I love summer!

Sunday another camp session began. We had a relaxing weekend (well, Saturday anyway) between sessions. The last session was awesome and went very smoothly. It was unseasonably hot, though not having rain interrupt was nice.

Our days have fallen into a pleasant rhythm, as they do in the summer. The kids and I get up and head off to breakfast at 8:00, come home for awhile so Elizabeth can nap, go to lunch at 12:20, then come back home for afternoon naps for Elizabeth, Avery, and sometimes Shannon. We then have enough time to play for awhile before dinner at 6:00. Sometimes we splash in the driveway pool here at the house, go to the lake to swim with the campers, or head off to the Lodge to play. Evenings after dinner there is always a camp-wide activity where all the campers play a big group game, usually tribe against tribe for points. We hang out and watch every evening, heading up to the house for much-needed baths around 8:45. Shannon bikes everywhere now, even down the big hill by the lake with us following on the golf cart. Amelia is riding well too, but isn't as aggressive or brave as he is yet. Her bike is also too small for her, which makes it harder for her to ride.

This past week my mom came up to join us. She'll be here most of the summer. Between the two of us we're taking care of the kids and helping with some camp duties. It's been nice for me to get out of the house and into camp some, and I can usually take a kid or two with me. Spending one-on-one time with any of them doesn't happen too often. The kids call them "dates." This past week I lent a hand at the barn on trail ride days and got to guide some rides. A real burden for me, to be sure! I've been getting up about 6:30 to ride each morning and then getting back to the house to get everyone ready for breakfast. I've acquired a small Quarter Horse I've taken on as a personal project, so it's been fun putting some time in on him.

I've said it before, but just let me say again that I LOVE SUMMER! Laid back days, fun going on everywhere out in camp, low stress, accomplishing projects at home, and more time to enjoy the kids are what makes this time of year my favorite. Swimming is a definite bonus too. I've decided that if I could have one kind of domestic help at home it would be a cook. Not that I mind cooking, I just don't like all the time it takes to plan, cook, and clean up after a meal. Just by not having to do that I'm adding at least three hours to my day.

A quick photo of Elizabeth's newest trick:

Lots of babies are walking and running by a year old. Not ours, but at least she can stand up now. She figured this out last week. It's the only place she's pulled up, though she will stand holding on to something if we put her there.

Last week the kids and I got away and went to the spray park in Gainesville. We hadn't been there yet this summer so we packed a lunch and off we went. Elizabeth's morning nap gets in the way some days, but this day we skipped it. That was evident by lunch time. We had fun anyway!



They were a little bummed that we weren't meeting friends that day, particularly Amelia. I told her they could make new friends to play with while they were there.







Amelia got busy making friends right away. There were several girls who looked about her age, so she approached these two.

Pretty soon they were headed off to the other side of the spray ground with each other.

But wait, what's this? A rift in the friendship after only 35 seconds?

Amelia came over and informed me that the ringleader of the two just wanted to play with her cousin and not with her. I made sure she knew that wasn't a very nice way to treat other people and that we shouldn't do that in case we make someone feel bad. She nodded then went over to sit in a puddle and mull it over.

The unfairness of playground politics!

She really did sit there sad looking for a few minutes, and just when I was getting ready to scoop up Elizabeth and head that way...

A few other girls approached her to see what was wrong.

They must have convinced her that life wasn't all bad because seconds later she was walking off with them holding hands. No doubt little people dramas like this one unfold all around us thousands of times a day. Kind of like big people dramas. On an unrelated note, might I take this moment to comment that as much as I loved my babies I am REALLY glad not to be the lady in the background of this picture!!

Shannon made friends right away too, and was truly happy to share the water gun he brought with the other envious little boys. Here's one showing his gratitude by shooting him. I'm not sure I need to worry too much about my children's "socialization" as homeschoolers.



We've also been enjoying the lake at camp. We don't swim in it everyday, as much as the kids would like that. That's mainly because when there's swimming in the lake there's sand from the beach stuck to feet, down bathingsuits, in hair, and everywhere, and swimming time always falls right before dinner time.

Elizabeth enjoys the lake with Grandmom.







Good hair!



Friday after camp ended our family and several counselors went to Rebecca's house for dinner and some Wii. It was fun hanging out with everyone outside of the camp setting. We really do have a great group of folks working here this summer.

The girl band rocks on Guitar Hero- Priscilla (Hugs), Sarah (Scuttle), Jill (Grits), and Meagan (Button). All Strong Rock staffers have nicknames and sometimes by the end of the summer it's hard to remember their real names!

Josh (Pivot) give the drums a try.

Boy band time- Josh (Colorado), Michael (Cricket), C.J. (Swat), and Matt (Tag).

Adoring fans. (C.J., Heather (Gert), and James (Shuffle).)

And then my camera battery died so no more pictures.

Except this one, which was what Elizabeth was doing while the counselors rocked out.

Perhaps we'll have another dress up queen on our hands one day.

Someday soon I'll post photos of the weekend Jeep fun. One of our program directors Mary Beth (Trip) had family members come visit this past weekend. Her brother worked here a couple of summers ago and is now married and they have a little boy. Their son stayed with me while James took Shannon, him and his wife, and a couple of other staffers "Jeeping" on some local forest service roads. Our camp photographer Jackie (Snaps) took A A A LOT of photos so I'll have to sort through them and find fun ones to post. Since I couldn't go myself I sent my camera with her.

Today Amelia took a nasty spill from her bike and got some nice road rash, including her nose. I felt awful for her. Her bike is really too small and I think that was a lot of the problem. She was going down a slight incline and somehow got to wobbling and couldn't recover on that little bike. Amelia, I'll try to take pictures just for you. One day you can see them and prove that you suffered abuse as a child. Your mom wouldn't let you quit until you learned how to ride a bike- and look what it got you!

I'll also try to get out in camp and take some more pictures this week. It's a short session, and will be over Friday. :(

And last but not least, some good news...I have a new niece! Yesterday at 8:00ish PM my brother and his wife had their daughter Reagan Olivia, who was 8 pounds 4 ounces and 21 inches long. I'll try to post some pictures of her as well. I'm really looking forward to meeting her but will probably do so when I don't have to bring along the entire herd of Himstedts. Yay for being an aunt!

Goodnight!