The Start of Camps - Week 1

This week marked the beginning of camp for Karl, Lindsay, and Katie.  Billy and Bradley are staying at the beach this week.

Sound to Sea

Karl’s camp runs from 9 to 4 at the Trinity Center, a short 5 minutes away.  It is an environmental camp where they explore the ecology of the island, do crafts, sing terrible ear-wormy camp songs, and play in the surf.  Day 1 was not so fun since they did get-to-know-you activities and Camp Rules, both of which Karl has no interest.  Day 2 was better – exploration of the pond and hands-on discovery.  Day 3 was “Wonderful!”  Today they explored the sound. Karl caught a baby puffer fish, a baby sheep’s head fish, several crabs and shrimp, and other squishy things he couldn’t name.  He’s also acquired at least 27 new freckles.

Cottonwood Stables

Lindsay and Katie – both age 7 – are signed up for riding camp in Vanceboro, NC this week. Vanceboro is 1 hour and 20 minutes from Gayle’s house here at the beach. Shew. Our brilliant plan, suggested by Gerry who is conveniently not here, is for Gayle and me to take turns riding at the camp during the week to save us boredom and lots of driving. Both of us rode in junior high and high school. Gayle continued longer that I and actually managed to hang on to her saddle. Impressive. So we both thought it would be fun to get back in the saddle again.

Lindsay and Katie are in a group all by themselves so are basically getting private lessons all week. They are riding school horses. Big ones. The horses mainly want to stand around or go to the barn, so both girls are getting lessons in assertiveness. Both are also all elbows and knees in the saddle.

 

Katie: WALK!

Clue: [swats at fly with tail]

Katie: WALK!

Clue: [chews on bit]

Katie: WALK!

 

Today they learned to post trot, sit trot, and 2-point trot.

Jill (instructor): OK, girls, today we are going to learn the parts of the bridle.

Lindsay: Then can we gallop?

Jill: No. Then we are going to learn to one-rein stop.

Katie: When can we jump the jumps?

Jill: When you are 23.

Lindsay: That’s a really long time.

I calculated that it has been about 26 years since I last tacked up a horse and 12 since I’ve been on one. Now, I’ve been to summer riding camp. I had a vague memory of what it would be like and I knew that it would be a long day in the saddle. As I brushed my assigned horse on Tuesday morning, I was fairly certain that I had not been that dirty in a long, long time.  But I did manage to get the saddle, girth, and bridle on, kit myself up in a helmet and boots, and hang on for the day.  The first and last trotting sessions were tough, my horse’s canter was a bit like a carnival ride, but somehow I managed to not embarrass myself too much. The others did rave about Gayle’s ability. 

My nails are in as bad of shape as my tushie

When David (Gayle’s husband and family practice doc) left the beach on Sunday to go back to work, he graciously left several Celebrex behind. Pun intended. I’ve taken several and am considering wearing a giant maxi pad for cushioning tomorrow.

The Boys

While Gayle and I have been away, CC and The Boys have been having fun.  Activities include

Swimming at the pool AKA the sound

Digging at the beach

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Dollar Store

Bogue Fishing Pier

Lego Star Wars Wii, Frogger, Angry Birds

Various board games

Light 'Saver' fights

Wave crashers

Swimming at 'The Pool'

Dollar Store booty

Aunt Lala, can you bury me?

Michaelangelo's. Billy's first with-cheese pizza.

Both have new sticker charts.  10 stickers earns them a return trip to the dollar store.  Billy has to let others go first.  Bradley has to use a napkin instead of his shirt.  They love each other most of the time. What more can you ask?