summer camp

I know, Spring has only just arrived but this is the time to start thinking about summer camps for the kids.  My kids are already signed up for their week of camp and looking forward to returning.  We go to the same summer camp every year (this will be Kyle's 9th year there).

There are many options for camp these days...soccer camp, dance camp, riding camp, art camp...you name, there's a camp for it.  For our family a general outdoor themed summer camp is what works best.  The kids are outside all day, canoeing, swimming, hiking and learning about the outdoors.

In Kyle and Jillian's age groups they do some very cool activities like water sports, archery, orienteering and high ropes courses up in the trees.

I quizzed my kids on some of their camp memories:
What is your favourite camp memory?
Kyle: "it's hard to pick just one...I'd have to say ziplining"
Jillian: "the campfire...I like the songs"
Leah: "doing crafts"

What have you learned by going to summer camp?
Kyle: "it certainly helped me be more fearless"
Jillian: "that dragons sleep during the day" (doesn't make sense out of context but there is a dragon themed storyline at the camp my kids attend)
Leah: "I learned how to canoe"

I have some fond memories of camp myself.  I did some day camps during the summer months and a week-long overnight camp one summer which was particularly memorable.  Nothing compares to sleeping in a tent with a bunch of girls, telling spooky stories about the haunted forest, then having to walk through the trees in the dark to go to the bathroom!  I also remember a seaweed filled lake for swimming lessons *shudder*.  But overall my memories revolve around the fun and friendships from that week.

Muskoka Woods, located on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka is a camp geared towards kids ages 7-17.  Take a minute to check out this video they created about the camp experience told by former campers: Muskoka Woods

You can find more information about what Muskoka Woods has to offer by following these links:

What it is/who they are

Activities, sports, sleeping arrangements & food

How to sign up!

This place looks pretty cool...I'll have to see if the kids (and I) are ready for them to be away from home for a week...maybe we can try it out one summer.

Overall the good experiences at camp are amazing...the friendships formed, campfire songs, personal accomplishments, conquering fears (like swimming through seaweed!) and general outdoor fun that can't be found in any other environment.

“Disclosure – I am participating in the Muskoka Woods Blogger Campaign by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

jump, slide, climb & glide

The best part about the nice weather?  Playground!  On Sunday afternoon Jillian was at her riding lesson and Kyle was at a friend's house so Leah and I meandered to the park (I use the term meandered because she took the tricyle...it's a slow ride but she still enjoys it).

JUMP!

For Leah no park trip is complete without a collection of sticks 

Happy Birthday to me

I had a fantastic birthday.  It started out with Jeff and the kids bringing me breakfast in bed.  What a nice way to start the day!  I was spoiled as usual including a new tennis racket (now I'm sure to kick Kyle's butt this summer in tennis...well, maybe).

The best part of my birthday...homemade birthday cards from my kids. 

Kyle's creative "Happy Birday" angry birds themed card!

Family dinner (and the oh so important birthday cake)

And now I start the last year of my 30's...I'm not one to care about the number on my birthday, I believe it's all about how you feel (and I definitely do not feel 39).  But it does seem strange to be thisclose to 40.

finally...it's Spring!

Ahhh, it's Spring.  We thought it would never come but here it is.  Today I went outside without a jacket and I drove with the windows down and the music up.  Dare I finally put the winter jackets and boots away?  Oh, I think I will!

Jeff finally was able to put away the snow sleds/shovels and get the bikes down and tires pumped.  And now it's Leah's turn to learn how to ride a 2-wheeler.

Jeff showing Leah how it's done

Kyle's new bike...and Jillian is enjoying her new hand-me-down

the same but different

A lot of this week has been the usual...getting kids ready for school, volunteering in Leah's classroom, ferrying children to various activities, the girls doing crafts and me sticking my head in the sand to ignore the chaotic mess that is my bedroom, closet and the kids bedrooms (I've lost track of how many weeks this has been on my todo list...too many to count).  Pretty much the same as every other week.  But it hasn't all been the same.

Something unusual is the amount of snow we have.  It's the second week of April for goodness sake!

I think Leah's face here says it all...go away snow, we are ready for some spring showers and flowers

There's also sadness in my heart this week.  I learned on the weekend of a very ill friend in need of prayers, the Mom of one of Kyle's classmates.  A few days later came the phone call saying she was gone.  Christine was a lovely person, always smiling, always willing to help, a wonderful Mom to two amazing kids.  Along with the sadness came questions from Kyle.  He's sad for his classmate, and also questioning if this will/can happen to our family.  I tried to re-assure him but it's hard when I can't make a promise.  We don't know what God's plan is for each of us, which is scary at times.  I pray every night for the health and safety of my children, and that I get the chance to watch each of them grow into adulthood.  It's the hope and prayer of every parent.  Unfortunately my friend did not get that chance and for that I'm sad.

gimme five

On their birthdays, I often ask the kids to show me how old they are with their hands so I can take a picture.  This is what I got from Leah when I asked her to show me five on her birthday...

A Spock version of high five.  That's Kyle's little sister for you!

party girl

Party time for Leah.  She had so many friends come to her party...friends from school, friends from gymnastics and friends from church.  We had the party at a local rec centre which worked out well...the kids ran around in the wide open gymnasium for an hour, then we headed across the hall to the smaller room for some snacks & cupcakes and finally opening birthday presents.  Overall a fun time for the birthday girl and her friends!

Five

Five years old.  Leah is FIVE years old.  I feel like I have to keep saying it over and over again before I can really feel like it's true because just yesterday she was a sweet little newborn, the perfect addition to our family.

Leah is sweet and funny.  She makes me laugh every single day with her comments and jokes.  She loves to give hugs and draw pictures for her friends and family.  She's generous and always willing to share with her brother and sister.  Leah is becoming quite the little athlete, she has started a pre-competitive program at gymnastics, spending 4 hours a week working hard and loving every minute.  And Leah is having a fantastic first year of school, she enjoys learning and spending time with her friends.  Her favourite tv shows are Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First.  She loves Hello Kitty, princesses, fairies and anything pink or purple.

Leah - I don't know how you managed to grow in the blink of an eye but here you are, the most amazing little five year old I know.  You may be growing fast but you will always by my baby!

birthday tradition in our house is the birthday kid gets to open their presents when they wake up in the morning (this was started of course with Kyle and then Jillian, both of whom never have school on their birthdays...a bit more difficult to fit this in on a school morning but we managed).

The only thing Leah kept asking for was an American Girl doll!

Dinner was macaroni & cheese as per the birthday girl, followed by a princess cake.

Birthday Buddies

Leah is lucky to share her birthday with one of her very best friends, Keira.  The girls are in the same class at school, and Keira's mom picked up these adorable birthday girl shirts for the girls to wear together at school.

Happy Easter

John 11:25-26 

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Our Easter weekend was filled with making cookies, hunting for chocolate and jelly bean filled eggs, spending time with family and celebrating at church on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

EB visited our house...the baskets and eggs were filled with treats.  The hunt was on at 6:30am on our house as everyone was up far too early (the kids were up at 5:30 but I insisted they go back to bed for another hour).  Jillian and Leah had a sleepover in Leah's room together.  Late night + early morning = nap for Leah at church.

We spent the afternoon at Nana & Granda's house visiting with everyone.  As usual I tried taking pictures of the blur known as Alicia but she's always on the move that little one.  Fortunately Noah isn't mobile yet.

This is what our spring has looked like...I took this picture on March 21.

Some of the snow had melted before Easter but we still had a fair bit on the ground and it was chilly outside.