Sleep Away Camp Was A Success!

waiting to load the bus

A few months ago, my sister in law and I got up insanely early one Saturday morning and registered our kids for sleep away camp. Mr. J and my nephew were registered together, and my niece and a friend registered together.

This particular camp has boys in July, and girls in August.  This last week, Mr. J and my nephew got on a bus Monday morning and headed off for their first ever sleep away camp.  They were so excited and full of smiles all morning while we waited to load the bus.  For a few weeks prior, Mr. J kept telling me how excited he was.  

I was super excited for him, but I was also a little nervous. I never attended an away camp - my parents always wanted me to, but I was too much of a home body and didn't want to be away from my parents.  I didn't really even sleep at friends houses when I was young - I would normally call home around the time we were going to bed because I felt sick. Lucky for me, my dad always came and picked me up.

Mr. J has spent the night at a friends house once (for a birthday party), and also with my nephew once. I was really hoping he would be ok.  I figured that as long as they were both having fun, there was nothing to worry about. If one of them called home, then it was likely they would both need to be picked up.

When Tuesday evening came and I hadn't heard anything, I knew that things were fine.  I was so excited to see him on Friday afternoon.  When they got off the bus, the first words out of his mouth were that he couldn't wait for next summer so he could go back!

Nightly camp fire, swimming in a lake, canoeing, a huge mud pit, soccer, ultimate frisbee, fire building and more! Wake up at 8am and bed at 930pm with the majority of the day spent outside being active.

He came home a little dirty, a little smelly, and full of memories that can't be found at home.

Now I have Mr. K who is super sad; you need to be 8 to go to this camp, and his birthday is at the end of August so he won't be able to go next summer.

Do your kids go to sleep away camp?

Great Teachers Help Set The Path For Students #CatholicTeachers

This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Ontario's Catholic Teachers #CatholicTeachers sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

When your children are starting school for the first time, it's a big step for both parents and children. As a mother, you worry that your little one is going to be away from you all day, and how someone else could possibly care for them like you can. Having wonderful educators helps to set them up for a positive learning experience, and makes it a little easier for us to let go.

Getting Kids Involved In Technology With #LevelUpKids Summer Camp

This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and #LevelUpKids sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.

(GIVEAWAY AT END OF POST)

Mr. J is 9 (soon to be 10) and absolutely loves technology. He loves playing video games, watching you tube videos and would much rather use a computer than put pencil to paper. Whenever he has any sort of presentation to do in class, he always uses a slideshow to help enhance what he is sharing with his classmates.

I am glad that he is able to embrace tech the way he has, as it is a huge part of our lives, and it will become more a part of his life as he grows.  Instead of limiting his access to technology, I am trying to ensure he enjoys learning the behind the scenes aspects of this world.

He loves watching videos, so I want him to learn how to create them. He loves learning new programs, and learning how to code could help him develop his own.

He and I recently had the chance to attend an event that was organized by #LevelUP. The kids had the chance to learn about and use SCRATCH to create their own hide and seek game. They were also able to play Minecraft and control robots using an iPad.

It was such a fun event, and Mr. J can't wait to attend a week long summer camp put on by Level Up. There are many different camps available for kids to choose from. Mr. J is most interested in the YouTube camp offered. He really wants to create his own channel. They have camps geared to Minecraft, Web Development, Game Design, Mobile Maker, You Tube, Programming, App Creator and Robotics. There is also a coding camp for girls.

The summer camps that Level Up offer engage kids in STEM education. They are geared to tech, but the kids get so much more out of it than that. These camps help kids learn the following skill sets:

• Problem Solving (if something isn’t working properly, they need to work through it until they find the problem)
• Math (spatial directions, measuring distance, calculating areas and more) 
• Team work (construct arguments and critique others, working as a team to solve problems) 
• Precision (for programs to work, they need to be precise as well as be written and formatted properly)
• and more! 

There is more to tech than just staring at a screen. A lot of steps are involved in the creation of the items we love to use. Level Up gives kids the opportunity to be at the ground level of this process. This program also realizes that kids need to be active. A long lunch break each day gives the kids a chance to get outside and be physically active.

To keep up to date on what's new with Level Up, follow them on their social channels (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) and check out the website.

GIVEAWAY

Level Up Kids wants to help your kids learn to love tech.  They have very generously offered me a week of camp to giveaway to one of my readers.  This is open to Canadian residents only, and must be used this summer (2017).

For your chance to win, complete the form below. Good luck! (Please note: BOTH mandatory entries need to be completed to be eligible to win)

Entry-Form

Hey Ottawa, Join Pedalheads This Summer

PLEASE NOTE: The free preview day that was supposed to take place May 20th in Kanata has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience.  Please check the website for more information on Pedalheads and to register for camp this summer.

Pedalheads bike camps are back for another year in the Capital, and have expanded to 5 locations now.  There are camps in different areas of the city to make it convenient for families:

• Alta Vista
• Orleans
• Rockliffe
• Ottawa West (Nepean)
• Kanata

Christmas Printable Word Search For Kids

My kids love word searches, and a few weeks ago I made a Paw Patrol one.  It seemed to be quite popular with my readers, so I have put together one for Christmas.

to print, right click and save as to your computer

Yummy Nummies S'More Maker Playset #2016GG

If you have a little chef-in-training that likes to create in the kitchen, then the Yummy Nummies S'More Playset is sure to be a hit this Christmas.

Summer can live on with S'mores all year round! The S'more Maker Playset includes the campfire (battery operated, batteries sold separately), and all ingredients needed to make 10 s'mores in the kitchen - any time!

You use the tray to make the graham crackers, chocolate squares and marshmallow fluff, then you put it all together, use the yellow spatula to place it inside the campfire and soon after a delicious s'more is ready!

You can also purchase refill kits to make more when you are finished

No flame required for this, so the kids can do it themselves.

melt your heart moments

I love being a mom! There are so many cherishable mometns with my kid. My lateeest "melt my heart" moment just happened a few moments ago!

Kyle had gone to bed, and after about 40 minutes woke up. I went in for some cuddles, and when I picked him up and rocked him, he looked at me with sleepy eyes, put his fingers in his mouth, and drifted off to sleep.

Melts my heart!

brotherly , err love?

I have discovered that if I leave Julien and Kyle alone in a room together, it's never a good thing if I hear Jules laughing.

I went downstairs to take some muffins out of the oven, and Kyle was in his exersaucer, Julien playing with his cars.

As I am coming back upstairs, I hear Julien laughing, and wonder what I will find as I enter our family room. Well, apparently Julien wanted to show Kyle his brotherly love.  H ewas standing on the exersaucer, with one leg on either side of kyle's body. Rocking it back and forth.

Kyle was flailing back and forth and didn't really know what was going on. Julien told me that he wanted Kyle to go on a ride, just like he did at DisneyWorld....

Oh the joy - what else do I have to look forward to. Although, I guess I should be thankful that in almost 6mths, Julien hasn't injured his brother.