Living the Camp Life

Who knew Narnia would be the calm before the storm?  It rained on our first swimming opportunity, but then the skies cleared and we sent the entire camp to the pool for the afternoon activity.  Tricia and I went over to make sure no one drowned... or maybe to complete the police report if someone did drown.... But we did successfully chat about our camp experiences and returned with all the kiddies.  As far as we know.  ;-)

Dinner was spahgetti!  It was a fine chance to make every kid's shirt a little bit orange.  And a few sponsors sported orange spots, too, if truth be told *cough* Dale *cough.* It was pretty good--but the mint/Oreo/Cool Whip dessert thing was pretty great.  Broke all my rules about eating Oreos in public--sometimes  a cabin mom will take chocolate in whatever form she can take it....

Then a night swim!  Or a bug swatting contest, depending.  I think the kids were fine in the pool, but the sponsors who chose to sit on the bench under a giant light pole chose unwisely; my skin is still crawling!!  The kids who were afraid the water would be cold were happily splashing and jumping and screeching, so I guess it was balmy-er than they thought.  Where DOES all that energy come from??

Then pizza!  Tricia and I debated and ultimately decided against pizza at 9:30 at night, and the younger faculty mocked us for our wise decision.  Although they did not call our decision "wise"; I think the word used was "grandmotherly."  Hmph.  May they have heartburn and weird dreams tonight!!

Then campfire!  The campfire area has organized itself into a proper campfire circle, rather than the simple open clearing it used to be--now it features a circle of benches around a tall teepee-shaped fire, surrounded on all sides by tall pine trees.  If you look up over the fire, there is a circle in the sky framed by those pine trees, decorated with summer stars  in the middle.  It really creates an atmosphere perfect for the close of  a camp day; rustic and picturesque and serene.  Just right for calming the kiddies down for the night.

Now we're back at the cabin, and I hear the girls playing a game called "Signs," shushing each other and giggling from their bunks when they SHOULD be sleeping.  It's their  last night together, and they don't want to go to sleep and wake  up with no more days to look forward to.  I understand completely, from my own camp memories, but... they are going to have to wind it down before I lose my marbles.

So good night, mes amis, and may your dreams be as sweet as the prayers my little girls said before lights out.   All the mommies and daddies and puppies and kitties of southern Illinois are going to be in fine, blessed shape tonight.  :-)