Summer Camp(S)!

This all started out so innocently.  The boys had such a great time at Westwood Farms Horseback Riding Camp last year we decided to have them do it again.  Then they wanted to stay the whole day.  That meant I would have to drive there twice, instead of hanging out, but Amber would get her nap... so we decided it would be okay. 

Then Lance and Matthew had done a three day baseball camp over Christmas that was offering a whole week over the summer.  That was hard to resist and it was conveniently the week before Horse Camp. 

Then I thought it seemed unfair that Jared was only attending one camp so I signed him up the week before Baseball Camp into a half-day Art Camp at the Orlando Museum of Art.  We had done many things with OMA in the past but leaving Jared alone would be new and a little stressful but it was art and only a half day I told myself.

So that's how I ended up with someone in camp for three straight weeks.  I congratulated myself on my planning thinking this would give me three weeks to do the stuff I needed to do before the new school year started....that was the error in my plan because for three weeks I was busy with kids at camp or those missing the kids at camp.  However, from the boys perspective it worked out great and really that's what it was all about anyway :-)

ART CAMP

Self-portrait

The first day we picked up Jared from camp he was so excited he couldn't contain himself.  He wanted to enthusiastically teach us and tell us all he had learned and experienced.  It was great to see!  He was a bit more sedate the rest of the week but no less excited.  By the end of camp he had some beautiful works of art to bring home and a greater appreciation for the art he sees.

Christ saying "It is Finished"

BASEBALL CAMP

Lance and Matthew had as much fun this summer as they had over the winter.  The Incinelli family really knows baseball and has a passion for teaching.  The camp went from 9am to 2pm in the sun so Lance was a bit more sedate/exhausted at the end of each day but no less enthusiastic.  I forgot to take any pics of them at camp but here's there Spring Ball pics I haven't posted yet.

HORSE CAMP

The boys absolutely loved being at camp.  In addition to riding, they cleaning the stalls, doing art, working out with Kyle, and helping out however they can.  They came home each day tired but with big smiles on their faces and stories about their day and their new friends.  Miss Janie and Miss Kassie had glowing reports each day on their behavior, which is always nice for a mother to hear.  The final day of camp they have a horse show to show off what they learned.  Lance won the Leadership Award and Jared won the award for Most Motivated.  It's no surprise they enjoyed camp, we alI like going to the "barn", as we call it, just to hang out, the atmosphere and the people are so awesome.  The barn is the only place we have found where the boys can learn some real old fashion responsibility in the city.  Learning to control a 1000+ animal is great for their self confidence and we think makes them more accomplished men.