We’re leaving for camp in a few hours. The question remains, like every other year: Am I packed? No. Of course not. That said, unlike previous years, I’m much further ahead than normal. In fact, most everything was packed last night. Clothing wise, that is. This morning has brought about the normal last minute items like toothbrushes (after teeth were brushed), makeup (after my face was put on) and, well, this computer (soon…). I may or may not have internet access this year. I’ll be the only one on the campground, other than the caretakers with their dial-up if I do manage to get this thing to connect. I’m pretty proud that I managed to get everything done (uh, minus groceries, which FireDad is shopping for as we speak) before the last minute.

See?

I don’t know why I hate packing so very much. I didn’t used to loathe it quite so deeply. In fact, I remember one year in high school that found me packed the week before camp, living for a week on clothes that I wouldn’t dare wear in front of my camp friends for fear of being thought of as un-cool. It’s a bit more difficult with children, I suppose. The truth is that LittleBrother, with new clothes purchased by myself and grandparents and all of BigBrother’s old clothes, has enough clothes to pack his bag a full week ahead of time. BigBrother, on the other hand, does not. Shirts? Yes. Shorts? No. Furthermore, with the strange weather we’ve been having, I had to find pants that fit BigBrother, just coming off yet another growth spurt. (No jeans fit. Only sweatpants and gym pants.) And then there’s the fact that I still don’t want to wear clothes that make me look un-cool in front of my camp friends and, well, my own closet is rather… bare. Between the fact that I’m somewhere between sizes and I hate absolutely everything I own, I had to wait until I washed everything I just wore to pack it again. (If someone wants to sign me up for What Not to Wear, I promise not to hate you.)

I got the boys ten books from the library and we’re taking ten of our own (paperback as they take up less room though one, which I have set to blog about next week, is a hardback). I have six books for myself. (Time spent without Internetting is made for reading.) I have a laundry basket of toys (10 cars, 10 trains, Toy Story figures, Thomas the Train laptop, blocks, a puzzle for each and some various odds and ends). The laundry basket makes for easy traveling and easy clean up in the cottage. We do the same for our beach trip (coming up next month). Camera. Bowls. Sippy cups. Small silverware. Sunblock. Every medicine we could possibly need. And more. I mean, if the kitchen sink would fit, I’d take it. The cottage, unlike next month’s beach house, is close quarters. And hot (though maybe not with the weather we’re having). And, as such, I like to make sure we have our bases covered for things to do, things to wear and things to eat (I made two loaves of zucchini bread to take). Otherwise, we’d go insane.

I should finish. If I don’t have actual laptop-based internet, I’ll still be <a href=”http://twitter.com/FireMom” target=”_blank”>tweeting</a> as my cell phone does receive coverage down there so, watch for my adventures with TheBrothers at camp. I’m sure they’ll be thrilling. Right? YES! Go.