It was your typical Monday at camp- tons of fun and very busy. Xander, Augustus and Katie were busy playing in the morning.
We swam for 2 hours after lunch, ate some freezie pops and then the plan was to nap, but neither child was interested in that, so they played until dinner.
On Monday nights, the all camp game is Angels and Demons. Kids have to run through the woods, stopping at 3 different angels to get a little piece of paper signed. Once all have signed it, they bring it back to their team bucket. Whichever team has the most, wins. But the scary demons can tag you and take your paper and then you have to start over. Kids LOVE this game. And my kid is no different. He loves it.
When I asked him last night if he would miss me while he was gone, he said, “Mom. Sometimes I need to do things on my own.” I was like, “you’re 3!”
He played while Augustus took a bath and then went to bed at 6:30 (he was SO tired!).
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 on Sundays, all of the cabins get their group photo taken. I attempted to take one with the boys today, but the lighting was weird and Augustus wasn’t feeling it. Xander (as always) was a ham. We’ll have to try again next week.
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.
Augustus woke up from his nap feeling extra snuggly and not at all interested in being awake yet.
When we got to dinner, Xander said to me, “sorry Mom. I’m going to sit with the big kids.” He ADORES Mary and didn’t want to leave her side. I tried convincing him to stay with me and he said, “you’ll still be abel to see me.”
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, Augustus helped pick up chairs so we could set up for the dance party.
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.
My favorite part of every day is when we wake up and the kids play and I can sit and drink coffee and look at my phone. Today I had 2 clingy boys, so they ate breakfast on my lap and then stayed glued to me most of the morning. I know that someday I will miss the feeling of warm little bodies in my arms, so I try to soak in the snuggles, even if it meant my morning quiet time didn’t happen.
We stayed at home for breakfast today. Some days, Augustus just doesn’t want to get dressed (as in, he was naked all morning, and yes, he peed on the floor twice) and we move kind of slow and it’s better to just eat at home, rather than try to rush them off to the dining hall.
After a slow start to our day, we managed to have a FULL jam packed day of fun! Katie and the boys played all morning long. They rode their bikes and ran around. I fought with the internet that didn’t work and tie dyed with the campers and was busy with a million things.
After lunch, instead of resting (because they never want to rest anyway), we went to the beach to paddle board and swim with Meghan. We were there for 2 hours and they would have stayed longer, but I made them leave so they could rest before the fell over from exhaustion.
After swimming, they ate freeze pops naked and relaxed. Xander got dressed and then ran off to go help Meghan with some golf cart maintenance. Augustus and I took a nap (I dozed off before him, and then woke up after 10 minutes to find him asleep, naked and completely sprawled out in bed.
After maintenance with Meghan, he went off to find Mary and Katie. He is always happy to follow them around and ask questions about what they are doing.
At dinner, Xander was adamant that he was going to sit with Jacob (who was sitting with some campers tonight). I had to do a lot of coaxing to convince him to sit with me. Xander adores Jacob and Mary (both lead staff) and wants to follow them everywhere. So if they are sitting with the big kids, he wants to. That’s a very new development and I can’t imagine my baby going off to sit with big kids, but I have a feeling that might be coming soon.
After dinner, I thought we were going to go home for an early bath time since Xander had not stopped moving since the morning, but he had other plans! He got himself a job! He sat with Mary in the camp store and assisted the whole time. His customer service was excellent.
After camp store, he still wasn’t done. On Monday nights, the all camp game is called Angels and Demons and involves kids running through the forest getting chased by “demons” (counselors). Xander was ready to run fast and be with the big kids. I took Augustus home for bath time and told X to tell Katie whenever he got tired. He said, “if I get tired, Katie can carry me home”. I told him not to play so hard he couldn’t walk, but that Katie would take him home whenever he was ready. He played the whole game and came home at 8pm!
