Scattered

It's a quiet night here tonight, a little lonely actually. My family is scattered in three different directions: 1 traveling husband, 2 kids at camp, and the other two here with me. We started out all together this morning and went our separate ways at noon. I volunteered to be a camp driver today and got assigned 5 boys, including Michael. I thought the boys would provide me with a wild ride and possibly a headache, but they were all quite mellow. It was fun to get to go to camp because all year I've heard about camp from Alex, and gaining the visual perspective to all of the tales adds a bit more depth. Here are some sites from Camp Woodlands:

The lake with 2 100ft. slides (not pictured), 2 diving boards, a swing, a bridge, and the famous Blob (the red, white, and blue thing). Beautiful mountain backdrop too!

I tried to get a sweet sibling picture, but neither of them were feeling the love enough to come close to each other. We told both of them to watch out for each other at camp; we'll see if they even acknowledge knowing each other!

The boys and girls were so funny...the boys were piling their suitcases in the room and running out to play; the girls, on the other hand, were making their beds, placing their toiletries in the bathroom, and lining their stuffed animals up neatly on their beds.

Being able to see the camp also made it a little easier to leave, knowing I can better visualize what Alex and Michael are doing this week. And it was less difficult to leave Alex this year because she's completely familiar with the camp and therefore completely at ease. Plus she's Alex, responsible Alex. I was a bit hesitant leaving Michael, however. He is the youngest from our church group, although I'm sure he'll make friends with boys from other church groups. He just seemed so small and young. I hated to leave him, although he did not share in my apprehension at all; he was all smiles and energy.

Meanwhile, back at home, or thereabouts, the other two spent the afternoon with their uncle after their daddy flew out. They are a quiet pair--not usually quiet, but with the dynamics of the family interrupted, it's a different story. After a very quiet dinner, they enjoyed making their own ice cream sundaes, which turned out to be more chocolate sauce and sprinkles than ice cream. And then a quiet request for me to move the living room couches together to form a bed. The request was granted, and now the two are quietly chatting out the in the living room. Yep, there are perks to sending your siblings off to camp.

I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about having just the two of them all week. They are so accustomed to having the other two to play with. And I am so accustomed to them having the other two to play with, I thought that it would be more difficult just having two. And it might be, we'll see. But I think it's good for them to be on their own this week, and it's great for me to get to spend time with just them without sibling shadows. They are awfully cute out there telling stories to each other!