My babies went to camp this week. It has been my first real week without them. Sure, they’ve spent the night at gram and pop’s house or their cousins. But one night is not a week! I was a nervous wreck. I tried properly preparing them last week with a training boot camp of learning how to take showers by themselves (we are bath takers here) and making sure they knew address and phone number for pen pal exchanging and that they could still tie their shoes properly (you’d be surprised by how many times they slip their shoes on without actually ever tying them!).
By the pictures below you will see that they did absolutely fantastic! The camp very graciously kept us updated daily through their website and emails. They put up daily pictures of the campers for us parents to download and share. They sent us a daily email letting us know that days events and general camp happenings. And they allowed us to email the kids daily. Each camper received their letter at roll call in the morning. It was a nice tangible way to stay in touch with them even if they couldn’t email back! Amazing how email turned into something actually important and how all other emails suddenly became very unimportant!
Gabe's Camp Group
Lily's Camp Group
Lily singing morning camp songs.
Gabe gardening for a service project.
Lily dancing.
Gabe and Lily at worship.
Gabe ziplining.
Half way through the week the camp correspondents took time to sit with each camper and talk with them about how their week was going. Then they wrote a personalized email to me about each of my kids. Gabe enjoyed ziplining the most and Lily said she loved swimming the most. But, I will admit, I cried when they sent this picture of Lily with a smile of utter joy on her face. This is after her brave attempt at doing high ropes. I was so proud it just bubbled out of me in a big gushy mess!
- Lily doing high ropes.
Gabe at the talent show.
Half way through the week Luc also got to attend camp with his Pop at Grand Camp. He was counting down the days the moment the older kids left. I can’t wait to hear how his week went! He sure looks like he had a good time!
Luc visiting the barn animals.
Luc with Pop in the background.
Luc and Pop on a hayrack ride.
Pop singing Rise and Shine!
Grandpa is a great teacher!
Service Project
I get to meet the kids at a family camp worship time this afternoon and then visit their cabins and help them pack up. It will be bittersweet for them, I know. But I will be SO happy to see them again! I will be going with Delilah on Sunday and Monday to a Taste of Camp and she is getting very impatient for her turn. So I will be back next week with more pics and camp stories!
simply necessary 
What a great week at camp! I know how you feel though! It’s hard having them away! My daughter (9) arrived home on Monday after spending 9 days with my parent’s 200 miles away. It was hard having her gone, but she did have a good time. (I’m glad she’s home now though! LOL) Stopping in from THMJ!
It looks like a great camp and the kids sure look happy!
Looks like the kids had a great time at camp.
It is hard on us when our children are gone for several days. Sounds like you all made it.
Visiting from Homeschool Moms Journal.