Monday Meanderings - The Camping Edition!

• I woke up this morning completely refreshed after a solid 9 hours of sleep last night.
• It was very well-earned sleep, because the Princess and I spent the weekend at Primary Camp! She was a first time camper, and I was the girls' counselor.
• When you attend church with the camp director, you should expect to be pressed into service.
• Having said that, being a counselor to three sweet little girls when each of them has a family member present is just about the easiest job ever.
• The really funny thing was that there were actually 12 little boys at Primary Camp...and they were nutso all weekend.
• The campgrounds were in St. Clair, MO - a good two hour drive from here - and they were absolutely beautiful.
• In fact, they were so similar to the campgrounds - Camp Santa Fe in Gravois Mills, MO - I attended as a child that I had a massive case of deja vu all weekend.
• I had a really good laugh, though, when we moved into the cabins. Unlike the rustic boxes of my childhood - these cabins had air conditioning, built in closets and shelves, sturdy built-in bunks and half baths.
• I didn't go explore the shower house. We were only there for 24 hours.
• I hadn't attended either a camp or a reunion since I was 15. Why? I started working a summer job - at the historic site - at 16. That effectively ended my camping days.
• I hadn't realized how much I'd missed it...or how much I had truly loved my camping experiences as a child.
• My own introduction to camping was through day camps. We were all loaded up in a car every morning and driven to a local campground where we spent the day doing all of the usual things...and then were driven home in mid-afternoon. Times have changed, though, and now they introduce the little ones to camp through a 26 hour weekend experience.
• It's just enough to really wet their appetites...and my goodness it did just that. The Princess was begging to stay longer!
• It really helped that she made a wonderful new friend. Ironically, the new friend is the granddaughter of my 'town parents.' My 'town Mom' has been telling me for years that the two little girls needed to get together, and goodness she was right. By the time we left, they were acting like they had known each other all of their lives.
• (My congregation used to match church kids up with local families so that they had a support system when they came to Columbia to start college. My family was wonderful - and I spent a lot of time with them. They even told me how to break into their home the first time I met them! Although, years later my town Mom laughingly told me that they'd known my Dad's family for so long that of course they knew they could trust me...and here I'd thought they'd just decided I was that sweet when they met me.)
• I had the pleasure of spending the weekend visiting with my 'town sister' - who shares my first name. I don't think we'd ever had the opportunity to visit so much (I was actually closer to her sister during college because her sister was still at home.) and I really came to appreciate and enjoy her company.
• I also had the opportunity to get to know much better a woman from my own congregation who was there acting as camp nurse. She's actually one of the best allergists in the state, and we wound up having some very interesting conversations. I'm glad I had the opportunity to really talk to her because she's someone I've wanted to get to know better for some time.
• Activities included - swimming, eating terrible food in the dinning hall (seriously, it was gross...thank goodness for the salad bar), a camp fire, outdoor games, crafts, class time, and the required afternoon rest period...with just enough free time thrown in that the kids were able to cut loose and enjoy themselves.
• The theme for the camp was "God Changes Everything" and the Bible story used to illustrate it was the story of Saul.
• The class was hilarious. After hearing the story (from a very gifted storyteller/ youth leader), the kids were paired up and then they took turns being led blindfolded through a series of activities so that they could experience what it would be like to have your sight taken away. They had soooo much fun!
• I wound up taking a gazillion pictures, and was asked to share them with everyone else. At some point this week I'll have to start copying them to CDs to mail out.
• I've also been asked back to help next year....probably as the craft lady.
• Best of all, The Princess and I shared a wonderful experience. Truth be told, she's been Daddy's girl since she was born, and my own relationship with her has not always been so easy. (We're too much alike...simple fact.) Plus, we've not had much one-on-one time since her sister was born. I'm really glad that I was able to share this weekend with her - and I think she shares that sentiment.
• The Pixie stayed home with Dad, and I think they needed that as well. I've never felt that she bonded with her Dad like the Princess did, and so they needed this weekend as well. I hear that they had lots of fun - going swimming, watching Star Wars, and eating out at all of the Pixie's favorite places.
• The Pixie was mad at me, though, for leaving her, and she refused to come near me when I came home yesterday. I actually thought that was pretty funny...and she did, after all, thaw by bedtime.
• And that was camp!

Other Random Monday Stuff:

• The allergist recommended a book after basically diagnosing me (sans tests and full consult) with a specific food issue. I'm going to pick the book up today because - based on my experiences over the last year - I think she's probably right.
• I was successful in tracking all of my food last week - if not successful in staying within my calorie goals. This week is all about hitting that target calorie goal.
• I was also successful last week in getting back to the gym for 4 great workouts. This week's goal is 5.
• Craftwise, I am going to focus this week on finally getting to the embroidery. It's time...and now that the house is in great shape than I no longer have the excuse to avoid it.
• Also, I'm going to knit like the wind this week. It just feels good. I have no specific goals in mind - other than to knit to please myself.
• Other than that, we're going to shoot for a fairly quiet week. Kid activities will include - swimming with Gana today, a trip to the library, two make-up swim lessons and possibly a trip or two to the Mac Pool and/or the Beach Club.
• I'd also like to start them on a bigger craft project of some sort...but I'm still debating that. The Princess in particular seems to be ready for a big project to keep her busy for the rest of the summer. She's leaning towards sewing....

Have a great week everyone!