 

After rest time (no naps, despite being tired), we went swimming, which was FANTASTIC. I felt like a new person once I’d cooled down.

Afterwards, we had freezie pops, and the boys played with Katie for about 45 minutes before dinner. After dinner, Xander went to work at the camp store, Augustus hung out with some counselors while I used a wire cutter from the art barn to remove the wire of a kid’s braces (with parent permission and oddly enough, not the first time I’ve done it, so I did feel qualified to do amateur orthodontic work).

Monday night is the all camp game, which Xander really wanted to play, but he was SO tired and it was still so hot out. He was very unhappy when I said he couldn’t play, but he needed to take a bath and go to bed early, which he did without much resistance.

It is supposed to be another HOT day tomorrow, but hopefully with some catch up on rest, the boys will be able to be a little more active with camp like usual.

On Sunday, campers check in from 3-4pm, go to an opening pepfest where we all dance around, move into their cabins, get their group photos taken, have dinner and settle into camp. Yesterday was 90 degrees and ZERO breeze. But look at all the cute pictures of these boys!

helping at the check in table

at dinner

dancing at the pepfest

checking the lighting for the group photo board

What a SUPER fun weekend! I seem to say that every weekend, but every weekend has been so fun and this weekend was a blast! My best friend and her 3 kids came for the weekend. Char and Evie are 6 and Lucas is 4.5. Big kids! I spent a lot of time with the girls when they were babies, but it was really special to be able to spend time with them now that they are older. And seriously, is there anything better than a BFF who I’ve known for 20 years?!?! It just couldn’t have been a better weekend- perfect weather, SO much god food, and NONSTOP activity.

Nate had a mishap with his phone (it ended up sailing, from his car roof onto the highway), so he didn’t make it to camp until late on Friday. Christine and kiddos were there before lunch, so we had a whole day of camp fun- 2 moms and 5 kids six and under!

The Nelson family joined us for all camp lunch and the closing Friday program. And as soon as the end of the week staff meeting was over at 3, we all headed down to the beach for swimming.

After dinner, we put all 5 kids in a canoe for a quick paddle around the lake. Neither of us is a huge fan of canoeing, but we ROCKED!

We made a campfire and had some s’mores.

We needed to go on one more quick golf cart ride at the end of the day, which led us to the mudpit and ended in 5 muddy children and 2 muddy moms at 9pm! And a minor disaster when Augustus (who was naked as usual) got stung by a bee. Christine hosed all of us off, scrubbing my legs while I held a screaming baby. We got back to the trailer where I could baking soda paste and ice the sting, give him some benedryl and stress out. But he was brave and by the next day, the swelling was gone and he was back to normal.

Saturday was a FULL day of EVERY camp activity. We played gaga ball, did an art project, rode the golf cart everywhere, paddle boarded, paddle boated, swam, visited the camp store (Xander was able to run it on his own!), tried out the ninja warrior wall, drove the jeep, shot archery, took a pontoon boat ride, and ended the day with a campfire where we made super s’mores (which included chocolate sauce and caramel sauce on top of regular s’mores). I am tired just typing all of that. It was SO much fun and also, a few times, Christine and I looked at each other, like, “holy cow” and then camp counselor-ed on with our crew.

After we did all of that (including feeding 5 children breakfast, lunch and dinner (which is no joke), and gave them bath/showers, and put them to bed once they were all INCREDIBLY over-tired, we ended the day with mojitos and adult conversation. What a FULL day! It was SOOOO fun!

Today we woke up and Xander looked so tired (I felt a little guilty)! We had a nice breakfast, visited a camper cabin (which they really wanted to see), picked one fun thing to do (archery) and had one last golf cart ride. The Nelson kiddos did attempt to convince their mom to let them stay and did threaten that they weren’t going to leave, but we managed to get them in the van (not happy though). Nate hung out for a little while longer, but then he left too. It was hard to say goodbye after so much fun, but it was good to get back to regular camp life. Katie came to hang out with the boys and campers arrived. It was SWELTERING today and SO miserably hot. After dinner it started to rain and so the boys and I went back to the trailer, took baths and both were asleep by 6:45pm!

Perfect weekend! I took over 100 pictures and so did Christine and I wish we could do it again! Next year for sure!

One of my staff needed to fly home for a day to take care of some personal things and so it ended up making the most sense for me to drive him. I don’t leave camp mid-week very often, but it was a nice treat to be able to see Nate and my mom. We left after breakfast on Wednesday. Xander has some carsickness, so we had to stop for vomit explosions and clothes changes twice. But we made it home and had lunch and then my mom came over. She and the boys played, we went to visit Nate at his office and then when he got home, he and I went out to a wonderful sushi dinner.

Thursday morning, we started the day with a quick visit to the doctor. I’ve had poison ivy for about a week and it’s been steadily spreading, so I knew I needed a steroid so I could avoid the head to toe, eyes swollen shut emergency room trip of 2015. Been there, no need to do it ever again. After the doctor, we went to the bakery for donuts.

My mom came over again and we all headed to the park for swimming, playground and picnic.

Augustus napped all afternoon, Xander and Grandma played until they were both going to drop, I went grocery shopping, and then Nate got home and we had dinner.

After bathtime, we loaded up the car and headed to the airport at 8:15pm.

Fernando is the staff member we picked up and he hadn’t eaten yet, so we stopped at McDonald’s. From the backseat, Xander said, “um, maybe we should get something?” and I said, “what do you want? It’s 9pm!”

“French fries and a cheeseburger.”

Augustus grunted in agreement.

I looked at Fernando and said, “This is a mistake! This is going to end badly” and ordered my babies 9pm happy meals!

I watched them in the rearview mirror, munching on fries while watching a movie, remembering what a perfect parent I was BEFORE I had children. My children were NEVER going to so much as taste McDonalds. We would have strict bedtimes. And ZERO screentime.

The good news is that 9pm happy meals did not end in disaster. They were both content, did a great job and were asleep by 10pm. We got back to camp at 11:30, I carried in 2 sleeping babies, and today is a gorgeous sunny day!

Success!

It’s ninja warrior week at camp! The course was set up for the big kids, but my kids were the first ones to test out some of the pieces. I think Katie might have gotten the best workout, because she was amazing at lifting and carrying little boys through the parts they couldn’t do!

After ninja warrior time, we headed to the beach party (I don’t have any photos!) and then it was lunch and playtime all afternoon.

Tuesday night is the campfire and counselor show. We didn’t stay for long because I had some tired boys, but it was good to eat a s’more!

During the ninja warrior course, I was filming for facebook live. Below is the link to maybe the best video ever. It’s long- 7.5 minutes. But do not miss out on the 20 seconds starting at 4minutes 40 seconds in. I have watched it at least 6 times and I laugh out loud every time.

https://www.facebook.com/CYCMN/videos/2286597728325348/

Xander dumping his tray at the end of dinner

Ready for Angels and Demons

tired after a full day of fun.

Back to normal camp life. Nate left this morning (after the boys had given his car a quick squirt gun wash).

Sundays are pretty much the same every week- lead staff meeting at 12:30, staff meeting at 1, projects around camp until campers start arriving at 3.

The boys helped me with check in for a while.

Then they spent the day playing with Katie. They were so excited to see her when she got back to camp this morning. And at bedtime, when I asked about what made Xander happy today he said, “playing with Katie!”

After dinner and a few things I needed to get done in the office, the boys and I headed home for baths, playtime and bedtime. Meghan stopped by while we were in the midst of after-bath snack time. We talked about some camp things while I fed Augustus a bagel and yogurt (alternating bites). The majority of our important professional business meetings involve children on my lap touching my face while I talk, children eating (and needing help), naked children, children screaming, or some combination of the above. I’m not sure I’d even know how to have a regular adult meeting at this point. 

What a great weekend! Campers left on Wednesday afternoon and we’ve had 3 full days of relaxing and playing. Our weekends are usually pretty short, so this weekend has been a treat! On Thursday, my mom, my aunt Cindy, my cousin’s son Mikey, my brother Danny and his wife Heather (and of course, their dog Buddha), as well as my cousin Jason, his wife Michelle, and their sons Jackson and Sawyer all came to camp. We spent the day paddle boarding, paddle boating, swimming, and hanging out around camp. We shot archery, played a bunch of games, ate some great meals, and made s’mores!  

We celebrated 4th of July- we attempted to watch fireworks on the lake, but the mosquitoes won the battle and we all ended up inside. 

My grandma’s 5 great grand sons all in the same place for the first time ever!

Friday we spent more time kayaking, paddle boarding, paddle boating, swimming and playing.

#nofilter

Xander and Augustus’s new favorite activity is jumping off the dock, over and over and over again.

Nate had to work on Friday, but arrived on Friday night, in time for dinner, a campfire and some games. This morning we got up and swam for a while, and then all of our guests left after lunch. Nate, the boys and I relaxed, played, and I got a bunch of things on my “to-do” list done. We even had time for some impromptu family photos in a field of flowers.

Tomorrow Nate has to go home, campers return and it’s back to regular camp life.

Another 2 hour swim time for the boys today. It was hot and sunny and they both jumped off the dock about 20 times each.

Augustus was so tired after swimming, he fell asleep on the way back to our camper to change clothes and I briefly considered skipping lunch so he could sleep. However, after lunch, he was not as tired and did not want to nap. After not napping al of rest time, I handed him off to Katie, who walked him around in the stroller until he fell asleep and then I worked while he slept and Katie and Xander ran around and had fun. 

Monday-Thursday, the lead staff sit at the camper tables during dinner so that counselors can take turns sitting at the head table with Meghan and I. It’s a good time to check in and also gives them a little break from the kids. I had to decide if I should change the whole policy about where lead staff sit or if I should let him sit at a different table. He sat with Mary. He even carried his tray over by himself. I was proud of him for being independent, but I was genuinely emotional and sad. Is this what it feels like when your kid goes off to college? Mary is amazing and helped him with dinner, and at one point, she was shading his face from the sun coming in and helping him eat (I’m not sure she even got to eat). He ate his dinner and was fine without me and looked quite proud of himself for his independence. 

After dinner, Xander went to his job in the camp store. When I went in, he asked what I wanted to order and once I got a bottle of water, he told me to have a nice day. When I didn’t leave, he said, “What are you still doing here?” and I said, “you guys are still here!” and he said, “We work here!” and then literally dismissed me with a wave.

After his shift at the store ended, he and Katie headed off to the dance party. He BARELY gave me a wave and a casual, “bye mom”. Some days he still needs 5 hugs and kisses before I leave him with Katie for an hour, but this “cool dude” thing is new and hopefully temporary. Because I’m definitely contemplating a new baby, a puppy or getting a hobby, because I have LOST my baby!

pre-dane party dancing

The mom part of me is trying not to cry (he was just a tiny baby!). The child development professional knows that he is gaining self confidence, problem solving skills, independence, communication, and so so many other important life skills. When he is not with me, he is with Katie or someone she specifically hands him off to. He’s not just wandering around camp (although he thinks he is). I trust all of the staff 100% and I know they are watching him closely, treating him with kindness and patience and genuinely have his best interest in mind. I know he is safe, loved and being well cared for. This is an ideal situation for him to grow and learn and blossom. He has gone from a baby to a little boy in front of me and it is miraculous to watch and also breaking my heart a little bit. He is so smart and funny and curious and I HOPE he retains some of these memories as he grows up.