What He's Been Doing & Next Week's Highlights

Some stuff he did this week: art; "soul soup," which was a kind of crazy freeform dancing and drumming; tennis; nature games; capture the flag.

Some stuff coming up next week: a visit to the bird observatory; drumming; art; tide pooling; newt ponds (where he fell in last year!); fire station visit; gallery visit; sandcastles; dress-up; and a visit to a creek.

Then the two weeks after that -- the second session -- Boylee's pal Mark won't be here. Boylee's only a little bummed about that, because he's having such a good time. One effect will be that Boylee will be put in his proper age group then. Right now he's in a younger group because Mark's a little bit younger. But in the older group he'll be able to do archery, which he's been dying to do.

After Camp

Boylee's friend Mark came home for a playdate with us. In the car, I heard:

Mark: "Do you think you'll ever get married?"

Boylee: "I don't know."

Mark: "I'm not going to get married, ever."

a pause, then

Boylee: "Sometimes it sneaks up on you."

How right he is!

A Dirty Boy is a Happy Boy

Can you tell that these shorts are absolutely encrusted with sand? That's how Boylee came home from camp today. Apparently traversing the lagoon was a lot more fun than last year (when it was cold and windy) so he really, really got into it. He was so dirty that when I got there to pick him up he just stripped down to his undies (also sand-encrusted) there on the dock and strolled over to the car with no self-consciousness whatsoever.

The upshot of all of this is that he LOVES camp and he LOVES his cute counselor, Audrey, and he LOVES the idea of staying for the second session. So, YAY!

Tomorrow's Camp Plan

Visiting some goats, drumming, art, and traversing the lagoon at low tide (which he hated last year).

Phew!

We got to the camp meeting place, and right away Boylee saw some counselors he recognized from last year, including his two counselors, who both gave him a big greeting. His favorite, Ellie, said, "I almost didn't recognize you with your short hair!" So that helped a lot. And then another older boy (older, meaning 8 like Boylee, rather than 7 like Boylee's friend Mark) purposely chose to be in the group with Boylee. That's a younger-skewing group, of mostly 6 and 7s, rather than the group of 8 and 9s. Anyway, it all seems like it's going to be good.

Today's activities: Beach all day, including obstacle course, grid game (?), whiffle ball, body painting (I'm sure Boylee won't do this), sandcastles and swimming (I bet Boylee won't do this either; the ocean is cold here).

I'm going to go for a walk later and Boylee made me promise to come by the beach where they'll be. Last year when I did this he basically ignored me and I hope it's the same this year.

1st Day of Camp

Okay: Boylee's totally nervous (he cried about it last night), and his one friend isn't going to be there today. Ugh. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Quote of the Morning

Papa Sid: "I am the battery king."

Boylee: "I don't deny it!"

Happy 4th!

Another Note

A Quick Note from Boylee

New Pants!

Had to do some quick sewing before we go up north.

First, pants for the 4th of July since Boylee has really outgrown his Obama pants:


And some nice mushroom pants:


I didn't have enough time to finish all my projects, so later this summer I'll make a pair from this dragon fabric:


And this seersucker:


As always, I used this pattern for bandana pants, though I've had to adapt it because Boylee is really too big for bandanas now.

Last Day as a Second Grader!

Tomato Update

Well the plant certainly hasn't gotten any worse. The stem isn't affected at all, and the fruit seems to be fine. And the other plant, which is just two feet away (in another pot) isn't affected. So maybe everything's going to be okay?

A Garden Tragedy

We don't know precisely what it is, but the tomato plants may be doomed.

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Today we found out all about the next Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. Meaning, the subtitle and the color of the cover:

Boylee has been speculating on the cover color for ages, and he was thrilled to see this image this morning. He was so excited to see it he could hardly stand still! But...then he found out the book doesn't even come out until the middle of November. So tragic!

Books

Boylee heard a story about how Uncle Jerry would walk to the library every day when he was a kid. He'd borrow a book each day, read it at night, then go back the next day for another. Boylee was eager to show his great-great-uncle that he likes to read just as much, so he posed for a photo:

Camp

Boylee has zero interest in attending camp this year, which is sort of a bummer because he had such a great time last year. We found this photo on the camp website, which was good -- it started to remind him how much he likes his pal, Mark, who will be there again this year.

One More, Especiallly for Nona

Just Because I'm in the Mood for a Flashback

Weekend Flashback

Was he ever that little? It's so hard to believe.