So Gams Camp 2023 is done and dusted as they say on my Brit Box mysteries. I thought you might like to see how it all came together: the good, the bad, the sprinkles.

1. The planning meeting was genius because they had a complete buy-in for all three days. I also sent a packing list and an itinerary so they were fully prepared with the correct clothing and accessories, packing as if they were going to Corfu for two weeks. I also called them and got a list of food preferences before I went to the grocery store and bought the wrong kind of juice or pop-tarts or whatever.

2. Consulting with other grans: Getting ideas from wise LeeLee was very helpful. She had told me about buying a cardboard playhouse for Zoe on Amazon and that it was a big hit. My girls are older but I thought it might be a good idea so I went looking. (See #4.)

3. Know your children: Lyla and Wren are very different little girls. Lyla is nearly 12, quieter, into music (a singer) and has a passion for cooking and baking. Wren is 9, constantly moving, more physical (a dancer) and loves crafts, puzzles, and organizing. I needed to plan activities for them both to keep them engaged for three days and nights.

4. Create a theme: I work best with a script, meaning I like designing things around a theme and use that as a springboard to other ideas. I found a cardboard play RESTAURANT online and my theme was born. We could cook and bake which Lyla would love, and we could paint the playhouse and craft accessories which Wren would get into. They would both enjoy playing restaurant. I created a logo for Chez Wagener and printed it for the playhouse.

I like crafts, too.

5. Plan a full schedule: I filled every moment with an activity or meal, worried they would get bored. Over-planned is more like it. We were going great guns checking things off the list but ended up hitting a wall mid-week. At Tony’s restaurant, after a morning at the Dallas World Aquarium and afternoon of swimming, the girls got really quiet and I realized they were staring straight ahead, nearly catatonic. I got to-go boxes and we hurried home before they fell into their spaghetti.

6. Be flexible: We dropped a couple of things off the list as it became apparent that boredom was not our issue. Part of our plan was to make baked goods and deliver them to my Tapestry friends, some of whom don’t get out much. Lyla wanted to do two kinds of brownies and snickerdoodles. She valiantly baked a batch of brownies, and then a batch of cookies and once again stared into space, unable to start the third batch. “I think two batches is plenty.” I said. “I think so, too.” she agreed, clearly relieved.

Charity begins at home.

7. Be open to spontaneity: I had decided it would be fun to have a secret “guest” come to dinner on Thursday night so the girls could play restaurant for real, cooking and serving. They were extremely excited about this, ended up inviting their Aunts Traci and Sarah and the craziness got crazier.

Remember the food they had picked out of the magazines? Tandoori Chicken, tzatziki sauce, and the flag cake. That became our menu, accompanied by a Greek Salad, slouvaki, naan, and hummus. (I know it sounds familiar! I just got back from Greece!) We also added happy hour and a charcuterie. The piece de resistance was the song and dance number the girls wrote and choreographed to welcome our guests.

8. Follow Through: We were in it to win it, no matter the cost. Wren was a machine, painting the playhouse every waking minute. Lyla made a menu board for the front door. We printed menus, set a beautiful table, discussing every detail, and practiced how to serve, what to say, who would do what, when.

That morning, we delivered treats, then went to lunch at the American Girl Store. When we got home, we jumped into action, starting with a countdown schedule of everything that would need to be done. Wren set up the dolls’ table and finished the painting. Lyla and I did the cooking. Wren set up the charcuterie. The ice was in the glasses, the flowers were arranged and the staff was ready when the doorbell rang.

Dinner went off without a hitch. Traci and Sarah were suitably impressed. I was, too. The girls were troopers.

When our guests left, we congratulated each other. Then Wren said, “I think I want to go to bed now.” I didn’t blame her.

We slept in and had donuts the last morning, packed up the car with leftover food, menu board, and all the memories we could cram into three days and I took them home to their parents and their puppies, who had missed them and were eagerly waiting to hear all about Gams Camp 2023.

It was epic.