summer was :: day one

summer flew by this year. some years it can feel like it drags on and on, but not this year. time flies when you're having fun, right? our summers look a bit different than most, i assume, as we run a summer camp for children for 12 weeks. twenty four-seven. non-stop. crazy. it is full of hustle and bustle. it if full of working really hard to balance [juggle really] family, campers, staff, friends, marriage, parenting, sleep, solitude, life. period. it's hard. but so so so good, most the time. there is no possible way for me to conjure up the words to speak of this past summer, it was too sweet to the soul. with unschooling, each year, each day looks so different...the girls interest change and so do the classes they choose to take. this will be our first week in our normal groove of autumn classes pursued. monday and fridays free for the choosing. tuesday elli has a drumming class and ocean's in ballet again. wednesday, elli and ocean have art, phoenix and momma will have special time together. thursday elli's in gymnastics and ocean has ballet. thursday is also our set aside day for the library, though we tend to visit other times throughout the week. so, with autumn in in the air, summer behind us, inspired by my sweet friend molly, i bring you a week of 'summer was'.

going to camp with, not only local friends, but dear cousins. one who moved to minnesota a few weeks after and one who lives in colorado. a precious time in their lives for sure. a week not soon forgotten i imagine.

the sheet says it all. camp is a place for children to feel safe. be loved. connect with old friends and make new ones. it is a place to find young adults to look up to, follow the example of, and develop a sweet mentoring relationship with. on the first night as my husband was introducing camp and welcoming the campers he said, "...this camp is a place you don't need to worry about being picked on, we are all unique, special, and we all deserve a great week...." one of ocean's friends, whom she met at camp last summer, raised both her fists high in the air and exclaimed, "YES!!" she needed this safe place to feel like she was one of the gang. and she got that.