Camp Week

Ellie went to her first sleep away camp this past week. It was Camp Connect at Epworth in St. Simons Island. She left Monday afternoon and came back Friday. Although we missed her SOOOOO much, Emma enjoyed a week of mommy daddy camp and one on one time with Mack. One night during the week, Mack went to Tifton to spend the night with Mia and Dubs. He had a great time swimming at the neighbors' pool, eating pizzas, and watching a movie with his grandparents. While he was gone, Emma and I had a sweet day together one on one. We rarely get time individually with the kids. Emma wasn't really sure what to do being the only kid in the house, but I think she enjoyed the attention. We rounded out the week with a quick trip to Tifton for dinner with Grandma for her birthday. My dad (Papa) has pneumonia so we took them dinner and cake and celebrated at their house.

Ready to load the church bus to head to SSI

She was determined to carry all of her own stuff. I was so proud of how light we packed. There were some girls there with ridiculously huge luggage. 

She claimed a seat on the bus. There were only 3 rising 4th graders that went. 2 boys and Ellie. The rest of the kids were rising 5th graders that Ellie didn't know that well. She was a little nervous. 

I wouldn't let her leave without giving her siblings a hug. 

I wasn't sure if Emma was going to let her go. 

I cried when I looked back at this picture. The windows on the bus were tinted so all you could see was her sweet little shadow waving at us. 

And they were off! 

The Camp Connect crew that came from Park Ave. PAUMC! 

One of the moms had to ride along with the driver to help with the kids. She sent us this when they made it to the camp. 

Mommy-Emma day included a trip to Walmart to spend a gift card that had been burning a whole in Emma's pocket. 

She picked some accessories for her American Girl doll. (I had no idea Walmart had a version of the AG doll and the clothes fit her doll perfectly!!)

We ended up our afternoon having a snack at the Mix (Froyo) 

Emma with her Walmart loot. It all fit Isabelle perfectly!

Wednesday, before Mack came back from Mia and Dubs' house, I had to run some errands. Emma came along and we had a lunch date at chick oil a. She was so excited about it. We used to go all the time for lunch when she was in preschool. Now, I can usually only take Mack during the school year for lunch. So, she got her time Wednesday. 

Mack finally made it home and jumped right in with bossing Emma around. 

This was Friday when we were waiting in the car on Ellie to arrive at the church. It was a bazillion degrees outside, so we opted to do most of the waiting in the AC of the vehicle. 

Mack and Emma made signs. Mack wanted to take his with him to hold up. Emma hung hers up in the playroom. Mack traced the letters, but did write his name at the bottom of the poster. We are working on his letters. 

He was so excited to see Ellie, or at least the idea of it. 

The bus ended up parking lower in the parking lot that we thought they would. Mack went chasing it with his sign. It really was so sweet. 

Waiting on their sis to get off the bus. 

She may not have bathed that much during the week, she may have only washed her hair (somewhat) once,  but she made it and had fun. 

Ellie teaching Emma a trick she learned with her name tag lanyard. 

We headed straight to Tifton to take Grandma dinner and birthday cake. 

The kids had all made her cards. They were so excited for her to read them. 

She really got a kick out of Emma's that said, "you are asome!" 

Mack worked really hard on his card. 

His masterpiece was a hit. 

The kids worked together to paint grandma a birdhouse. They did the same for Mia's birthday as well (her bday was on our SSI trip and my phone was dead at the time we gave her gifts.) They honestly teamed up well to paint the birdhouses and surprisingly didn't fight once during the process.