Last week has been in the works since last July. 5 nights of camping, 10 hours of swimming lessons, 21 kids under 11, 5 moms. It was an adventure for sure, lots of work, lots of fun!
The preparation was the hardest part. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I like to make lists. But I had list after list after list.
They were obviously very excited on the way there.
It was clearly going to be a beautiful week.
Camp all set up.
It was just beautiful.
Playing in the creek was one of their favorite things to do.
Mud, rocks, water and permission to get as dirty as he wanted was heaven for Anderson.
I didn't mind the creek either. Cold water to soak my feet in, cool breeze, happy kids.
Emma always found beautiful flowers wherever we went.
And... snakes?! She couldn't get enough of it. I was shocked because she is often timid about things like that. We took this little guy back to camp to show everyone. He ended up getting mad while Emma had him out of his box and bit her. He had no teeth and didn't really hurt her but it still scared her and I'm not sure she'll ever touch a snake again.
Briggs was less excited to hold him than Emma, but had to have his turn, too.
Honestly, Anderson was a little bit of a whirlwind. Into lots of things and hard to keep track of. But I knew a 2 year old would be like that. He doesn't usually wander by himself, so he followed around older kids but generally stayed pretty close to me and didn't get into much trouble. He was really good.
He tried out every camp chair at our camp. This was the winner.
The kids were exhausted and slept in everyday. I love sleeping kids. Anderson never sleeps this spread out, but he was enjoying himself because he slept like this every night.
Maddie had to sleep by Anderson to help him. She is such a little mother. Also, you can see her hair here. I felt like I did hair over and over and over again all week trying to keep their hair healthy and out of the way.
Emma may be going off to 1st grade, but she is still my baby and needs her mom. Falling asleep next to me every night was one of her favorite things.
Anderson and Maddie.
Briggs is the soundest sleeper of them all. And loves camping the most. He did not want to go home.
Anderson couldn't quite figure out the goggles. He has eyes in there somewhere.
Briggs is all boy, but also so tender hearted. I always find him helping other little kids, especially little girls. He was determined to give her a ride on his bike.
Briggs rode his bike to and from the pool several times a day, as well as up and down the hill. He loved it. During this week, the girls may have become great swimmers, but this kid rides a bike like a pro now.
Living the life.
Wednesday we went into Rexburg and rode on the carousel. Anderson just looked around saying, "Wow! Horse! Wow!"
Briggs was all smiles.
Emma thought it was magical.
I've been hearing over and over lately how much the boys look alike, but I don't see it that much. Until I came across this picture. They do almost look like twins!
This was Maddie's favorite horse.
Briggs also kept trying to figure out how the carousel worked.
3 happy kids in a row. Emma, Anderson, Maddie.
Maddie takes her horse riding seriously, reining and everything.
The splash pad was a little cold. But that didn't stop the boys, especially Briggs, from enjoying it.
The girls enjoyed drying in the sun. I think they were a little tired of water at this point.
Briggs liked to go down face first on this slide. So funny. Over and over again.
Up to something.
Anderson always enjoys stealing other people's shoes.
We stopped for ice on the way home and Maddie took Emma's bag from her and hauled TWO heavy bags all by herself. She was very focused.
So hard to get good pictures of them swimming because of this fence.
Girl's day. Hours and hours of swimming.
We found 6 snakes total. Sounds appealing, right? At least they were all little and none were in my tent. Also had a moose walk through camp, 4 racoons waltz into camp one night at 9:30(they came out every night, we just saw them one night).
They don't need their life jackets anymore! Maddie's favorite thing was learning to do flips off of the wall.
Emma's favorite thing was learning to do a variety of front floats and dives and being able to back float entirely by herself.
A cold walk to the pool at 8 am.
Emma and Lola coming back from lessons.
4 out of 5 of these kids in the 6 year old class were with our group. So cute to see them lined up together all the time.
Maddie posing.
The whole gang(almost).
Silly faces. But the "normal" faces picture was even funnier.
It was a great experience. My kids were helpful and kind to each other and patient with me. Only one major toddler tantrum and one little girl fight about a coloring book, which is better than a normal week at home in our own beds. I was worried about how it would go but I would do it again. In a couple of years.
My mom came up for the afternoon one day and that was so much fun. She even surprised us with pizza so I didn't have to make lunch. That was perfect. Then we all swam and the kids loved every second of her being there. Me too.
I was super impressed with the swimming lessons and that made it feel worth it. I like all the cool things the girls learned to do, but I was especially impressed with their basic knowledge and skill in front strokes and back strokes by the end.
Also, my friends and I were all worried we wouldn't like each other by the end of the week, but that was all good, too! I am lucky to know some pretty amazing women. I learned lots from them in conversations and feel like I'm better for having spent that time with them.
See you later, camp!
