Science Camp

Today was a big day for our little Annalyn.  We sent her off (with only a few tears shed!) to 5th grade Science Camp.  I remember when she was in first grade, and I saw those big busses coming to pick up the fifth graders for their week away.  I pleaded with Anna to promise me that she wouldn't want to go.  I told her that she didn't even have to go to school that week.  That she could stay home with me every day, and we'd have so much fun!  Every year for the past four years we've had the same conversation as we've seen those kids pack up and leave their families behind.  She agreed that she didn't really want to go until last year when she ended up in the 4/5 combo class.  Hearing those fifth graders talk about how excited they were to go, and then how fun it had been when they got back changed her mind (can you blame her?)  So this year, when we started getting all the letters and forms to turn in, and my offer of a week of fun at home was presented once again, she looked at me like I was crazy and said "No thanks, I want to go to camp."

And so, for the past seven months, I've been gearing up for and dreading this day!  And I have to say....it wasn't as bad as I thought.  It was rough packing her up (I had a sick feeling at the bottom of my stomach all day yesterday), and hard this morning getting out the door, but we made it.  She's been so excited, I wondered if she'd be sad about going at all.  Then, walking over to school, she got really quiet, and I knew it was all settling in.  She got a little teary when we got to her line, but it passed quickly when she found her cute bus partner and got caught up in the excitement again.  I took the boys and headed home, but we came back at the 9:00 departure time for a last goodbye.  I did pretty good at keeping my composure until those busses left the parking lot.  Then my tears came!  Only for a little bit though.  I know she's going to have a blast.  They get to do some pretty fun and amazing things up there, so she probably won't even have time to  miss us.  We, however, are counting the hours until she's back with us!

Bye, Anna....have so much fun!!!