Into the Wild

 A little picture show of our camping trip a couple weeks ago:

Our campsite was only 5 minutes from home, so I don't know if you would call it true camping.  However, without all of the daily chores of home it felt like we were much further.  The kayaking was a highlight for Connor.  Maari I think enjoyed her campfire baked blueberry pie most.

This trip was kind of a test run, preparation for something bigger.  Connor, Dad, and Betsy are right now on a more rugged trip...one not quite suitable for Maari and myself.  Far up north in the Boundary Waters, they are true camping.  They have been gone since Tuesday and I have had NO contact with them.  Yes, they are so far in the wilderness that there is no cell phone coverage.  This freaks me out just a little...what if...?, what if...?, what if...?, and so on and so on in my head.  But according to Justin that is the fun of it...being truly AWAY from it all.  But moms worry.

And I am sure it is beautiful and peaceful and lovely... I just don't know if I could handle all of the hauling.  Because you see one can't just drive up to the campsite, one must canoe/hike to it.  All of the gear must be hauled in: food, clothing, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, and canoe. (Did you notice Betsy's little backpack in one of the pics?  She was practicing, getting ready to carry her own food).  But again, that is the beauty of it...true wilderness.  Maybe some day Maari and I will enter the wilderness but for now the state park down the road will do just fine!

Here are my boys (+Betsy) up at Grammy's house on Lake Superior the night before their departure into the wild.  Dad practicing his firemaking skills and Connor talking to Mom on the phone one last time.  Can't wait for them to come home!

Connor at Camp

This week we are coping with the absence of camp.  For the past eight weeks (has it really been 8!?!?) Connor has spent three days at camp.  Looks to me like he enjoyed it!

To be ten again!

And no, mom was not hiding in the bushes taking pictures - can't you just see me all incognito, camera ready?  I think my extremely loud screeching three year old would probably have given me away.  No, the staff was just kind enough to share their photos.

This was Connor's third year at the same camp and he loves it!  He comes home so full of excitement and stories which makes mom happy.  So I was shocked when one day he told me he didn't want to go to camp the next day.  I tried to pry out of him why: was he being teased, bullied? was he tired, bored, sick?  "No, no, no I just don't want to go on Friday, but I'll go every other day."  Finally, several hours later I finally got it out of him.  They were going to be having a big Hunger Games competition and all his friends knew everything there is to know about Hunger Games and he knew nothing.  So we had the big "It is better to try to solve your problems than run away from them" speech after which Connor proceeded to the computer for a crash course on the Humger Games.

And guess who came home with THE trophy, guess who won the whole thing against ALL the kids in ALL the age groups and ALL the counselors...yup, that's my boy with the giant gold goblet!

(lesson learned!)

Mowing

Daddy's little helper

In a ruffled skirt and sparkly red ballet flats of course

Something else seems more interesting...

And she's off!