Gigi Camp, that long-awaited period in the summer when I have my grandson Wyatt, is over. It was a little more complicated this year as I had to pick Wyatt up from his Mom (in New Smyrna), since they live in Saint Augustine. Phoenix was not a happy (non-Gigi) camper. Apparently he understood he wasn’t attending Gigi Camp, although he kept telling me he wanted to ride in my car. I may take Phoenix for a couple days of Gigi Camp, provided his Mom is close by. Phoenix is not easy and I need reinforcements.

The first Gigi Camp, held when Wyatt was 3, I ambitiously thought I would take him for a week. I quickly realized I was insane and A.J. and I decided Gigi Camp would last the amount of years the child was, so Wyatt should have had 8 days, since he’s 8, but it was a week. He will come back in August to attend camp at Riviera.

Although I had hopes of going to Colorado to visit his cousin Gracie in Glenwood Springs and his Nana in Steamboat Springs, after my travel disaster going to Colorado earlier in June and the fact that we had a new grandchild forthcoming, I nixed that plan.

Good thing too, since Celine Jennifer Bonet arrived two weeks early on July 3rd at 9:12 a.m. Since Emma had so many issues with her pregnancy (not the least of which was getting sick every single day), she was induced. It took a while (24 hours!) but the sweet little girl finally made her appearance and everything was fine with mom and baby.

Zeke and I rushed over to the hospital and, so anxious was I to get my mitts on the little one, that I almost went to take her before her Dad had held her. I didn’t realize they’d been cleaning her up and assessing her vitals. When the nurse put Celine in Guillermo’s arms he said “This is the greatest moment in my life.”

Wyatt and I took a field trip to see baby Celine and he got to hold her. Pretty much the best field trip ever! The little family is doing fine, even their cocker spaniel Lucy seems to have calmed down to accommodate the baby. They are, of course, exhausted. Someone forgot to give them the memo that newborns wake up every couple hours to be fed, all night long.

First day of Gigi Camp we went down to the Keys and out on the boat. Zeke and Wyatt swam in the bay by Nest Key and we cooked fish (Grouper) for dinner, with Mango Salsa, Green Beans (Wyatt’s request) and Rice Pilaf. Wyatt swam every day of Gigi Camp- in the condo pool, at Riviera and, of course at home. Sometimes, after his chocolate chip waffle in the morning, he asked if he could take a dip. Sure! It’s Gigi Camp- why not? And as every parent worth their weight in gold knows, swimming tuckers children out.

Even with the swimming, Wyatt was up early and to bed late. He is a Monopoly fiend and we had a game that went on for days. I was praying for the end, so was quite happy when I went bankrupt and it was finally over. His favorite food is sushi, so he ate lots of it at Gigi Camp. We also went to the Miami Children’s Museum, saw two movies- Despicable Me 4 and Inside Out 2-, went to Riviera swimming and for lunch and watched lots of Shark Week.

Gigi Camp seems to usually occur around Shark Week, so we got Shark Week cupcakes (they are really pushing Shark Week at Publix) for dessert the night we had Emma and Guillermo over for dinner. I ambitiously decided to make homemade Gnocchi for dinner, along with a Sheet Pan dinner of Sausage and Peppers, smashed potatoes and Caesar Salad with a loaf of French bread. The special guest at our dinner was baby Celine, her first time over to Gigi and Bop’s house. She slept through dinner, which was perfect.

Even though Wyatt seems so grown up (he’s even reading Harry Potter!), he is still my sweet little Wyatt. He skips, whistles and is full of joy, life and curiosity. I feel the same longing with him I felt with my own kids- that I wish I could freeze them in time and enjoy them at this age forever. Eight is such a sweet age and I don’t get to see him nearly enough.

Last year the theme of Gigi Camp was Hawaii, since Zeke and I had just visited, but this year we said it was Swimming, Sushi and Shark Week. Saturday morning he took one last dip in the pool and we had one last visit to see Celine and then we were off to meet his Mom and brother Phoenix. We stopped at our favorite Road Trip stop- Cracker Barrel– for lunch and on to Sebastian where I rented a cottage for us to spend the night. The official hand off occurred and Gigi Camp was over!

Until next year…