Camp Sealth on Vashon

On Wednesday, June 3rd, we boarded the ferry with 80 2nd and 3rd graders and 22 adult chaperones to head to Vashon Island for 3 days and 2 nights at Camp Sealth. I had never before had the pleasure of staying at camp overnight as a kid. Z. went to the same camp last year, and had a blast, so I came along this time to see what all of the fuss was about. A. went to this same camp a few weeks before, and she was raving as well. I had high hopes for fun, and I wasn't disappointed.

I learned a few valuable facts and lessons along the way.

1. You can lick a banana slug to make your tongue tingle. (No, I didn't, but Z. did.)

2. Cedars swoop and hemlocks droop.

3. Salmon berries are delicious.

4. Stinging nettle doesn't really sting. It numbs.

5. Harbor seals like to spy on campers (especially at meal times.)

6. Being a mom of a boy I had to stay in the cabin with nine 7, 8, & 9 year old boys.

7. Boys are stinky.

8. I am not good at rowing a boat. I make fine circles in rowboats though.

9. Z. is a GREAT kiddo.




The view from our cabin!


Our friends and bunkmates M & his mom M



Z and me



Z with his best friend M




Z claimed the top bunk upon arrival at the Agate South cabin.



Z (with his friend B) found this dead sea star at low tide.



A sunflower sea star exposed during low tide on the beach.



A divine moment of learning in the outdoor classroom!



Z and his friend S playing on the beach before dinner.



Z admiring a sunflower sea star at the touch tank during our marine life class with our instructor "Granola!"



Our study group found an octopus during our marine life class.



A funky tree located in the wetlands part of the forest.



Z and friends killing time before our ferry ride home in the back of our truck.



Z waiting for the ferry to take us home to Seattle.

Random Thoughts

So many thoughts, so little time...

Facebook is very foreign to me. I think it is so odd that you can see absolutely everyone's comments about everyone's comments.

Swimming lessons for the kids are starting again tomorrow. It makes me so proud to see how well they swim since I've never really been a good swimmer.

Work is going well, but it pains me to see so many children being raised with such a sense of entitlement. The words "spoiled brat" come to mind many times throughout the day.

We are hoping to get our passports in time for summer vacation so we can go to Canada.

I wish we had more money in savings. This economy scares me.

I miss so many people right now. Know I am thinking of all of you, even though I can't seem to find the time to keep in touch.

The recent sunny weather is so refreshing.

We drove to the coast of Washington to Ocean Shores. The beach was scummy and cars are allowed to drive all over the shore. It was so sad to see the beautiful shore desecrated like that.

We are going to drive to La Push, WA soon. I wonder if we'll run into Jacob? ;)

Braceface

Yet another sign of impending teenhood. A is a great sport about them.

While making our way through Seattle's busy Saturday morning airport traffic, I spied the enormous line at the ticket counter. We were stopped by a Southwest agent. "Who will be traveling today?" "She will", I replied. Looking at A, I could tell it was sinking in. She would be taking her first trip by herself. Instead of the ease of a trip with your parents, where they make all of the decisions about how to navigate through the cramped security lines, how much time you have before you are herded onto the airplane like cattle and where to sit, store your bags, etc., she would be the one deciding those things for herself.

There are thousands of children around the world who travel like this every day. I know that, but it is very different when it's your own child having that experience. You question yourself as a parent. Is it too soon for her to be flying on her own? She had to find her way through the terminal at the other end by herself. Was that too much responsibility to put on a 12 year old? Yes, she's smart and mature for her age, but she has her father's sense of direction (lack of one.) Sorry Stucco! :)

She made it just fine. I knew she would. I'm thankful she did. As I sigh with relief, a small part of me feels sadness. Parenting, if you do your job correctly, is about letting your children have experiences, without you, that push them to the edge of their "comfort zone." Fear of the unknown, and finding her own way through that crowd of strangers, seeing all the changes that have happened where she used to live, seeing old friends, sharing about her life now, all of these things are for her. They will make her memories. She will share them with me when she comes home. In her own time. In her own way.

As I look back on this, what will stand out in my mind will be the part where I noticed she was her holding her chin up as we walked into the airport. Instead of playfully swinging her bag and twirling around on her toes, she was carefully reading the signs and watching the clocks. She checked the departure board and found her gate number.

She was ready.

We'll Take What We Can Get

They love the snow. It's in their blood (being born in CO and all.)



We only got about 2 inches of snow, but that didn't stop them from breaking-out the sled and having fun.

Z. has found a fun new way to spend his time at school.




He practices and performs on stilts called "Hi-Jax." It is really fun to watch them all try to dance on them. He is pretty good at it! Go "Zoo"!

YES WE DID!

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,
it's about learning to dance in the rain.

- Author Unknown -