Allaso Ranch

It is FINALLY here, the day Jonah leaves for Allaso Ranch.  

Side Note:  Jonah asked if he could go to summer camp last summer but it was the end of July when he asked.  It was a little late to sign him up.  We told him maybe next summer.  You better believe that Jonah could not stop asking all year about it!  He was SO excited.  I told him that he would not know a SINGLE person there and his response, "I know, that's OK, I make friends easily".  Insert mommas heart breaking here...  Luke watched the video and read all about it and said how much fun it looked  but he did not want to go.  I told him that was fine, maybe next year.  He said, "No, probably not".  

Last week we received his packet in the mail and he is on Team Captain America (Blue Team).  We talked about decorating our car for the drive down and Aunt Kelly brought over her window paints for us to decorate.  THANKS Aunt Kel, we had so much fun decorating and Jonah was so excited to help.

Jonah was to check in at 3:45 Sunday afternoon.  We loaded up the car and headed East to Hawkins.  He was kind of quiet and I think maybe a little nervous.  Must have realized he was not going to no a SINGLE person there.  We arrived and got him checked in and went to meet his trainers for the week.  We did not stay long, maybe 10 minutes because none of the other parents stayed.  We said our goodbyes and off we went back to the truck.  

Momma did not even shed a tear because I knew he was going to have a blast all week or maybe because I knew I would not have to break up a fight all week between he and Luke.  Guess we will never know!  HA

So, about him not knowing a soul out there, momma knows someone who was going to be there with her daughter who is 6 months older than Jonah.  He has no clue who she is but I showed him a picture and told him that if a lady comes up to you and asks how you are that it was moms friend Lydia.  

Day two of him being gone Lydia sent me a message telling me that she asked Jonah's trainer at lunch how he was doing.  He told her that he was doing GREAT!  Cue the tears.  I could not help it.  It was great to hear that he was doing well.  I knew he would but it sure jerked my heart strings!   

You can check the website for daily pictures of the kids so you better believe I became a stalker of the website.  I felt like I checked it ALL THE TIME!!!  Thank goodness he is coming home tomorrow so now I can actually parent my other three and stop stalking!  HA HA HA

They were on their way to horse back ride but it
started to thunder so they could not go.  Jonah
was a little disappointed.  

Pick up day has FINALLY arrived!  I can hardly stand it.  This momma missed her first born so much. We could not wait to hear all about his week.  We were to be there at 9:45 to pick up our little camper. 

We were there a few minutes early so we decided to go ahead and get his luggage they had set out by cabins under tents.  I walked over and grabbed his two bags (one with clothes and one with all his bedding).  When I packed them there was NO way anything else was fitting in there.  They were both HALF empty!  So, when I got to the truck I started going through the bag and there were only two or the nine outfits I had packed in there.  So, I checked the "bedding bag" and his blanket was missing.  I had to think what else was missing.  It was his laundry bag!  I went to look for it and sure enough found it!!!  It had dirty clothes, his blanket, shoes, cameras, pens, flashlight and whatever else he could shove in there!  

Once most of the parents were there they brought the campers in and put them on stage to sing their camp song and dance one last time.  We spotted Jonah... in the front row with green neon shorts and a face mask.  He seemed to be fine... until the music started playing and he started rubbing his eyes like he does when he gets nervous or in trouble.  I knew it was going to get ugly, I just didn't know HOW ugly!  

I started getting hot, teary eyed and a lump was forming in my throat for him.  By the time EVERY OTHER CHILD was up there smiling and dancing Jonah was sobbing!  My heart hurt for him.  Did he not want to leave?  Was he nervous WHY WAS HE SO UPSET?  Finally the music stopped and Justin ran to get Jonah.  He was so upset he was gasping for air.  I wanted to grab him and hug him so tight.  He was a FILTHY, DISGUSTING, SWEATY, HOT mess but I went in anyways.  He literally looked like he rolled in a dirt pile before he walked in the building.  His face was clean where the tears were falling.  His clothes were dusty with dirt and his feet were pretty much black since he had on his slides.

We kept asking him what was wrong and he finally uttered the words, "my head hurts".  I asked when it started hurting and he told me when the music started.  We all know that when Jonah is "on stage" with lots of people watching he gets nervous.  He has done this since preschool.  

We get him calmed down and to the restroom to get wiped down.  I notice the lost and found so I walk over there to see if anything is his.  Jonah looses it again...  I ask him what is wrong and he said, "a boy stole my shirt at the pool".  I told him it was OK, it's just a shirt... but it was his favorite.  DUDE, it was $7.99 at Marshalls or TJMaxx, I will get you another one.  

So, we have made it to the car!  I found a pair of clean clothes for Jonah to change into, THAT my friends is how disgusting dirty he was!  We asked if he had fun and if he wants to go back.  He uttered, "yes, I had fun" and shrugged his shoulders about going back.  He told us he got homesick the second night.  

As soon as we got home he ate lunch and had him jump in the shower.  I went in and scrubbed him from head to toe!  I then started unpacking his bags and noticed that the 2 bath towels, 2 washrags and all his PJ's had not been touched.  I asked him if he had showered and he said, "yes, with a smirk on his face".  I asked what he dried himself off with after the shower and he said, "my swim towel".  VOMIT!  he swam twice a day and then used it to dry off after his shower.  W O W!  I then asked him what he slept in and he said, "our clothes for the next day, that's what we do".  OK then...

I started to pull out the clothes to wash and noticed a few items missing from his bag.  A couple of shirts, his toothbrush and his Bible.  He said that he did not pack his care package he got in his bag, he set it beside it.  Needless to say, we did not get home with the care package.  

When I put Jonah to bed I told him how glad I was that he was home and how much we missed him.  He told me that he only looked at the picture I tucked in his pillowcase once, maybe twice.  I asked if it made him sad and he said, "yes".  Then he told me that he only threw up once.  W H A T?  I asked when and why and he told me on the second night he got really hot under his fuzzy blanket.  This is not news... it happens at home all the time!  He gets overheated and he barfs.  Oopps, I may have forgotten to mention that to the trainer :)  

Over all he said he had fun and when people started asking him if he had fun and wanted to go back he was telling them yes!  I know it was hard not knowing a single person out there and I am so proud of him for going!  

notice the dragon fly on the deck pic.  Got it!  :)

The photos above were the pictures Jonah took with the disposable cameras I sent with him.  With as big of a picture nut as his momma is you would have THOUGHT he would have taken a.) better pics b).  more pics

Note to self... DO NOT send a disposable camera to camp.  I sent THREE, one of which was water proof.  I am pretty sure I spent about $30 on the three cameras and they had to be SENT OFF to get developed.  After 10 days and a $21 developing fee this is what we got folks.  Money well spent!  HA HA HA