Family Camp 2013

Another year, another weekend spent at sunny Camp Don Bosco family camp.  I'm still amazed at myself every year that we go because as a young counselor I could not fathom going.  Ah how being a parent changes perspective.

So enjoy our "slideshow."

Eileen all ready for campfire the first night.  Can you see the enthusiasm bursting out of her?  She ran all the way to the campfire circle.

Not a lot of sleep was had by anyone during the weekend.  After falling out of bed, Eileen and I slept next to each other on the floor.  I quickly learned that sleeping on the floor on a thin mattress in a sleeping bag next to a toddler with an ear infection is the quickest way for a pregnant woman to get no sleep.  Luckily, I am married to a wonderful man who made a run each morning into town to bring me back Starbucks.

Linus' favorite part of camp this year was the craft shop.  He was prolific with his creations.

Tie dye!  Their shirts turned out pretty well and the kids looked like quintessential campers in their freshly minted tie dye (forgot to snag a pic).

So proud of his necklace and walking stick.

Lounging outside the craft shop.

A quick little hike to the Trestle.

baby butt looking down at Griffin Creek

The highlight of the trip for Eileen was horses.

 After getting thoroughly covered in dirt at the corral, Dave attempted to coax the kids into the pool.  Linus wised up very quickly to just how cold the pool was.  Eileen gave it a chance before crying to be let out.  I wisely just put my feet in and that was enough to let me know I had made the right choice. Brrr.  Dave was bummed.  He would have happily stayed in the pool for a while.

 The Slip N Slide went over much better.

Still trying to warm up from her dip in the pool.  Can you see the exhaustion from so much fun and no nap?  She passed out asleep shortly after this pic was taken.

Enjoying the makeshift swing.

One of the best parts of camp is the ability for the kids to safely roam and just play.  The kids quickly made friends.   Linus maybe got a little too comfortable and became increasingly difficult to keep an eye on,  there was just too much to explore.  Luckily, kids move in packs.  Bug hunting was a big activity.

Some bigger girls helped Eileen make a necklace and bracelet.  Eileen felt so special and talked about the experience nonstop afterwards.

 The kids had a good time.  Eileen cried when we left. Cried when we got home.  Cried when she woke up the next morning.  If she had her way, we would be at Camp Don Bosco right now.   

My experience was hard.  I didn't realize how trying it would be on my body to be 7.5 months pregnant at camp.  The inability to really get a chance to rest, the heat, the constant walking over uneven ground, the heart burn inducing food with no milk to be found, it was all too much.  By the time we left I just wanted to cry and felt like my body was going to give out underneath me at any moment.  Lesson learned. Very pregnant and camp are a poor combination.

Linus in his homemade space shuttle.  We needed lots of rest after such a full weekend.

I'm not sure if we'll go back next year.  A big surprise this year was discovering upon arrival that we would be sharing cabins with two other families.  We were lucky and actually knew the two other families we shared with and liked them.  It's one thing to share a cabin as a single adult with several other single adults.  It's another to go as a family and share with two other families.  Everyone really tried to be good sports and make it work.   Going away for the weekend with small children can be stressful, having to negotiate the needs of two other families in one room and not being able to have the cabin as a respite is a bit much.  So we'll see.