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We got our first letter from Garrett today! Kevin brought in the mail while Maddy and I were still lounging in bed. He rushed in to read it aloud to us; we were all so excited! I've decided to copy all of Garrett's letters here to share them. I'm going to type them out exactly as Garrett writes them. This first one has us all tickled pink. So, here it is....
Dear, Mommy I'm having the best time ever. I met Max, Hayden, Alexander, Adain, Jack, Andrew, Jake, Ely, Max C., Axel.
I love you to, Jasper, Daddy, Maddy.
I'm having lots of fun!
Love,
garrett
Maddy has been counting down the days we have left until Garrett comes home. She is very quick to tell anyone who asks that Garrett is at camp for 11 days, but we're on day 6 now. She misses her brother, but we have been having some great Mommy & Me time.
Maddy and I spent our Sunday swimming at the Country Club with Kayla, Skylar, and Taylee. Ghee & Papa joined us for lunch, and Momma, Mindy, and Adel joined us for a nice long visit, too. Maddy loved swimming with Adel, and there were very few fights between the girls. I got my work out treading water at the diving board to catch Maddy and swimming Maddy across the pool on my back. If only we had a pool at home. I'd be in great shape!
When we got home from the Country Club, we spent a very relaxing evening in the back yard. Maddy helped Kevin water his garden. I love summer nights!
On June 10th, we (Garrett, Madyson, Mom, & I) left the house at 5:20AM 
heading to Henry S. Jacob's Camp. This is Garrett's first camping experience. The night before, Garrett and I lay awake in bed talking and snuggling, both of us too wound up to sleep. Maddy slept during the drive. Garrett asked constantly, "How much longer?" and "Are we out of Louisiana yet?". 
We claimed our spot in line as car #70 outside of HSJ around 10:45AM. We landed right on the bridge over the creek that former campers like myself remember swimming and playing in once every summer. The line in front of us curved up toward those iron gates that bring butterflies to my tummy even today. The line behind us curved back toward the highway. Garrett and Maddy were content to throw rocks over the bridge while Mom and I melted in the sweltering Mississippi heat. It was so much fun to see the kids hopping out of their cars and roaming the line. 
The girls squeeled as they met back up with their summer friends and the boys exchanged cool looks and high fives. Parents sat in cars reading or stood outside on the road visiting. The feeling of camp had definitely begun there on the road outside of the gates. At noon the gates opened and the cars started rolling in. We received Garrett's cabin assignment and followed the drive all the way around the lake to Cabin Julian Allanberg. Remembering the fight over the top bunk bed, which Garrett wanted as well, we left everything in the car save Snoopy (Garrett's stuffed dog) and ran inside. Garrett was lucky to snag one of the last available top bunks. His bunk is in a corner, right above one of his counselor's bunks. 
Mom and I made up Garrett's bed and Garrett and I unpacked and put away all of his belongings. What was Maddy doing? She was playing on Garrett's bunk - talking to herself as well as anyone who would listen. Maddy was not happy about not being able to stay at camp, so she felt the need to tell anyone and everyone, "Garrett is staying at camp for 11 days, but I'm not staying. I have to wait until next year after I finish 1st grade." Garrett's counselors seem really great. It was so much fun to watch all of the boys getting settled and all of the moms and dads fussing. 
I was very proud of myself - no tears. Not even when Garrett told us that we didn't need to eat lunch with him, that we could go on and he'd eat lunch with his cabin. So we left a very happy Garrett taking pictures of his counselors and just chilling. Maddy was not happy about missing out on the dining hall experience, so Mom and I took Maddy to eat lunch in the dining hall. That turned out to be the neatest experience for us. We were able to watch from afar as Garrett came in and enjoyed lunch with his cabin. He didn't know we were there, and I could just stare at my handsome little man. He looked right at home and very comfortable. I know he's going to have the most amazing 11 days. I can't wait to get my first letter from him. In the meantime, I am enjoying JC (the camp director)'s play by play on Twitter and Facebook and the photos on Bunk1 (which Garrett has been in a ton already). Thank goodness for technology! More to come soon, and I promise I'll try not to be so long winded next time.
