He's Home!

After much waiting and much anticipation my boy is home from Outdoor Ed!  It took about an hour longer than thought to get him home as the buses got lost.  How might you ask did buses get lost?  Aren't the bus drivers professional drivers?  I'm not sure how exactly it happened actually.  They missed a turn and ended up in a town about a half hour away.  They eventually got home though, so no harm no foul.  My boy was exhausted, but had a fabulous time!  It did rain for two of the days.  Glad we packed his poncho!  The rain didn't slow them down.  They still did everything planned.  I'm so glad he had the opportunity to have this experience.  I'm very glad to have him home though!

Have Fun, Be Good, Come Back Safe

My oldest kiddo left for Outdoor Ed this morning.  For those of you who might not know Outdoor Ed is a 4 day adventure to the mountains that the 6th graders here go on.  They sleep in cabins, learn about orienteering, they learn about geology and nature, go on hikes, on a zip line, and much, much more.  It is something they look forward to with anticipation for years.  The time has finally come for him to go.  I did good; I mostly didn't cry!  We packed his bags last night (I hope he can get everything back in at the end of the week....), he made his lunch this morning, dropped off his bags at the school bright and early, went to breakfast, then time for drop off.  We dropped him off and took a few pictures before I took the younger kids to their school building.  I headed back to the big kids building (it's one school, two buildings).  I was able to get back in time to help load the buses up and see the kids off.  Watching them all sticking their heads out the windows while they waved goodbye was lots of fun!  How I am going to miss him though!  It's his first time away from home by himself.  I know he'll do fine.  He's a fabulous kid.  He is more than prepared for this new adventure, more so than his mom is.  He's got his camera, a large memory card and extra batteries.  I can't wait to see the pictures he takes!  Come home safe, but have a fabulous time!



One last wave goodbye!

Outdoor Ed

In just 3 short days my oldest child will be heading off to Outdoor Ed.  This fact brings many conflicting emotions.  I am excited for him to go on this adventure - hiking, zip line, camp fires, learning.  Yet it will be his first trip away from home without a parent along.  Part of me wants to lock him in his room and not let him go!  The fact that his door has no lock on it is besides the point.  It's hard to admit that your kids are growing up, especially when you keep asking them to stop.  We've got almost everything we need, just a few things to pick up (like a poncho), then packing everything up.  He even got a new camera, which he is super excited about.  It's nothing fancy, but it will work.  He'll be able to take a couple thousand pictures if he wants.  So I just need to buck up and admit that my baby is growing up.  He'll have a great time, though the rest of us will miss him.  Especially his younger brother who does not like being alone in his room at night.  I see a week long sleep over in his sisters room coming!