Back in September, parents of 6th graders were asked if they wanted to be counselors (chaperone) at camp KEEP. When I went to KEEP we had high school counselors...and it didn't go very well. When I met with Bubba's teacher, for the end of quarter parent/teacher conference, and she asked me if I wanted to go, I said yes. Luke said I was crazy and didn't want me to go. He thought it would be good for Bubba to experience KEEP with his mom. I of course really felt the need to go.
Of course as it approached, I was more nervous and dreading the whole thing. I was finger printed back in November and the first part of January I received my Counselor handbook. I was not looking forward to sleeping in a cabin, in a sleeping bag and supervising a cabin full of girls.
Nevertheless...the day of departure arrived. I dropped off the boys first at school and then Wiggy at pre-school. I headed back to the school to check-in, because I didn't have to be there until after 8:30am.
Lots of nervous parents, waiting around the school cafeteria with their children for the 9am departure. I would've been one of those parents if I wasn't going. (I would've been crazy out of my mind, with worry!) :)
It was eventful before we even arrived. On one the buses, one of the girls vomited over and over. At one point, our bus pulled in front of a McDonald's to wait for the other buses, and an old man parks about two feet in front of the bus and refuses to pull forward, to give us room to pull out. It was absolutely hilarious to watch this old man flip us off and cuss at the bus driver. I have no idea what his problem was.
We got to KEEP around 12:30pm. We unloaded all of the luggage and bags while the kids went with the naturalists. It was going to be a long four days for a girl who isn't very outdoorsy.
I was able to see Bubba during the hour of free time before dinner and occasionally during meals we could exchange a few words in passing.
Bubba and his friend Mitchell liked hanging out in the Discovery Zone, as opposed to playing outside.
Days 2 and 3 were spent hiking all over the county. Luckily they place the counselors with their child's hiking group, so I got to be with Bubba during these days. The morning of Day 2, Bubba was picked to be on the "Weather Team." When he signed up on Tuesday afternoon, he didn't know he would have to speak in front of everyone. When he was selected and went with the naturalist he became very nervous. The Weather team was going to present after breakfast. When I saw Bubba walking across the field I could see him crying and he told me what was going on. He said he was scared to death to get up and talk because of his speech. We spoke to his counselor, who spoke to one of the naturalist. They worked it all out and Bubba presented with the Weather Team. I was very proud of him, but I also knew that was why I was there. Bubba kept telling me how happy he was that I was there.
Our first day of hiking, our group went to the Mud Flats to dig for creatures and then to Morro Rock.
Bubba wasn't interested in getting his hands dirty or digging in the mud. I don't blame him at all. Some of these kids got shoes and pants very muddy.
After walking back from the mud flats, my shoes seemed to be walking uneven on the trail. I bent my leg up so I could take a look at my feet, and the sole of my boots are completely coming apart!
Perfect.
By lunch time, the entire sole came off and nothing but a small pad of cushion was attached. I ended up borrowing a part of rubber galoshes from the bus driver while we were at Morro Rock.
Our second day of hiking was out to the Sand Dunes. We hiked out to the tide pools and then the boys got to run down the dunes like lunatics. The hard part was climbing back up the dunes when they were done.
Bubba was sick and tired of listening to the naturalists talk and talk and talk....and talk. This photo reminded me of me. He is a lot like his mom.
Bubba was in the "Dolphins" cabin and they were "Cabin of the day" for the boys on Wednesday. I was very happy for them!
Bubba tried my soy milk this week and became a fan. (Pay no attention to the mustard around his mouth)
We rubbed sedimentary rocks together, from the creek, to make paint and painted each others faces.
The Seahorses.
Two of our girls went home vomiting the day we got there, so we only had eight girls. (Hallelujah!)
We were "Cabin of the day" on Thursday, which meant we were the first to eat at every meal and we got to choose our log first for camp fire Thursday night.
The bus ride home.
He was very anxious to get home. This was taken as we pulled up to the school.
Bubba and I both survived. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be...but I am thankful I have a two year break before Tubbs is in 6th grade.
While we were off "roughing it," Luke was home tending to a sick little girl and Tubby-Wubbs. Thursday morning Wiggy woke up at 4:30am and vomited all over Luke and Tubbs. Good times for Mr. Mom and a little boy who was dry heaving from the fumes.
Awards Assembly that mom missed :(
Honor Roll for Tubbs!
That Stop Wasn't On My Itinerary....
So the Hogue's made it to Florida for our first official family vacation. It was Sawyer's first plane ride....and Simon's first plane ride that he can remember. We were excited....the boys were stoked. We had everything we needed! But it seems that Sawyer packed something with him that wasn't on our checklist: a big case of pneumonia. Yes, the little fella made it almost one whole day in Florida before he started heading downhill fast. Our 2nd day in Orlando we were in the Urgent Care south of Cocoa Beach. (By the way, to see a doctor more quickly, it helps if you vomit all over the waiting room in front of the receptionist. Little tip for ya) After chest x-rays they advised us to head to the ER in Melbourne, where they eventually admitted him to the hospital. So, we had 3 night deluxe accommadations at the Holmes Regional Medical Center. The little whipper snapper was a trooper though! The nurses loved him, thankfully, and made us all feel right at home. We were going to send postcards out with pictures of the hospital since we spent 40% of our trip there...but they didn't have any. Imagine that!Hmmm.....maybe its something they should consider.
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