away to camp...

On this gorgeous, hot day, we set off up north to deliver Brya and her friend to camp - the first time for both at a sleepaway camp.

Much excitement led up to this day and after a slow drive along surprisingly congested highways, we were delighted to be welcomed into the camp by a number of friendly, outgoing counsellors (I have never been so well directed into a facility in my whole life!).

The property looked beautiful, sign-in was orderly and went without a hitch. However, after one young and friendly staffer led us to the girls' cabin, reality set in quickly. The cabin was temporarily empty of campers, parents or counsellors - which we wish had not been the case - these two moms would have liked the reassurance of meeting the young people who would be caring for our girls. The cabin was the typical summer camp set up - plain wood, plain bunks, some dressers.  Everything was tidy and seemed clean, and my critical eye noticed new vinyl windows and apparently new mattresses. The girls hesitated as they looked around - which bunk?  Which would be the most homey, most comfortable, most reassuring? 

After a few minutes, bunks were chosen and beds made and we headed out to find the "tour guide" staffers we had been directed to.

After that I think we all started to feel a little better because - wow - this camp is packed full of amazing things to do and time and money had obviously been spent to make this a fun place to be! Canoe and Kayak areas, tidy sites for campfires and outdoor shows, an outdoor chapel, rock climbing walls, no less than THREE rope courses (my friend shuddered, I looked on with interest), an art cabin and tuck shop (all kids get to choose one item at the tuck shop every day!) swimming beach, basketball and tennis courts and a huge chess board and ping pong tables and on and on and on...(even the bathrooms were new and shiny - with sparkling showers - believe me, I checked.)

Towne Hall - the indoor rec centre

One of the campfire circles.

 

Cass at the rock wall.

The dining hall from the outside...

And the inside.



Looking up at one of the rope courses...

 

And another - can you see the rope bridge up high in the trees? Wow!

 

The swimming beach and docks - I want the job of sitting in the Muskoka chairs!



Checking out the chess board!

As the bell rang to call all the new campers together, many parents also trailed down to the gathering place to see our children meet their counsellors and bunkmates. A happy, silly camp song, a brief welcome from the camp director and then our children were sorted and led away to meet new friends. Bryanna looked back only once.

My friend and I were reluctant to go but we had given the girls hugs and reassurance and told them to have a great time. At that point they didn't need anything else from us and so we packed up their younger sisters and headed home.

I hope that Brya has an amazing time and comes home with so many hundreds of stories that they are spilling out of her. I hope she will feel more confident and strong and know that she was able to have this grand adventure without needing me there with her each and every moment. I hope she has FUN.

That's what I wish for her this week and for each new phase in her life - I think that's what we all hope for our children, isn't it?

But it is SO quiet in this house tonight.  :-)

forest to farewell

Love the nearby playground surrounded by redwoods...children can play in the creek (imagine! a creek clean enough to play in with bare feet right in town.) We spent a lovely hour there on our last afternoon in Marin - gorgeous.

We had promised Bryanna all week that we would go our for crab dinner and last night we delivered at a place on the water in Sausalito. Yum dinner and time together with our family...sweet.

Bryanna and Cassidy each ate one of these! Their mother did not.

Ta-dah!

Sausalito marina.



My sweetpea!



Sixteen days seemed to stretch out forever two weeks ago but as always the time flew by in an instant. Kim and I spent nearly every minute together - on our computers, sheperding children, reading, dozing, movie watching, chatting, chatting, chatting. For us, that was the "mom vacation."

Till next time!!!

from coast to hilltop and in between

Backing up a few days to catch up - I have taken so many hundreds of photos I must blog to give some of them their due!

Thursday afternoon we spent time at Crissy Field (previously the Presidio airfield during its time as a military base) - now a great beach and play area...met up with some of Kim's super friends and all our children for the afternoon - nice to have mom time while our eight played. Thanks Joy and Kirsten!

Then uncle damian joined us for a trip to the town of Sonoma in wine country - we explored the 500 year old mission there and while Uncle D returned to work in the city, we had a DELISH lunch at The Girl and the Fig - cheese and wine...what could be better?

Bryanna shooting Aunite Kim, shooting the fountain at the Sonoma mission.

Sweeties in the cactus garden.

Yesterday, Damian led the troops to Turtle Rock - on a high hilltop not far from home...Cassidy was in fine form.

Cassidy thought this looked like The Lion King rock!

So many beautiful places to explore at one of my favourite places to visit!

on the boardwalk!

Remember the 80s movie The Lost Boys? That spooky movie about a bunch of teenage vampires was coloured by the setting - beaches and cliff caves and a cool, boardwalk amusement park.

That's where we spent 7 action packed hours yesterday, and happy to say there was not a vampire to be seen -- rather, tons of families enjoying a beautiful day at the park overlooking the ocean, So fun!

 

A deep-fried Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich - YUM!!!!!



Gorgeous amusement rides.

 

See the dinosaur's hair?  That's Cassidy!



They rode this drop ride several times - and later Brya and I went on the enormous adult verion (yikes).



Happy girls, tired but happy moms.  Another memorable day.

on the ocean!

Today we crashed at the beach! Although fog was hugging the coastline as we drove the twisty, breath-catching road to Stinson Beach, the sun appeared shortly after and we were bathed in warm sun for the whole day. 

Seriously, is there anything better than the feel of walking (and sleeping!) on warm sand?  

There was much digging of deep holes and subsequent burying of bodies, sunbathing, reading and chasing seagulls. Oh, and eating deep-fried shrimp, cod and fries, hot-dogs and bugers on our picnic blankets - yum!

But the highlight of the day was boogie boarding those pacific waves onto that glorious beach - yahoo!

 I love northern California.

Ignore my overly excited babbling at the end of the following video clip - I was TRYING to say boogie-boarding on the pacific!

  



At the end of a perfect day, bundled up and reading Harry Potter...what could be better?