Sleepaway Camp

Alexis-

You watched the Lindsay Lohan remake of "The Parent Trap"
and decided on the spot you just had to go to sleepaway camp!
Turns out, it's quite a big deal here in Texas,
so we were able to make it happen for you.

For your first time away from home,
we chose a popular, decades old camp just two hours from Southlake.
We coordinated the dates and the cabin assignment
with three sweet girls from town,
and you all met for several playdates
to decide on all your themed outfits,
to brainstorm what you each would pack in your trunks
and to build the excitement level.
When the big day finally came,
we loaded up your trunk,
decorated our car with washable markers
and headed off to Sky Ranch!

You were so excited to get your bunk bed all set up,
to organize all your gear,
and to explore the cabin with your friends.
You were quite ready for your family to hit the road,
despite protests from your younger sister who wanted to stay too
and some tears from your sweet daddy.
We weren't able to speak to you all week,
so we sent a care package each day,
sent you a daily email
and ensured you had postcards and stamps to write to us.

I stalked the daily picture site online,
and I mean stalked!
Seeing your happy face and all the fun you were having
helped make the week go by a little bit faster for us.
And your dad and I had a good laugh seeing your daily purchases
at the camp store. Sugar, sugar and more sugar by the week's end.
Your days were filled with water slides, swimming and boating in the lake,
obstacle courses, themed nighttime parties, horseback riding,
camp fires, carnivals and cheers/chants with your brother and sister cabins.

Pick up one week later could not come soon enough for your parents.
It was so wonderful just to be able to hug you
and hear all about your big adventure,
and see the award selected just for you by your camp counselors.
You filled the car ride home with lots of stories,
and then you promptly crashed for a nice long nap as soon as you arrived home.
You seemed to love just about every minute of sleepaway camp,
and you can't wait for a new adventure this summer!