written sunday..
For my own records wanted to write what everyone is up to this summer
2015 .
Such a different summer in so many ways... Want to remember it.
Beauty: day after school ended, dance camp began.
At the school for her program began. Daily... Strict. Ballet, modern,
contemporary, jazz, hip hop, improvs.
Then she went to a friend’s cottage for 4 days.
Then she had one day home and when to a friend's
grandparents cottage for
another 4 days.
12 hrs in between and today off to camp for 2 weeks and then cottage
with us for vacation for 2 weeks.
Ps beauty has been a very very busy girl. We let her skip dance camp one
day just to have a day in front of the two to relax! August will be lower key.
she Will have a couple of weeks to
bike to pool and hang out.
Bear- competitive kayak and canoe has defined his summer. Every morning
since school ended on the lake at 7:15 am... Then back home a few hrs (often
with a crew of friends playing basketball and eating up a storm (and then back
for kayak practice for 3pm.
Every day.
Often goes to sports parks programs in between for soccer etc. .
Have had many races and competitions and this year and has been bringing home the golds
and bronzes in war canoes.
Tanned, muscular ... This intense physical activity is showing!
A very content and happy teen. More distant lately which is normal I guess for his age? Miss him..
Preoccupied with his own life :)
Leaving camp 2 weeks today and then 1 week vacation with us and then
back with my mom and chase for a week here to prep for kayak provincials in
August (we go to that one for the weekend and volunteer)
Also preparing for Nationals which this year is in Ottawa and will have
him and his friends miss the first 3 days of school ( if his marks were not so
good I would never allow this but I know for him it's fine ) They will all stay
in a room together all week without parents and race !
Not much down time for Bear this summer but he likes it this way. Vacation
at cottage week will be his relaxation time
Chase:
Chase had the first couple of weeks of summer busy with finalizing getting
his driver’s license and all the grad activities (grad camping, parties etc.)
once he got his license he had three days to show it off and spend three days in our car driving it around to his girlfriend's
and friends’ homes and enjoying the freedom of it all. ( I walked everywhere those three days)
Then he left a week ago for three weeks to DirtCamp where he is a
counsellor in training for the second summer at an extreme downhill biking camp.
This year he even teaches biking to the kids. And he has a partially paid contract there (and partially volunteer work) for landscaping, painting
off jobs etc of the owners home which is a 40
Min bike ride away. This summer will keep him in shape!
Then comes home with other two kids and at cottage for a week family vacation. Then for all
Of August is working at his old high school on odd jobs and bookstore 5
days a week. He has expenses now that high school is over and so making money
to pay them.
Bear and beauty at camp we have no contact with. Chase can contact us and already has a couple of times but are encouraging minimal contact.
For us this is part of the experience of being away. And growing up. And
figuring it out yourself. With Chase especially a little hard as not a camp with
supervision etc... He is on his
Own with a bunch of guys. Doing what he wants. But we trust him to make
good choices. And he does.
The other two can sneak phones and texl us if they want but we say no.
It's a good mental break for all
Of us on many levels.
Leaving for camp is a very hectic weekend. Combine one in Otterburn for Races and friends
surprise bday at night .. And one gets home from 4 day cottage stay in Louisville...
Repack bags and off we go.
I remember fondly the days of camp when we would all be huddled at
cottage savouring the last family moments together on the lake.
Now they savor the last moments on their phones, saying goodbye to friends,
their stomachs too anxious for the Panini and ice cream sandwiches on the menus.
Life has changed. Life with teens is nothing like life with little kids. Not
should
It be..
Next week hubby and I without kids working more week and work our asses off to be able to take 3 weeks’ vacation. But at night we do
fun things. We are bringing boat back
To city for that week and at night using it... Dinners out every night..
Plans with friends in evenings ... Early morning boat rides and bike rides by
the canal... Massages at night . Long work days but leisurely evenings with no cooking. or cleaning
And then off for three weeks! One alone... One with all five... And
one with Beauty and her BFF!
A different summer for sure. The beginnings of many changes ahead.
