Movie Premiere: YouthTubers

It was one covid-summer in the making and nearly two years (just over?) in the post-editing but we finally got (most of) the cast together for the final Faux Film Camp screening of YouthTubers.  It was sort of anti-climactic after waiting all this time but still...we premiered the final Faux Film Camp movie and the boys had a fun and embarrassing time seeing themselves be so earnest in their endeavors.  I got a lot of feedback and may make some changes before I share this movie with those unable to attend the premiere.  I guess we can call the new version the previously unreleased Director's cut or something.  Anyway, I hope all of the kids remember their time spent making movies with me yelling at them to "stop laughing" and "get the shoot done so we can get to the pool" as fun and worthwhile.  I sure enjoyed having them around.  Lil' farts.  

(from left to right) Eliav/Mario, the book reviewer; Henry/Jeff, the gamer; Jake/Gustaf, the chef; Elliot/Bob Corn, the life hacker

Summer movie premiere!

(from left to right) Alice, Mia, Avery, Henry, Elliot, Emory, and Dillon (not pictured: Gabriel and Eliav and our on-location cast members Amelia and Erin)

Concessions are closed!

Cheetos and cupcakes! Youth beverages to the right, adult to the right.

Door decor

Cast sitting on MEGA-couch

Summer 2019, week five - pictorial

First day of Damian Lillard Basketball Camp

Soccer practice, working with Coach Anthony

Hen met Damian Lillard!

Elliot sleepover with Pip's Donuts in the morn

Dirty Wu, Honey and Sea Salt, and Raspberry (seasonal)

Lunch at PDX Sliders - Hen went to Elliot's to play afterwards

Summer 2018, week nine - pictorial

It's Faux Film Camp week!

Summer 2018, week eight - pictorial

Teen Titans Go! to the Movies! - Elliot ate almost an entire 1/2lb box of See's Chocolates (minus the two or three he shared with Hen and Alice)

Dillon and Hen at Sliders PDX - burgers, yo!

Dillon and Hen at the pool

Ran into Logan from The Annoying Squirrels at New Seasons - Hen's legs look crazy long

Eliav and Hen at soccer camp

Hen, Dillon, and Eliav

All day UK International Soccer Camp

Summer camp is rapidly approaching!

Hen is going to his first sleep-away summer camp on Monday. He'll be gone for 7 days. Luckily, another mom told me about sending care packages a few weeks ago so I've been buying a few small items to stick in it. While we aren't able to send food items, small toys and books and other fun stuff are acceptable. Here's what Hen's getting with a pic of the homemade and hastily crafted postcard, too. The camp handbook advised not talking about how much you miss your child and how anxious you are for your kid's return so I talked about something I knew Hen would find funny - farts. More specifically, farts from the cat and his papa so...the likelihood is high that he'll laugh at that.

paper airplanes, pre-addressed and stamped postcards (for writing to mama and papa), two books (Spiderman and Choose Your Own Adventure), Mad Libs, green pen, emoji plush toy, silly putty, marbles, fart whistle, and a spinner

Trackers Camp: Junior Archery Adventure

A little boy named Hen was super excited for camp this morning. Well, he was after we managed to get him out of bed, dressed with teeth brushed, and his lunch packed. (This kid takes work sometimes.) But once all that was done, he was excited. This is our third year doing a week of Trackers camp. It's fabulous! Hen is doing the Junior Archery Adventure week with his preschool bud, Elliot. Here's the camp overview: Develop the foundations in the art of the bow and arrow. Train with our handcrafted traditional wood bows and modern recurves. Play fun archery games at the range and beyond.

It should be fun! Hen really wanted to be able to blend in for the stealth bow games they'll play this week. I have been tasked with buying a camo shirt today to go with his camo shorts.

Camp

Two questions I got to ask Hen when I picked him up from camp today:

1. Did you start a fire?
2. Did you use a knife to whittle wood?

Trackers is an awesome camp. Not only is one of their locations super convenient for us - we're able to bike Hen there every morning and bike home when the day is done - they also do a fantastic job of catching children's imaginations through their innovative and educational programs. The kids spend the majority of their day outside regardless of weather, which can be less than stellar in the early days of summer. The kids are taught actual skills. For example, Hen is learning how to use a bow and arrow in his Stealth, Archery, and Wilderness Survival camp. And, yes, he's learning how to build a fire. (Pssst…he's playing with fire, but in a safe environment. This is part of the awesomeness of the camp.) He likes to point out the plants he's learned about whilst traipsing through the forest. He went last year for the magic camp, and I fully expect he'll return for many more summers in the future.

Magic Camp memories #74

Hen: Hey, mom. I forgot to tell you. In magic camp today, we got to touch, <insert pause here> troll snot. 

Me and Hen: Ewwww.

Magic camp is nearly upon us

There is one very excited young wizard at the house.