Last year, we sent The Shortlings to a summer day camp.  An amazing summer day camp that had horseback riding and archery and canoeing and karate and yoga and digital arts and camping and photography and amazing counselors and friendships and nature. 

Seriously, when we were still deciding whether to enroll them and went to have a tour of the camp before the school year ended, the over-excited teenage girls who were showing us around were guiding us through the woods, pointing wildly and telling us where everything was, "And there's the pond over there... and there's art... and there's archery... oh! and there's nature!"  We were out in the woods so all of it seemed like nature to us, but apparently, that one spot between the trees right there?  That's Nature.

 It was a fantastic experience - so much more valuable than school in so many ways - and I just signed them up to go back again this year.  For what they get out of it, it's totally worth the cost, but, for us, it's not inexpensive either so we have to plan ahead and save up throughout the year.  Both The Shortlings have expressed their concern at one time or another that they might not be able to go back again this summer.  This week it was The Caterpillar's turn while she and The KingofHearts were in the kitchen together.  I was eavesdropping from the living room.  The Dormouse was nowhere to be found.

 "Daddy? Is Summer Camp very expensive?"

 "Well, it's expensive, yes, but it's worth the money so we'll figure it out.  We want you to go back as much as you want to go."

 "But what if you don't have enough money?"

 "You don't need to worry about that.  Momma and I will figure it out."

 "OK."

 *pause*

 "Daddy?"

 "Yes?"

 "I can give you all my money to help pay for Summer Camp."

 "Well, that's very sweet, honey, but you don't have to give us your money.  We'll work it out."

"Oh."

*pause*

 "Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"How about if I give you all Sister's money?"