July 13, 2009: Summer Rolls On!!!

Whew...I figured I'd better update before our long-awaited VACATION coming up in less than two weeks!!

We've been pretty busy this summer and much to my delight, it HAS been a much better summer than last year. It's easier to take the kids to the pool now that Elizabeth is independent in the "big" pool and Daniel is 100% happy and content in the "baby" pool. In fact, he may be a little TOO content. I keep telling him that when he turns 4, he won't be allowed in the baby pool anymore but he keeps denying it. Hopefully he will feel differently in the next 6 months or so when I throw him in the pool for swimming lessons!!

Speaking of swimming, Elizabeth seemed to enjoy the "6 and under" swim team at our pool and the "mini meets" on Fridays. Of course, we were only able to participate in two of them but she made the most of them! She even got a 1st place blue ribbon in the first one!! She used a kickboard and there were "helpers" in the water but hey...she made it from one end of the pool to the other so I was proud. At the next meet a few weeks later, she got 3rd and 4th place ribbons. In all, she enjoyed it and she'll still be eligible for the 6 and under team next year. I hope to be able to start from the beginning when they start practicing and hopefully she can work her way up to swimming independently across the pool.

We had a good week at Auntie Pat's in early June. Pat and Norm enjoyed having the kids to visit and we enjoyed their company. We went to John's Pass, took a dolphin cruise boat ride, visited an outlet mall, and for the highlight of the trip, we went to Busch Gardens. The kids LOVED it. They both had a blast in the kiddie ride area and Elizabeth enjoyed the ONE roller coaster that she was tall enough to ride. I braved the "Sheikra" roller coaster and loved it and the kids rode with me on the log flume ride. They also loved the "zoo" area with all the animals and riding the train and the sky buckets. We'll definitely have to go back and in fact, the kids keep asking about it!

We also had a great week at Camp E.D.G.E., the theme for Vacation Bible School this year. Daniel had a great time for his last year in the nursery and Elizabeth enjoyed being part of the large Pre-K group. I volunteered as a guide for her group but I think I may have to go with a different group next year. Elizabeth became a little clingy after getting used to having me as her "teacher" for a week so I'd like to avoid that in the future. But the music was the best ever (at least I thought so) and the activities were fun so although we were exhausted, we had a great week.

We've been visiting the IHM library for a few weeks so that Elizabeth can participate in the summer reading program. She remains very excited about starting school there and she really is comfortable going there. I turned in a host of forms this week, including her first tuition payment, so it is really becoming real now!! Less than one month until her first day!! I know she'll be ready and I'm so excited for her.

We stayed in town for the 4th of July this year and attended some fireworks shows for the first time. On Friday night, we attended fireworks in Mom and Dad's neighborhood. They had food, games, a moonwalk, glow necklaces...it was really a fun evening. The funniest part was Daniel's reaction to the fireworks...he covered his ears with his hands and pretty much had his eyes closed the whole time! I was a little worried and feared we had made a bad decision but after they were over, he exclaimed, "That was great, Mommy!! Can we do it again??" So that's when I knew he was just fine!!! We decided to try the Decatur fireworks on Saturday night with the Trocchis. They have scoped out a great location on a lawn near Agnes Scott College. It was a great spot and we were a little further away from the fireworks launch location this time so Daniel bravely "opened" his eyes and ears and he loved it!! The kids keep asking when they can see fireworks again!! So glad we decided to try them out this year. Daniel's funny quote from Saturday night: "I like the blue ones, myself." He is my funny little clown sometimes!!

We just returned from a weekend at the Steeds' lake house in Alabama. The Merrills were also there. We had a great time and I hope we get invited back!! I managed to get up on two skis on Friday and we almost got Ed up. Other than that, we lounged in the lake in quiet coves, talked, drank beer, and just had a great time spending some quality "adult" time away from the kids. The only downer was that Mom's cousin, Joe Love, passed away a couple of weeks ago and his memorial service was on Saturday so we couldn't stay until Sunday. But Tara and Maddie watched the kids for us on Saturday while Mom, Dad, and Jody attended the service and everyone seemed to have a great time so all was well.

Now we have Ashley's wedding this weekend...I'm praying that all these kids do well in the service since it's at 7:00PM and it's outdoors!! We have the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Friday and the wedding on Saturday. I'm bummed that we are missing the family reunion in Blairsville but Mom and I and the kids might go up on Sunday morning for breakfast.

We've had other odds and ends this summer...we've been to the zoo, to see "Up" in the theater, the kids have been to one week of camp at YCS and they have another one next week, we've gotten together with friends, we've visited Mom up in Flowery Branch...it's all been good. Daniel is now in underwear 24/7 and he can "take or leave" his afternoon nap so that has made things all the easier in terms of scheduling activities.

Oh...and Elizabeth is doing a tennis camp this week at Dekalb Tennis Center. She did it last week too...it's actually just 10-11 on Mon-Tues-Wed. She LOVED it last week and really seemed to take a liking to tennis. They do a great job with the kids by mixing up the hour with drills, games, skills, etc. They offer a "mini tennis" clinic on Mondays during the school year from 4:30-6:00 so I definitely think we'll be trying that. I'd like to keep her weekly activities to two - so that would mean tennis on Mondays and church choir on Wednesdays. I asked her if she wanted to do soccer again and she said "no"...same for ballet. She wants to try tee ball but I've heard good things about Briarlake Baptist and that t-ball league is in the spring so I think we'll wait until then. I'm not sold on giving up soccer forever or even some sort of dance/ballet for that matter but she seems to have a real interest for tennis and softball (just like her mommy!) so we'll see what happens...

I had a "wardrobe consultation" with someone named Kate, who is a friend of a friend of Amy McMillen's. She consulted me, Kristi, Balinda, and Amy Merrill all in the same week! We basically went through my entire wardrobe and tried on everything and determined what looks best on me, and we mixed and matched pieces of my wardrobe to make outfits. It sounds weird but it was FABULOUS! She really gave me a renewed sense of confidence in my wardrobe and helped me see what I need to look my best. I've already started buying new pieces and accessories, etc. I hope I can keep up with the enthusiasm! I need to buy an album for the pictures she took of me to remind me of the outfits. We all thought it was money well spent.

Now we have less than two weeks until our DISNEY CRUISE!!!! I am so excited and we NEED this vacation so badly!! Ed has been working practically 70 hours/week on a project and he needs the time off...plus it seems like everyone we know has been bragging about their trip to the beach or wherever and we have yet to go anywhere this summer (even our annual trips to Adel and Blairsville didn't happen) so we are dying for a getaway. Everything I've heard and read about Disney Cruises is fabulous so I cannot wait. I think the kids are going to have a blast. We are driving down to Cocoa Beach next Friday to stay in a hotel overnight and then we will board the ship on Saturday and meet Ed's parents who are flying in on Saturday. I have a feeling I will fill up the camera and the video camera with all the memories we will make!! Thank goodness the kids are in camp next week to give me time to think about what to pack and get everything ready!!

I could say I will, but I know I probably won't update again before the cruise. I'm sure I'll have lots to say afterwards, though!!!!