Maia did not start off as strong as Xander when it came to being a "Little Vike." (She called it "Leaf Eriks" camp for several days.)
The first Monday when I dropped her off, she was understandably nervous. She only knew one other girl there, and that girl came with a friend, so Maia felt very alone. I prayed for her all morning, Mom called asking about her, so I know Grandma was praying for her too...
When I went pick her up, she had just finished swimming, so her hair was lank and wet, her pretty blue eyes were all red and drippy and it was obvious she'd pretty much spent the whole day crying. The counslor that brought her out said, "It was a really sad day for Maia."
When asked what the problem was, she replied, "I just missed you," or "I was so worried about you."
She actually made herself physically ill. She had a loose bowel the rest of the day, and the next morning she had a headache and upset stomach (I KNOW I exhibited these same symptoms my entire kindergarten year). I let her stay home on Tuesday, and emailed the camp director to see if we could get a partial refund or something.
Then Wednesday morning, she announced that she was ready to go back to Leaf Eriks. So I took her. She only cried a couple of times, and finished the week well, though she rarely played with other kids or participated in activities (I'm guessing at this).
Today was the second-to-last (or "penultimate" as snooty musicians say) day of camp. When I went to pick her up at the indoor activity area where I get her every day, I couldn't spot her right away. I found her shoes and sweatshirt, which implied that she was actually PLAYING WITH THE OTHER KIDS! I finally spotted her in the Little Tykes playhouse playing with some other girls. One of the counselors commented that Maia had made some new friends today.
Just in time. Tomorrow's the last day. But it's something. I hope she remembers the good feelings more than the bad ones.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Xander's Camp Experience
I sent the kids to YMCA day camp these last 2 weeks. They have a long-standing, well-established program for kids right across the river from our house, and I thought they would enjoy it. Xander went to Leif Erickson camp (some strong Norsky influence there, Papa Svale would be proud) for 6-9 year-olds, and Maia went to Little Vikes camp for 4-5 year-olds.
Xander has had an absolute blast from day one. There are 3 kids from his class there, one is in his group (they have probably 120 kids in each 2-week session, 6 sessions over all). Each "group has about 10 kids and one counselor. Xander says his counselor is the coolest because he can brandish a whip just like Indiana Jones. As a matter of fact, this counselor has the kids beleiving that he was a stunt double in the latest Indiana Jones movie. (Someday, Xander's going to have to learn when people are flat-out lying to him. Does this seem like something we should do at a "Christian" camp?).
Tonight is Xander's last night at camp. It was family night, and most days, he has gotten on a big red bus at 8:20 in the morning and been returned to us via the big red bus (one of at least a dozen that run all over the city) at 4:20 pm. Today, they stayed at camp all evening, and will spend the night and be returned in the morning.
Mostly, this would be a great idea, but last night we had a wicked thunderstorm whip through here at about 4:30 am, and I woke up and thought, "If this happens tomorrow night, I am driving into the heart of that muddy campground and finding my baby!"
I was reasonably stunned to discover this evening that the "shelter" that each group sleeps in does not even have walls. It is like a small picnic shelter with pea gravel on the ground covered with some kind of damp carpet.
"So, what happens if a thunderstorm comes through like last night?" I asked whip-bearing counselor.
"They'll be safe. We have an indoor shelter to move to if the weather gets bad."
Really? At 4:30 in the morning? Have you tried to wake a 8 year-old boy in the middle of the night lately? (geesh. I hope not! That seems creepy)
Anyway, Xander will be sleeping outdoors tonight, but I doubt I'll be getting much rest.
Xander has had an absolute blast from day one. There are 3 kids from his class there, one is in his group (they have probably 120 kids in each 2-week session, 6 sessions over all). Each "group has about 10 kids and one counselor. Xander says his counselor is the coolest because he can brandish a whip just like Indiana Jones. As a matter of fact, this counselor has the kids beleiving that he was a stunt double in the latest Indiana Jones movie. (Someday, Xander's going to have to learn when people are flat-out lying to him. Does this seem like something we should do at a "Christian" camp?).
Tonight is Xander's last night at camp. It was family night, and most days, he has gotten on a big red bus at 8:20 in the morning and been returned to us via the big red bus (one of at least a dozen that run all over the city) at 4:20 pm. Today, they stayed at camp all evening, and will spend the night and be returned in the morning.
Mostly, this would be a great idea, but last night we had a wicked thunderstorm whip through here at about 4:30 am, and I woke up and thought, "If this happens tomorrow night, I am driving into the heart of that muddy campground and finding my baby!"
I was reasonably stunned to discover this evening that the "shelter" that each group sleeps in does not even have walls. It is like a small picnic shelter with pea gravel on the ground covered with some kind of damp carpet.
"So, what happens if a thunderstorm comes through like last night?" I asked whip-bearing counselor.
"They'll be safe. We have an indoor shelter to move to if the weather gets bad."
Really? At 4:30 in the morning? Have you tried to wake a 8 year-old boy in the middle of the night lately? (geesh. I hope not! That seems creepy)
Anyway, Xander will be sleeping outdoors tonight, but I doubt I'll be getting much rest.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Scheels Awards
Matt is the proud recipeint of the 2008 "E For Excellence" award from Scheels for his 2nd passion in life (right after bikes), Youth Cold Weather clothing. His shop was the top seller last year, so we got invited to the Scheels Awards banquet in Brainerd, MN last Wednesday.
The awards were held at Maddens on Gull Lake, a lovely golf resort, which if you click on the link looks like a pretty nice resort to stay in, however, I was a little dubious when we first were shown our lodging. We drove past these:
and discovered that our room was in this building:
Much to my relief, it did not smell like Camp Pine Lake, (even though it looked like it), and though the accomodations were dated, they were nice, clean and the beds were very comfortable.
When we arrived on Wednesday evening, it was very chilly (the high in Brainerd was 49 that day... on the 11th of June!), and stormy and windy, but there was a fireplace right in our room (real wood-burning), which we weren't actually brave enough to try lighting (afraid the flue would be closed and we'd smoke up the joint). Here's a picture of the fireplace at breakfast the next morning! :)
The awards banquet itself was fine, about what you'd expect, I guess. I was TOLD it was a formal dinner, so I dressed in a formal dress (I sort of have a collection of them that I love to wear at any opportunity). Yeah, I was WAY overdressed, but oh well! I guess "formal" means a different thing to the athletic crowd than it does to the artistic crowd.
We awoke to a lovely view of the lake,
and a beautiful day, so Matt & I took some time to walk around the grounds and didn't rush home.
The awards were held at Maddens on Gull Lake, a lovely golf resort, which if you click on the link looks like a pretty nice resort to stay in, however, I was a little dubious when we first were shown our lodging. We drove past these:
and discovered that our room was in this building:
Much to my relief, it did not smell like Camp Pine Lake, (even though it looked like it), and though the accomodations were dated, they were nice, clean and the beds were very comfortable.
When we arrived on Wednesday evening, it was very chilly (the high in Brainerd was 49 that day... on the 11th of June!), and stormy and windy, but there was a fireplace right in our room (real wood-burning), which we weren't actually brave enough to try lighting (afraid the flue would be closed and we'd smoke up the joint). Here's a picture of the fireplace at breakfast the next morning! :)
The awards banquet itself was fine, about what you'd expect, I guess. I was TOLD it was a formal dinner, so I dressed in a formal dress (I sort of have a collection of them that I love to wear at any opportunity). Yeah, I was WAY overdressed, but oh well! I guess "formal" means a different thing to the athletic crowd than it does to the artistic crowd.
We awoke to a lovely view of the lake,
and a beautiful day, so Matt & I took some time to walk around the grounds and didn't rush home.
Maia's Birthday
Our little princess turned 4 last Tuesday, and we had a fun day. She got to open gifts from us early in the morning, which included a lot of clothes,
a net canopy thing for over her bed,
and a dress-up outfit from Xander (oops, no picture). We were going for a Sleeping Beauty costume, but there was no fooling her. It's a Rose Fairy Princess ballet dress. Now she thinks she needs real ballet shoes to go with it.
She also got this cool playhouse (a free gift from some friends)
She was pretty funny opening presents, because she felt the need to close her eyes while she opened them. Double surprise or something, I guess.
Tuesday afternoon & evening, we had almost all the family here for her party. Marie wasn't feeling up to it, but everyone else came, we had corn & black bean salsa with chips (this recipe is AWESOME! I use fresh grape tomatoes instead of canned italian style), some fresh fruit, and burgers and hot dogs on the grill. And of course, the cake. I chose to go with Dairy Queen's blizzard cake (oreo) this year after the horrible cake I made for Xander's birthday.
After the party, we sent Xander & Maia home with Grandma Georgie & Grandpa Bruce for 5 days. They had a great time, though Maia got a little homesick in the middle. We went and picked them up on Sunday.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Rock & Roll Hair
Check out my new doo. I'm a rock & roll mommy.
This haircut and color cost me less than $15, and 4 voice lessons. One of my college students, Anna, has been through beauty school and wanted to keep up lessons in the summer. I agreed to work the barter system with her, so she doesn't have to pay for lessons, and I don't have to pay for haircuts. How cool! What am I going to do when school starts again? I finally found someone who really cuts my hair well.
So, I wanted to get a funky cut because I have a class reunion coming up in July, and it's imperative that I look ultra weird for my high school reunion. I have a reputation to uphold.
The story of getting my hair colored and cut is actually quite amusing. Anna met me and the kids at Sally Beauty Supply this morning at 9:15, we picked out the color, then went back to our house and she did a "Malibu" treatment which had to stay on my hair under the dryer for about 45 minutes. We went ahead and did her voice lesson while I was wearing a bag-style old fashioned hair dryer with a hose attached. With my ears sticking out so that I could hear her sing...
Then she did the cut and started in on the color/ foiling process, which took until after my 1:00 lessons showed up. That's right. I have a young pair of sisters who come at the same time for piano lessons, one goes first, then the other. I still had foil on my head and was back under the dryer when they arrived. Never had a piano lesson like this, have you? After the color was done processing, I had the student work fingerings on her right hand while we rinsed and conditioned, then I sat in my chair and let Anna blow dry and style my hair while I finished both girls' lessons. At least it was all done by the time their mom showed up to pay.
I guess I'm just not like other piano teachers.
This haircut and color cost me less than $15, and 4 voice lessons. One of my college students, Anna, has been through beauty school and wanted to keep up lessons in the summer. I agreed to work the barter system with her, so she doesn't have to pay for lessons, and I don't have to pay for haircuts. How cool! What am I going to do when school starts again? I finally found someone who really cuts my hair well.
So, I wanted to get a funky cut because I have a class reunion coming up in July, and it's imperative that I look ultra weird for my high school reunion. I have a reputation to uphold.
The story of getting my hair colored and cut is actually quite amusing. Anna met me and the kids at Sally Beauty Supply this morning at 9:15, we picked out the color, then went back to our house and she did a "Malibu" treatment which had to stay on my hair under the dryer for about 45 minutes. We went ahead and did her voice lesson while I was wearing a bag-style old fashioned hair dryer with a hose attached. With my ears sticking out so that I could hear her sing...
Then she did the cut and started in on the color/ foiling process, which took until after my 1:00 lessons showed up. That's right. I have a young pair of sisters who come at the same time for piano lessons, one goes first, then the other. I still had foil on my head and was back under the dryer when they arrived. Never had a piano lesson like this, have you? After the color was done processing, I had the student work fingerings on her right hand while we rinsed and conditioned, then I sat in my chair and let Anna blow dry and style my hair while I finished both girls' lessons. At least it was all done by the time their mom showed up to pay.
I guess I'm just not like other piano teachers.
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