(david goines poster for camp kee tov)

for the last ten years my kids have been attending a jewish summer camp in berkeley called kee tov. it is a day camp but it seems to have the feeling of a sleep away camp in that the same kids return each year and they get SUPER bonded. the result has been that both of my children have a whole gang of friends they look forward to seeing in california every summer. kee tov is pretty amazing… all of the counselors are really energetic and enthusiastic and creative. they do all kinds of crazy things that i would NEVER do with my kids like taking them out into the woods to sleep on the GROUND and get really dirty or “messy day” when they squirt them up with paint and whip cream and chocolate syrup and who knows what else and they get so dirty they come home in GARBAGE BAGS or swimming in lakes (that are inherently dirty!) i am realizing that there is a dirty theme here. they also have all kinds of adventures in the bay area: rafting down the american river, ice skating in oakland, riding roller coasters at six flags, treasure hunting in san francisco’s china town and tromping through all the parks and outdoor spaces within a fifty mile radius (where they also get really dirty.)

(we are about to dive into this banana split from fentons - this is my reward to my children for staying alive after sleeping in the woods)

(theo as a “messy day” camper)

(theo and lu with one of their favorite counselors on the last day of camp)

this year, theo aged out of camp so he is a junior counselor instead (lucy is still a camper.) if i thought there was a lot of “ruach” (spirit) among the campers, it is nothing compared to the spirit and connection among the counselors. theo’s training began with a four day camping trip in some woods (where he got REALLY dirty) and learned all about how to be a good counselor. he was so tired after his training that when he returned from the nature he went straight to bed (after a pit stop in the shower) and slept until dinner. he woke up to eat for about fifteen minutes before returning to his bed. lucy was beside herself to hear about all of her favorite counselors and what they did and was just pelting him with questions while he scarfed down his lobster raviolis from luca (theo says they are delicious but lu and i are devoted to the spaghetti and meatballs - we all get the vodka sauce which is divine.) finally, theo said, “lucy, STOP asking me questions - i just worked for FOUR DAYS straight.” which totally cracked me up. i’m not sure he understands that he will probably spend about SIXTY more YEARS working.

(the lobster ravioli from luca… very good…)

(but just look at these meatballs! they have a little kick and they are even better in the vodka sauce - pictured above)

i have had a hard time getting used to theo’s new job. first of all, he is hardly ever home. he has “work dinners” several nights a week (they are typically at ihop or blondie’s pizza and followed up by a scavenger hunt or a movie or some other “work adventure.”) when he IS home he is mostly sleeping. he also seems to think his opinion in family matters should carry more weight. “i have a JOB now too mom! you aren’t the only one who works in this family.” true, but it’s not like he’s buying groceries or contributing to the mortgage or the electric bill. but the HARDEST thing for me is not calling his name and waving at him (or god forbid giving him a kiss) when i drop lu at camp and see him in the morning (he goes much earlier than she does to help prepare for the day.) i have been scolded by lucy and my mother for embarrassing theo and not respecting the fact that he is a professional now. i can’t imagine how having a friendly mother is embarrassing but i AM trying to keep a lower profile. although i DID sneak in a big lip glossy smooch when i had to hand him some dress clothes to wear to the performance his group was putting on. PRAISE JESUS lucy wasn’t around to see that or i would have never heard the end of it.

to read more about camp click here or here

(i had to sneak this photo like a paparazzi because he won’t pose for me anymore… after the play at camp - he is wearing my father’s tie!)