Summertime Camps

Xuelian has been very busy lately.  Last week she went to chess camp.  She was the only girl there but loved it.  She came home everyday talking about who she played against how and many games she won and lost.  Mr McVay is a great chess teacher and the kids love him.  Xuelian was in his after school chess classes last year.  He may even start having classes at her new school.  We are really hoping he does.  Camp was 9 until noon everyday.

All ready to go to camp .

She had a lot of people noticing her YES I play Chess! shirt.

The rest of the day was spent playing with the kids in the neighborhood.  We have been the go to house this summer.  We had a big swing set put up.  It has a clubhouse that you get to by climbing a rock wall or ladders, monkey bars, trapeze, two regular swings, a disk swing, tire swing and slide.  The kids usually play on it in the evenings.  It has been way to hot during the day since it sits in direct sun all day.  We have been having one of our hottest summers since 1988.  It has been in the mid to high 90's most of the summer.

One of her favorite things to do is go across the monkey bars

Get onto the trapeze bar

swing for a little while

and then

hang upside down.

Her other favorite thing to play on is the tire swing

She spins around

and around

then she can hardly stand.

Her friends love to do this too.  Sometimes they manage to do this with 3 kids at once.  

I always forget to take pictures when the whole group is out there.  We usually have anywhere from 4-7 kids playing on the swing set.  I love it.  They are outside playing, having fun and getting a lot of great exercise.  I also love that we are the house everyone comes to.  While somedays I wish they would give me a break I like having them here.  I don't hover but I like knowing where Xuelian is and what she is up to.

This week Xuelian is going to Girl Scout Camp.  It is for three days and sounds like a ton of fun.  They are going to cook all of their meals and snacks.  There will be hiking in the woods and through a stream, lots of camp songs, crafts and other fun activities.  I heard something about archery when I was dropping her off.  I can't wait to hear all about her first day later this afternoon.

All ready to go to Girl Scout Camp.

I'll have to take some more pictures tomorrow.  The sun was in her face making her squint.