Camp Boy Chronicles

Grayson, Jordan, Cole & Jack - the 4 Musketeers

Our little Jack stepped out into the big, bad world all by himself last week.  Ok, not exactly the big, bad world and not exactly by himself.  He went to YMCA camp with his four best buddies.  We booked it way back in March so it's been a loooonnnnng wait for our excited little day camper and the time had finally come.  He watched the camp video no less than 25 times.  I silently wondered to myself the Sunday before - will he cry getting on the bus for the first time?  Will he cling to my leg and say he never wants to leave my side, ever?  Will he drag me to camp with him?  Ummm... no, none of that happened.  He hopped on that bus with a little pep in his step like he knew it was the passageway to true boyhood.  I was lucky enough to get a loving smile but he was very careful not to show too much emotion - wouldn't want anyone to think he wasn't cool.

I though about him about every 5 minutes each day throughout the week wondering what they were doing at that exact moment.  It's such a strange feeling as a parent to not know exactly what your child is doing - especially when they are in the woods with bears.  Ok, maybe no bears, but who knows?!?  We knew Nate (their camp Counselor) and Christian (an adorable LIT or Leader in Training who they all adored) were taking perfect care of them.

Christian and the Boys

I couldn't wait to pick him up each day but I quickly realized I wouldn't get much out of him because apparently, what happens at camp, stays at camp!  He was so tight-lipped about the days happenings I could hardly get anything out of him.  I did get one tidbit.  Mom: "How was your day at camp?"  Jack: "Guess what we saw Mommy?!?"  Mom: "What did you see honey (excited that I was finally going to get an exciting camp story)?"  Jack: "Horse poop... and it was HUGE!!"  Well, I'll take what I can get.

Jack and Grayson.  These two cuties have been together since they were
three months old.  They have somewhat of a brotherly type love.

I absolutely LOVE this picture below.  Check out these cool cats chilling against the bus with their legs crossed.  So funny and suddenly so grown up.  I swear he aged 5 years in one week!

 Make that 4 years.  Silliness has not left the building.

 One week of camp down, two to go.

Class of 2024

One of the nice parents from Jack's graduating class had a brilliant idea to have a final class picnic at a beyond fun place called Chutes & Ladders.  Anyone who lives in good 'ole Minne knows that we've had a freakishly arctic spring and summer.  But someone was looking out for us on picnic day and served up 80 degrees and pure sunshine.  The kids had a blast!  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. 

The boys.  Some of them have been together since they were tiny babies.

Time to eat.

Little J's stroller picnic.

Lucy - Such a pretty little girl.

Let me show you how it's done little brother.  So sweet!

Like this....

Now you've got it!

Boys will be boys.

Always time for a slurpee.  Just after this we figured out Jack had strep - amazingly, Joshie never got it despite the shared slurpee.

Jack and his buddy Jackson.  Look at these little blondies!

Wheeeeee!!

Thanks Jean for setting all of this up.  We had a blast!

Jamison's future bride?  Little ladies name is Finley. Isn't she a cutie!?! 

Awww... it's sad these guys won't be together much longer.

My good friend Heather and her little cutie-patutie, Reagan. 

Love how she's holding the popsicle.  

Nothing like a cold Sponge Bob popsicle on a hot, happy day. 

Jack and his buddy Matt (formerly know as Matthew.) 

How cool is Dad's shirt. 

Always the little comedian. 

So happy/so serious.

TTFN. XOXO

So Long Cool - It Was Nice Knowing You

I just had to write one post about myself to proclaim what a complete and total dork I am.  They say the first step is admitting it so here it goes.  

The boys were sound asleep by 8pm so I decided to head out and take my new fancy two-wheeler for a spin.  I've done my fair share of spinning classes but actually riding a bike is a whole different deal - how hard can it be?  It's been a while so I thought it best to hit the pavement before venturing out with the kiddo's dragging behind in their little king tut hut.

Let me tell ya, it was quite the humbling experience.  First of all, who can possibly look remotely cool in a ridiculously un-cool gray helmet?  But you know, I'm a safety girl so it's got to be done.  Along with the safety gear, I was wearing my ugly, lay in bed only glasses and a way too big t-shirt and hideous shorts.  Honestly, I really didn't care... until I hit the road.  My feet kept slipping off the front of the pedals only adding to the utter un-coolness.  I'm pretty sure I saw at least four cars point and chuckle - maybe I was imagining it - no, definitely did not imagine it!

I finally got the hang of it again and had a moment of peace coming down a very large hill.  Just in front of me was the most awesome pink and orange sunset.  Just then, I see a figure in the distance who was also sporting a bike.  As he approached, it was clear he had put a little more thought into his muscular attire.  Oh, did I say muscular?  Let me tell ya, it was like coming upon Arnold Schwarzenegger (but the 80's version) with a tight white tank and no helmet, of course.  Just as he passed me, this big muscular guy, he rang a little bell on his bike.  I thought to myself with a simultaneous chuckle, did he seriously just ring a little girly bell?!?  I immediately smiled to myself and thought - Life's Good!  


The ride continued on and I managed not to flip myself over the handlebars.  It was a good start but I definitely need to clock some more solo time before trusting myself with the little's in tow.  And as far as the coolness piece goes, I got the bell so that must mean something - I'll just keep telling myself that.

Lunchtime, Pooptime

Warning: This post is not for the faint of heart.  Read at your own risk.

Lunchtime, pooptime.  Otherwise known as "pooping hour" because it seems all boys have to poop at the exact same time, just after lunch.  Joshi announces "I have to go poopy and runs off to his corner."  If you go near him or even through a glance in his direction you will get the Joshi stink-eye and a very stern "don't loook at me Mommy!"  And yes, we've asked, begged, pleaded and attempted bribery no less than 1,000 times to go on the potty but to no avail... we'll give you a skittle, we'll give you 5 skittles, how about a whole chocolate cake, a pony perhaps???  Nothing.

Anyway, when pooping hour came to a close I set up the usual assembly line of diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and a couple of distracting toys to keep the fingers off the currently dirty boy bits.  Joshi up first.  All goes as planned but I was surprised by the baseball looking poo and was suddenly impressed by the sturdiness of Huggies pullups.  I got him all cleaned up and put the diaper aside - the plan was to finish changing both diapers, throw both in a bag, and deliver them to the outdoor garbage as we've done many times before.  Next up, little Jamestown. I lay him in the same spot and hand him a very enticing toy.  He decided it would be more fun to play with the wipes package.  That's cool because I had suddenly found myself knee deep in poo due to a 5-star blowout - whatever can keep him occupied while I painstakenly clear the poo from between each toe on his left foot.  I was so concentrated on my mission at hand that I didn't realize he had swapped the wipes package for Joshi's diaper.  I looked up and he had the baseballesque poo right in his hand like he was ready to throw a pitch!  OMG - something has gone horribly wrong here!!!  What do I do?  Grab it out of his hand?  Shake his wrist in hopes that it will come flying out?  Mommy instincts quickly kicked in.  I grabbed a wipe and snatched that poo right out of his hand (hey, isn't that a jingle?)  He found my reaction quite amusing like he knew exactly what he was doing.  "Ha, ha, watch my germaphobe Mommy quickly turn into a crazy person."  I scooped up his little naked tush and ran like a gazelle to the kitchen sink.  We stood there and washed his hands for a good 20 minutes and I'm certain we used half the bottle of soap - Bath and Body Works Fresh Picked Cherry foaming soap will never be the same.  Two days have past and the memory still causes a small gag in my throat.

Lesson learned: DO NOT underestimate the reach of a one year old.

the Graduate

da...da.dada... daw daw... the graduates enter stage right in dramatic form.  The girls are clad in gold cap and gowns while the boys adorn a lovely shade of royal blue.  They all have one characteristic in common however, giant proud smiles.  What's not to be proud of - they are graduating from preschool!  A monumental step into the real world.

I was so excited for this day as I've watched previous New Horizon graduates over the years and thought to myself "one day that will be my kid."  Well, that one day has arrived.  It's definitely bitter sweet though.  A lot of these kids have been together since they were 3 months old and have grown to be quite close.  They've been through good times - first taste of scary mashed potatoes (call out to Grayson here), first steps, first kiss, and first sit on the big boy potty.  It's sad to think that after summer they won't be seeing their best buddies every day.  

Even the little brothers were proud of their big bro.

And of course Mommy and Daddy were over-the-moon proud of our little graduate!

Not lets blow this pop stand - I've got places to go.

Little J's Big Day

It's official.  Little man Jamison turned the big ONE last week.  As much as I love the first birthday celebration, part of me was also dreading it.  A first birthday unofficially marks the end of babyhood and I'm not too groovy on leaving babyhood behind.  Given the right circumstances, I could have definitely been one of those bizarre Mom's who have litters of kids (Nadya Suleman or the Duggar's ring a bell?) because I love the baby phase so much.  We still have a few more months before J is an official toddler.

The top moments of the day:

10.  Proud big brothers making sure their baby brother felt special at every moment.

9. Yummy appetizer spread created by Mommy - with a little help from her buddy Sam('s).

Joshi, Cousin EJ and Jack, the comedian

8. This outfit.  Could it be any cuter???

7.  Photo ops like these.

Is it me or does this child bare a striking resemblance to our dear old friend, Abe Lincoln?

6.  Grandma, Uncle Colin, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Craig, Auntie Gretchen, and Cousin EJ were on hand to celebrate with us.  I'm pretty sure Uncle Colin finds me and my camera incredibly annoying, just a guess.

  

We can always count on Auntie Gretchen for a big smile.

5.  Oodles of birthday presents for our little man to open (with some help from his big bro's.)  Thanks to our always-so-thoughtful family!

4.  The "Three Boys in a Swimming Pool Cake."  Need I say more on this one?  Well, actually yes, one thing to say.  The Blondie laying on the black tube is not a topless vixon with boy shorts on - it is Jack.

3.  Heavy conversations!  No, not between the adults but the 1 year olds.  Jamison and his cousin Evan were happy to get together and discuss all of the woes of being one.  I love the pics because you can almost read what they are communicating... or what we like to think they are communicating.

Hey, did I say you could eat my ball?

I'm afraid I need to confiscate that now.

What? There's more???

So tell me... do redheads really have more fun?

Abra Cadabra...

2.  Our own little Julie McCoy (a.k.a. Jack) was the party leader extraordinaire.  He devised a grand plot to turn off all the lights in the house while we all wish Jamison a loud, and dark, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  It was midday on a beautiful Sunday afternoon so unfortunately turning off the lights did not have the affect he was hoping for.  He looked up like hey... that's not dark enough.  Just then, Mother Nature stepped in and provided some perfectly timed cloud cover.  It was like she turned off the lights for our little Jack and it was one of those purely magical moments that will not soon be forgotten.

1.  What else could be #1 but the infamous first birthday cake?  True to tradition, Jamison had his very own cake to dig into and although it took a while, he did eventually dig in.  He was far more conservative than Jack and Josh were with their first frosted white stuff, that's for sure.  Cousin E got in on the action too. 

Happy Birthday to our sweet angel Jamison.  We love you to the moon and back a trillion times.