This summer has been very unlike any summer the kids remember. I have felt really guilty this summer because for one I haven't got to spend as much time with them as usual with working 2-3 days a week. Secondly it is really hard to balance big kid activities and make it do able for a baby. We have only went to the pool twice, I have only went out on the boat twice, we spent really hot days inside etc. So to make this work we decided we needed other activities for the kids to do this summer to make it workable for both me and Mackenzie their babysitter. Abby attended camp at Pioneer Park at the beginning of the summer. It was just 2 1/2 hours in the morning for 4 days but she loved it. She learned about planting a garden and making food with stuff you can find in nature or plant in a garden. She even ate the dandelion pancakes that they made.
The next camp was Basketball Camp. Bryce was super excited about this and Caleb wasn't sure that he wanted to do it so I just signed Bryce up. He went from 9-1 everyday for a week and all they did was play basketball and work on skills. This was right up Bryce's alley! He loves to play sports and really likes practicing so that he can get better. I found out after the fact that we could have went to watch them play a game on Friday but he forgot to tell me that. (Maybe I wasn't cool enough to come?) This also gave Mackenzie a break from Bryce and Abby fighting. Bryce has been really challenging this summer. I think he needs to be kept busier than I am able to do this year. Anyway, him and Abby fight all day every day which makes for a long day.
The next camp was the one that they were most excited for. I had signed them up for Camp Sonshine after hearing great reviews from many other moms. It is just outside of Lincoln on an acreage that had a lot of fun stuff to do. I was a little worried that Caleb would be nervous and wouldn't want to stay but there wasn't any tears or hesitation from him. All the staff was really upbeat when we got there which helped. They were singing and dancing and helping all the kids find where they needed to be. The week they went also happened to be one of the hottest weeks in the summer so I made sure to send them a lot of water!
Jacob was their counselor. They loved this guy! He was so much fun and was great to the kids.
They attended camp every day that week from 9-4:30. On Friday they had the option to spend the night. The boys were undecided as to whether they wanted to do this until Thursday ( the last day you could sign up). They decided together that they wanted to stay. I was a little nervous about letting them stay to be honest! They have never stayed overnight anywhere except grandma and grandpa's house or with aunt Steph. I had to work on Friday so I didn't get to see them in the morning before they left so I stopped by after work to give Caleb his allergy medicine and tell them to have a great night. This was much more for my sake than theirs. They gave me a quick hug and ran back to be with their friends. They are getting so grown up! On Saturday morning they had a parents morning. They served pancakes to everyone and we heard about the week at camp. The kids did go karts (this was one of Caleb's favorite things). They also did water games and a giant water slide, they learned to take care of the animals in the petting zoo, they had archery lessons and learned about wilderness survival (actually I think they just made a fire and cooked smores).
They had to show off their new skills for us on Saturday morning.
Abby liked this little miniature horse.
This is where they slept for the night. They had a great time. I will say the smell of little boy was pretty over powering in this tent! Kuddos to the adults that were willing to sleep in there with them.
