Week 738AZ - Camp Chaperone; Amelia Teenager; Love as shoes

The top of my priority list is being a school chaperone. Getting to see the kids in their natural environment, interacting as people is great. Getting to see how awesome the teachers are - also great. Last year I had an amazing adventure at Mount St. Helens, this year is Deception Pass with Zach! They say kids are 10 going on 18, and that’s certainly where Amelia is at.

The Deception Pass camping trek is both a camping trip, and a chance for some science learning. Put on by this world-class science teacher (read the notes on the St. Helens trip). One of the first lessons is learning classification. See Zach’s charcuterie board classification of rocks:

The first day of camping is bring a lunch bag, which Tori was kind enough to provide me. Though I guess I must have screwed something up that day as all I got was an unpeeled carrot. On the flip side, she must also have forgiven me as she’s making me some amazing shoes. To quote Amelia Dad, to get shoes like that, she must be madly in love with you. After this many decades of togetherness, madly in love might not be the word, but we are certainly a wacky couple, pair bonded for life:

I like to say Amelia is 10 going on 18. And between her wanting to be 18, and me wanting to be 8, we’re quite the couple.

Oh, a funny story from camping. I try to live my eulogy, which includes my physical health, sleeping, and kettlebells.

• On sleep: The camping trips often have around-the-campfire desserts and star gazing, but that’s always super late, and I hymn and haw, but go to bed at 8. The other dads were like “Igor, it’s crazy at 7:59 you’re joking and laughing, but a minute later, you just disappear, it’s like magic.”
• On Kettlebells: I carpooled with another dad and mentioned bringing my kettlebells. On the way up, he was like, I thought you were joking about bringing them - and I was like, uh, nope, now I’m shamed into having to do them. And do them I did!

Have a great week, and remember: Spend time with your kids while you can. It’ll be the highlight of your life - ZiaT