Camps! (week 447)

The end of the baseball season signaled the beginning of the Summer camp season--a transition that is always so difficult for Chris and I at first, but so good for Mom, and so much fun for us once it gets going full swing.  This year, we kicked off our Summer camps as the Historic Rancho (for Jackson, Nate, and me), and the Nature Center (for Chris, Emma, and Mady).

 The focus of my camp was the old west--where we made boats, candles, scarves, bracelets, and bags to store the jewels that we found mining for treasure.  I resisted big time on the first day, and refused to eat most of the week, but it turned out that most of my resistance was a result of feeling just terrible from the virus that I picked up at the baseball tournament the week before.  Although I stayed home one day and threw more tantrums on the last day of camp, it was a good time and a good change from the relentless focus on baseball.  Difficult but good for me (at least that is what Mom and Dad say).

Christ went a completely different way at the Nature Center, taking hikes, searching for turtles, making crafts, and learning about the cycle of water, precipitation, evaporation and the environment. Chris loves his time at the Nature Center--always has--and feels very comfortable there after many other classes and camps since he was a very little guy.  Toward the end of the week, Uncle Mark, Aunt Leah, and Nina came to visit so Chris took them on a guided tour through Nature Center and instructed them on what they could not eat (e.g. poisonous berries).  Nina is now running all over the place like a maniac and is super cute. Chris and I lover to play with her and love to make her smile and laugh.  We are going to see her soon in New York!

In addition to having Uncle Mark and Aunt Leah stay with us throughout the week, we also had a visit from Grandpa John and Grammy, who were in town helping to clean-up Great Grandma Betty's house in Long Beach.  Since she is now living with Jeannie and Grandpa John in San Luis Obispo, they hosted a garage sale and had lots of people from the neighborhood help out.  Mommy spent all of Saturday at Great Grandma's to assist while Chris and I helped Dad clean and trim, fertilize and mow, and get the house in shape.  The virus hit me full force and I spent much of the day on my back sleeping.  

While my fever broke Thursday night, it hit Chris even harder Saturday night after painting the Washington Monument in the backyard with Grandpa John.  He was super hot and sweaty all Saturday night and had to skip church on Sunday to rest.  We are hoping that the virus will be a thing of the past since we have more camps and trips ahead!