Dear Reader:
Yesterday was Camp Boo Boo! Rutledge has been attending several community day camps and Vacation Bible Schools this summer…until this week- the calendar was empty…so he signed up for Camp Boo Boo. It was a week rolled into one day…we gave it all we had…and then some. I got a high “ten” for the effort.
When I looked up the words “Boo Boo Camp” I had to laugh…pictures of Yogi Bear and Boo Boo in Jellystone Park flashed on….There are even real Boo Boo cabins.
Even without a cabin…Rutledge was into camp….as soon as he arrived we planned the day’s itinerary to include everything a camp would do and …..more! When Rutledge managed to hook a stuffed animal with “the claw” and four quarters in the arcade machine (normally one never can grab a stuffed animal) Rutledge returned grinning with his stuffed bear and a ‘paw print’ strangely resembling Boo Boo the bear!
We started out in the back yard where Rutledge climbed the tree house, went swinging on the tree rope….and then we drove to the park for Rutledge to continue his camp “obstacle course”…he passed with no effort what so ever…everything that had been too challenging about a year and a half before at the park was a breeze now at age 6. He passed with flying colors!
We took time out for music (always important at camp) which Rutledge provided with his ukulele .
We stopped briefly at the train store and chowed down at Groucho’s before we headed to the movies…PETS 2! (Adorable!) I used to always love movie night at camp, didn’t you?
It might be summer with summer camps but that doesn’t mean reading isn’t included in the curriculum. I took Rutledge to the Timrod Library to show him one of the oldest private/membership libraries in South Carolina….its origin dating back to the 1890’s. 
Rutledge is into history and studying old objects…he loved the library!
When we got home from the movies…Rutledge found an old trunk in what used to be his dad, Walsh’s bedroom….we couldn’t open the trunk but Luke stopped by and helped us….Rutledge was thrilled! He discovered more Summerville football jerseys, signed baseballs, and pictures of his dad playing sports at about his age. Rutledge was on Cloud Nine.
After supper we headed to Barnes and Noble where we met mom who was picking up Rutledge from camp….what a day!
We saw an Eloise wall sketch in the children’s section….just like our little Eloise!
Rutledge taught me the basics of chess….he said he had learned it at school…love it when the student becomes the teacher.
We can’t have camp without smores….the boy behind the deli counter in Barnes and Noble said he could make us a drink that tasted like Smores...deliciously close enough to bring closure to Camp Boo Boo.
Rutledge graduated with honors!
What a day!
So until tomorrow….Simple moments always become priceless memories!
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
Yesterday, was memorable in so many ways. Ted and Brooke made it back down from the mountains where they had innocently headed out almost a month ago for some family reunion only to end up in rehab for three weeks. So happy the Parkers are home again…Welcome home Brooke and Ted!
Libby accompanied her daughter Betsy to MUSC (yesterday) for her annual check-up from the surgeon who operated on her thyroid cancer…she is still officially cancer free…still she must stay on many heavy medicines to assume producing what her parathyroids would have normally done until their removal …but what the heck…Betsy is doing great! Libby is so relieved and happy!
Home again for the Parkers, great report on Betsy, happy mom Libby, and Camp Boo with Rutledge….what a glorious day yesterday was!
Rutledge and I didn’t sing Yum Bah Yah to end the day at Camp Boo…but the little ‘bird chapel of hope’ and the solar lights ended the day perfectly anyway.
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
As I have said many times, “you are the best grandmother in the world! What a terrific day! So happy Betsy’s appointment went well and happy Ted and Brooke are home.
Love you lots!
What an amazing day for so many people! Don’t we all live for these happy moments?
It has been reading of your “dates,” with your grandchildren that motivated me to convince Douglas to move closer to ours and the great-grandchildren. I want them to know me and that we are there for them. Looking forward to sleepovers and going to the zoo and botanical gardens. I just love reading of your times with the kiddies.
Oh my goodness…how sweet! You are right…so much of life is this stage is creating memories for the generations following us…so they will always have those memories…”Remember when…?” Immortality lies in that phrase!
I have always enjoyed days spent with my grands, particularly in a one on one setting. We always tried to do a Charleston Day. This is the first year Colby and I haven’t done our Charleston tourist day yet. She has been visiting colleges etc., and it has been so extraordinarily hot. I haven’t given up hope yet. We still have a few days left before school starts. You amaze me with the amount of energy you have. Just keep making memories for those grands and for yourself.
You are my mentor for my relationships with my grandchildren Jo….Your relationship with Colby is so special and so sweet that I can only hope to have a little bit of the amazingly inspiring relationship you have with her…i know y’all will find time to hit an historical site or simply picnic together before school starts….looking at colleges…oh my!!!! Where did the time go?
You are such a story teller. Thanks for sharing, although I confess a little jealousy!
Hugs
It was a fun day….like our July the 4th family celebration….so glad we had a chance to chat and hang out….thank you so much for your sweet card! Fingers crossed life will fall into place for you and Butch and we will be able to see more of both of you!