John had his annual camp barbecue tonight. His group got to stay after camp ended for the day. They had an extra swim and did some other activities. Then they ate dinner. We got to join John after dinner. Gillian was so excited to go to John's BBQ. She was jealous that he got an extra swim but still excited to see him. We arrived and couldn't find John right away. But Gillian found her counselor. She ran over to him and said "Hi Anthony!" She is definitely fitting in at camp.
We found John and explored the camp. The kids showed us all their favorite places to play. We made sand art and John got to go on the big zip line!
Gillian showed off her climbing skills.
We had dessert and headed home. Another awesome camp barbecue!
This year Gillian is going to Camp Briar Hill with John this summer. She is super excited. For the younger grades, they do pre-camp barbecue. It gives the kids a chance to meet the other kids in their group and check out the camp. Gillian was very excited. And John was too. He couldn't wait to show her around.
We arrived, met Gillian's group counselors, heard the camp owner talk, and then we were allowed to explore. Gillian wanted to go to the arts and crafts barn, but it was packed with people. We headed to the pirate ship jungle gym. The kids played and then Gillian wanted to try the zip line. She didn't hesitate. She jumped right on.
The kids also checked out a bouncy house and a train (they were brought in just for the BBQ). Next we went to the art barn and the kids made sand art. We had some Rita's water ice. Gillian couldn't leave until she rode the zip line a second time.
While we were in Myrtle Beach, we went to the beach twice. Both kids were super excited. John wanted to dig a big hole and Gillian wanted to search for shells. Once the kids were coated in sunscreen, they ran to the ocean.
Luckily it was low tide both days and the kids were able to play in the water. The beach also formed an awesome sand bar that created a canal for the kids to play in.
The first day at the beach, Gillian was searching for shells. She spotted one in the ocean and picked it up. But she screamed and dropped it. I quick bent down and picked it up. It was a big conch shell. She said "I thought there was a crab in it." I showed her that it was empty. She immediately put it to her ear and said "I can hear the ocean!" She was so excited. I got a video of her telling the story.
They built castles and buried my feet.
They made friends and tried to catch fish in the little canal by the "space bar" (as Gillian liked to call it). The next time we went to the beach, we stopped and picked the kids up some nets so they could catch some fish. I think this was their favorite part.
A few months ago, Daddy took John to the library to get his very first library card. Our town library is very small, but John loves to go and pick out books and use his very own library card. John is an avid reader and the boys go to the library every other weekend.
We went to the library yesterday. When we walked in the librarian asked "Are you here for story time?" We said "No. But we can be." The kids joined the group and listened to the stories. Daddy and I were ready to go. But after story time it was craft time. My kids enjoy a good craft and it was a Mother's Day craft too! John was so sneaky. He held his little bag and said "It's nothing." The library is small, and I could hear that they were working on a Mother's Day gift. But I didn't spoil it.
When it was time to check out our books, John was so embarrassed. He left his wallet at home with his library card in it. But the librarian was able to look up John's card and check out his books.
Yet another fun trip to the library. Until next weekend!
Today, Gillian was coloring and John was using his spirograph in the kitchen. I didn't have the radio on or the TV on. So it was pretty quiet. Before I realized it Gillian started singing. I thought she was just going to sing for a little bit and stop. But she didn't. I was able to get a little video of her performance. She is concentrating so hard on her coloring that she didn't even notice me filming her.
This year Gillian wanted another elf to join our Elf on the Shelf, Buddy. The kids even wrote Buddy letters asking for a girl elf to come to our house. Check out my post Dear Buddy for the letters.
Buddy arrived like clockwork the Friday after Thanksgiving. He had a friend with him! Gillian already had a name picked out for our new elf, Snowflake! Gillian was so excited to see that Snowflake had on a tutu. She said "She's got snowflakes on her tutu! Just like her name!"
On Saturday, November 28th, Buddy and Snowflake were having a tea party!
The next day, Buddy and Snowflake set up their very own Christmas tree. They must have heard Mommy and Daddy talking about how we were going Christmas tree shopping that very day!
The next day the kids found the elves hanging out in the basement. They were playing Connect 4! Gillian said "Snowflake's winning! See! Her's yellow!"
On Tuesday, December 1st, the kids found Buddy and Snowflake having a race on dinosaurs!
Mimi gave Mommy some picture frames for her birthday this year. These frames can hold a lot of pictures. And they open up so that you can continuously add more pictures. Buddy and Snowflake decided to add their own pictures to the frames.
On Thursday, December 3rd, we found the elves just hanging around in the Christmas tree. Gillian said "They are by their ornaments!"
Friday, the elves took some of the kids toy planes and attached them to the fan in the living room. Those silly elves!
On Saturday, December 5th, it was a pirate's life for Snowflake and Buddy!
Sunday morning, we found those silly elves in the kitchen. They found Mommy's food markers and used them to make a tic-tac-toe game out of marshmallows!
The next day we found the elves just hanging around in the kitchen. John said "Why are they always together? Can't they just do stuff apart?"
Buddy must have heard John, and the next day the elves hid separately. Buddy was up on a high shelf and Snowflake was just hanging out in Gillian's stocking.
The next morning, it was pretty easy to find Buddy and Snowflake. They were sitting on the kid's nightstands. I was waking up John and he rolled over and screamed. "Buddy! You scared me!" Gillian came running in to see what all the yelling was about. When she saw Buddy, she started looking around and asked "Where's Snowflake?" John said "She's probably in your room." Gill ran back to her room and found Snowflake on her nightstand.
The next day we found the elves sky diving in the kitchen.
On Friday, December 11th, the toilet paper was missing from the bathroom. I questioned John, and he said "I didn't go to the bathroom last night. I bet Daddy didn't replace it." He immediately ran to the bathroom to investigate, but he saw toilet paper in the hallway and followed the trail down the stairs.
The next day we found Buddy and Snowflake all dressed up in Barbie's car and watching TV on the big TV in the basement. Mommy told the kids that they were going to a drive in movie. They said "They are just watching shows!" Gillian said "They are getting married! What? They love each other!"
The next day we found Buddy and Snowflake in the basement. They made a tower out of books.
The next morning, we found those silly elves again. They got into the marshmallows again. And had a little snowball fight.
Tuesday, December 15th we found the elves drinking syrup!
The next day, they made Minions out of the bananas! John said "They've gone bananas!"
That same day, Gillian had a really bad day at school and Daddy picked up Snowflake as punishment. When you touch an Elf on the Shelf, they lose their magic. Gillian was very upset, but her behavior was horrible at school and she needed an additional punishment. The following day, Buddy came back but wasn't very happy.
The next day he was sitting on a little house. Again with his sign.
The next day, Buddy was sitting on Mommy's hutch again with his sign. I didn't get a picture of Buddy that day.
Finally, three days later after Gillian's behavior changed Snowflake came back. The kids found them in Gillian's room with a new sign.
Monday, the elves were back up to their silly antics. They were making a pig jump rope!
Tuesday morning, we found the elves in the kitchen. They made a hopscotch out of tape on the kitchen floor.
Wednesday morning, we found the elves ziplining in the kitchen using candy canes!
This morning we found the elves in the kitchen. It looks like they made the kids a little snack and they left us an elf cookie cutter! I said to John "We can make elves next year!" He said "Well we could make them this year." Looks like I'll be baking today.
It was another awesome year of adventures with our Elf on the Shelf! Can't wait for next year!
