Springtime Adventures: Camps, Nature, Movement

We went on a day camp trip with Rosalie's Brownie troop, and among other cool activities, the girls learned how to build and start a campfire. Practicing lighting matches was an important (and sometimes mildly stressful) step. 

Rosalie has a healthy understanding of the power of fire, and an understandable love of it! Thanks to this experience, on top of several others, she knows how to build a mean campfire.

Nature's everywhere! Even in front of the school. This is Rosalie's favorite tree on campus. She visits it to build fairy houses, collect treasures, or just relax.

I think we are on lost tooth # 6. This one was significant because she lost it at school. She's been hoping for an at-school tooth loss event for 3 years, because it results in this large tooth-shaped pendant that they give a student at school, to store the tooth so it doesn't get lost. Terribly exciting!

Rosalie pointed out the other day that with this recent tooth loss, she can be both a bunny (front teeth) and a tiger/wildcat or wolf (canines) at the same time! It's a good time for teeth in a kid's life.

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 This July, Rosalie is going to go to an overnight camp for a week! This is such a monumental step in independence. We are excited for her. There's the usual parental trepidation that is wired into us, but she is ready, I can tell, and I'm so proud of her. She is excited about it. The camp, Camp Orkila, is incredible. They generously offer a first-time camper overnight for students to visit in the springtime with their families, to get a sense of what to expect. We met a mom and daughter on the ferry over to Orcas Island, and immediately we hit it off. Rosalie and her new buddy were inseparable all weekend. Even better, they are going to be at camp on the same week, so she'll already have a friend to connect with that week!

Here they are within a few hours of meeting each other.

It's like they were sisters almost instantly. She reflected on the way home, "She's exactly like me!" I kind of saw what she meant. She wasn't too girly girly, and she obviously loved nature as much as Ro does. She has a great sense of humor and they like to read the same kind of books. I'm so happy for them. As families, we were assigned to the same cabin that night, which was an open-air cabin with bunk beds:

 Ro and her friend also created a skit together to perform at campfire. I love the very supportive environment of the camp; the counselors are so positive, and they foster a really nice atmosphere among the campers! If kids want to come up and do a skit, they really support that bravery and celebrate it. So much lively enjoyment of growth! 

Besides that great mission to support and celebrate each kid, this camp also has amazing resources. It has a marine center with a touch tank (for creatures like sea stars and sea anemones), lots of nature trails, an art and crafts building including pottery wheels, a swimming pool, archery, beachside, a climbing wall, an enormous zipline, a "ga ga ball" court (hard to explain, but it's a game Rosalie likes), and probably some other stuff I can't even remember. I'm beyond happy for her! We're planning on getting together with Rosalie's new friend and her mom at least once before they go back to camp. 

Spring soccer has been a great way to keep current on the awesome skills they learned last fall. Rosalie continues to love the game, her team (The Electrons), and her great coach.

And now, for an interjection of some random cute pix.

Beachcombing for rocks

 Party time at the park

Rosalie's buddy, Benji (Grandmama & Papa Stan's sweet dog)

As always, we attended the annual 17th of May (Norwegian Independence Day) parade in Ballard! This is Rosalie singing a song played by a marching band that's about to pass by. As you can see, behind her is a vintage car, because there are always some vintage cars who do their thing at the parade. You can also see kids standing out in the street, hoping to catch candy as people pass by and distribute it. Rosalie has a whole system for that, too.

Major feats of gymnastic prowess!

In addition to the usual unicycling at school, Rosalie's been joining her friends in a daily practice of handstands during recess (and whenever they possibly can). It's been Handstand City for the past couple of weeks. She's also been working on cartwheels and getting better and better at those, too. As you can see, the girls have chalked in their own practice space to work against the wall.


Rosalie said the other day, "I'm ready for summer!" and came in wearing my gardening hat.

Looking forward to future journeys in the summer with our awesome kid!