Chasing Bluebirds

a cleaver christmas party

we finally got to cleaver's annual christmas party (i think we have missed a few years in a row) the girls were cute and helpful, they really love cleaver

lots of yummy snacks, great music, some cool "artist friend" art, cleaver's pad always delivers. so glad we could make it this year, even though we had to leave early, passing crowds of arriving guests as we headed to our car and off to bed. the girls both fell asleep on the way home. today is lizzies arts and craft birthday party, stay tuned!

camp yallani the next generation

i found this camp yallani t shirt (the one i took for my future kids when i was a camp counselor at camp yallani) while cleaning out some clothes at the cabin. fits lizzie perfect (and with it, the first piece of clothing i ever made for my kids, the skirt made from a pillow case). i am being reminded daily how fast my kids are growing up, soon this t shirt and skirt won't fit liz and then i will be packing them away for future grand babies. how weird to think about that? in two weeks emily will be heading off to camp wintaka, her first time at sleep away camp, a full week. i have no doubt it will change her life in so many ways. this girl is such a joy, so chatty and full of interesting ideas, trying hard to be a good sister (i know its tough sometimes!) she is so brave and creative, willing to try anything. holding on to a wonderful weekend long gone, heading into a long work week, hoping this summer will open up a little and let me soak up some down time. i think it will happen soon. 

(the girls are on the green valley lake home page, riding the ponies, click the gvl link on the right)

Cleaver gets married!

did i mention that cleaver is really "leslie" and she married a "chris"?? they have also been together almost exactly the same amount of time as we have, within months. this was their wedding program, pretty unique i would say.

the happy couple! my camera went buggy

pogo and cleaver... i am looking a bit peasanty... cleaver is glammed up. fun times for all! congrats bif and cleaver!

our "make your own barbie clothes" meeting

another success! tonight we had our special guest "Cleaver" my camp buddy from camp yallani. we have known each other for 25 years now! our meeting finished up our talk about water and air pollution, energy and alternative resources and of course our wetlands project (we are finally officially signing up).

lessons with Cleaver

finished products

and amazingly enough, we managed to do a pinecone birdfeeder craft as well....my moms really help out!

ok, now, emily made a coordinating purse and has this doll got style or what??? proud mama here!
thanks Cleaver!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

pogo loves anna

beautiful anna, living somewhere in spain with two kids (the last time i spoke with her) she speaks only spanish now...from camp yallani to a renovated farm house in spain...sounds like the good life to me!

the kitchen crew

my first year at camp yallani, i was a kitchen steward which was really a dishwasher and helper with kitchen prep. my parents bought me a walkman, an original cassette loaded walkman that used up about a dozen batteries a week. i played tears for fears the hurting over and over while i pushed dishes through the sterilizer. this was the grossest and funnest job i ever had. i met cleaver, gotta (who is the legend kevin lyman, creator of the warp tour...man he owes me some free tickets!) and anna (whom i found recently, living in spain... lovely!) my core favorite people...oh and scooter... who was the coolest most stylish person ever.

cleaver left me high and dry in the kitchen, she became a counselor a year before me.

gotta and louie

my favorite camp yallani shot, these are three camp counselors (scooter,digger and soda)...clowning around while a camper lays on the ground behind them. you just have to wonder why that kid is on the ground, and why the counselors are not paying attention. as a parent, of course i notice this more now.

when i went away to camp each summer, i worked about 10 weeks out of the 12. each week a different group of campers came up, at least two or three were camp fire but some were from other organizations that rented it out. two weeks a summer we had mentally handicapped campers and i can tell you i learned a lot those weeks! we had so many funny things happen and so many humbling things also. as a teenager, of course i made fun of some of these guys, but overall i learned compassion for people who are different. it was a priceless experience...something that influenced my choice of psychology as a degree i am sure.

cleaver in the kitchen

cleaver!

here is the kitchen crew...fun girls!

pogo loves cleaver

memories of camp yallani...my best friend CLEAVER is still my most favorite person in the whole world. we shared summer after summer of dishwashing, cooking in the kitchen and finally, camp counselors...growing up at camp yallani. this was hands down the most memorable time of my teen life. it kept me out of big time trouble and i made the most lasting friendship of my life...can't tell her enough how special she is. now if i can just find those camp pictures!!! stay tuned for more.

some pictures found! :)