Summer!

Summer is almost over! In fact, today is Check-in day for Silas at school! Whew! Where did summer go? Here's a quick recap:

June, Week 1: Lego camp at Columbus Academy for Silas. Josiah was also signed up for a week of camp at CA, but there was a scheduling error and the program didn't go as planned. They still offered it, but it was something they were throwing together at the last minute and since this was Josiah's first camp experience ever, I decided not to force him to stay, especially since I have the luxury of that option - some parents have to send their kids to camp or day care so they can work full time all summer. I'm so glad that's not us!! It was also nice to not have to do quite so much driving! Silas' Lego camp was all day, 9-4, but Josiah was only signed up for morning, 8:30 - 11:30, so I was driving three times to the same place - and since there are 17 speed bumps each way, I was ready to cut out one trip for sure!

Silas also continued a few tennis lessons at the club a couple of afternoons. Those were a couple of long days for him!!

June, Week 2: Tennis Clinic for Silas at Academy and a successful week of Rainforest Animals camp for Josiah. It was obvious that the program was "on" when we arrived the first day, but Josiah was still pretty hesitant about staying. It wasn't until he made a new friend (Elle) that he became a little less resistant to the idea of camp. Still, I think he was glad when the week was over. The tennis clinic was only part day, so they each went from 8:30 - 11:30, a much easier driving day for me and Samuel.

June, Week 3: One of the highlights of the summer for me was a trip to Seattle to visit Faith, without any kids! It was such a wonderful time, especially when we were able to get away to a hotel downtown for some real R&R, for as I had no kids on my trip, she was still taking care of her two darlings up until our get away. It was so nice to have uninterrupted conversation for the first time in a long while!

While I was away, it also happened to be Father's Day weekend, which we had celebrated earlier, so Steve took the boys to Kentucky, spent the weekend there, and then returned home with Samuel only, so that the two big boys could enjoy "Camp Gramma".

June, Week 4: DISNEY! I guess we can say we've finally taken the kids there, not that we really want to do it again anytime soon. There is so much hype to the whole Disney thing, and since we're not huge fans, there was limited appreciation. Tropical Storm Debbie was hanging around the area when we arrived and so our first day (one out of only two) at the parks was rather wet. But the rain was a bit of a blessing, giving us a break from the Florida summer sun.

We were in Orlando for a work conference, so we had limited time for extravagant fun, but still it was all too much. Tears and fighting, spanking and disciplining. It wasn't our best vacation to date, that's for sure.

July, Week 1: Having just returned from what I knew would be a stressful vacation week, I kept this week pretty low-key. For the first time ever, we completely did our own thing on the Fourth, making it one of the best ones we've ever had. We watched the New Albany parade with Ruth and Tobias in front of the dentist office on Market street and after naps, we went to the New Albany festival at the high school and then watched the fireworks with the Brits again. The irony of hanging out with a British family while celebrating our independence from Great Britain was not lost on us. But of course, they are such dear friends that it was all in good fun.

July, Week 2: Silas went to Sports Camp at GCS. I forgot to mention that among everything else going on last month, I was also working on a project for the dealership with a July 1 deadline, followed by another with a July 14 deadline, followed by another wrapping up Aug 1. I worked a lot this summer! I was thankful for Silas' camp schedule as he is the one that misses out the most when I have babysitters come to the house. The two little boys are so happy to just play outside, take a walk to the park or quietly play together in the house, but when Silas is along, he is quickly bored and very directive, which isn't usually well received by anyone. Camp gives him an opportunity to play with kids his own age while working on being a good friend or teammate.

July, Week 3: Silas went to VBS for a week, along with his friend Matthew, who is one of my favorite friends for Silas. They get along quite well, mostly because Matthew is so easy going and seems to agree to what ever Silas suggests. Maybe that's not the best for Silas overall, but it's nice when there's so little conflict. Silas wasn't keen on going to VBS at the beginning of summer and I had to threaten to remove other camps he was more interested in if he chose to have a bad attitude about it. I wouldn't have chosen it, except one of Matthew's camps he was signed up for had cancelled with little notice to make other arrangements, so I was able to help out by changing our plans a little. It was a really good week, and I think Silas would agree to go next year pretty willingly.

Josiah and Silas both started Swim Lessons this week at our neighborhood pool, Monday - Thursday at 6:30. That was quite an undertaking for me, going to the pool for 2 straight weeks virtually every night.

July, Week 4: Both Silas and Josiah went to Buckeye Gymnastics for Wipeout Camp. Josiah wasn't sure about it, but as soon as he saw the parachute time, he was all for it. We went with our neighbors, Simon and Donny and it was nice to once again share the driving responsibilities with their mom, Jenny. (Matthew's mom, Celeste, and I also took turns last week driving to VBS. It's amazing how nice it is to not have to run out with the little boys twice each day makes it seem more like a relaxed summer, even with all the activity.

August, Week 1: Our annual trip to Michigan! We post-poned our vacation for a few days and had some fun at home - our first true "Stay-cation"! We went to the pool and ate out every meal - or used paper plates at home. We went to the State Fair - and really enjoyed going back home, where each of the boys have their own beds and the routine of bedtime meant we all actually got some sleep. The downside of traveling for us, is always the adjustment everyone has to make to sleeping arrangements. We did head up to Michigan on Wednesday, stopping halfway to have some fun with some cousins (David Hyatt & his 3 kiddos) at a watermark. We made it to our final destination on Thursday, joining Steve's mom and dad (and eventually, Steve's brother) for a fun weekend fishing, playing in dirt, splashing in the lake, riding in the tractor, making s'mores and just hanging out. There are 2 houses on the property, so Steve, the boys, and I stayed up in the pre-fab - which meant more space, but also meant someone had to go up "early" to stay with the boys once they went to bed for the night. I volunteered and actually had some downtime to read a book while on vacation! That was a nice surprise!

August, Week 2: The last week of camp for Silas was also probably his favorite: Camp Invention!! It's a really cool camp with some great curriculum. His friend, Matthew, was also attending, so we had extra fun in the afternoons hanging out with his as well. I did have to take the 4 boys with me to the orthodontist one day which should have been a pretty simple undertaking. However, there was a miscommunication in the time of the appointment, and I showed up an hour early! They couldn't squeeze us in, so we headed over to the library to wait. By the time we got over to the appointment, Sammy was starting his toddler shenanigans and we were all just a little bit irritated! I'll be sure to double check appointment times from now on!!

August, Week 3: The last few days of summer -  we squeezed in as much fun as we could! Our friends from the UK were preparing for their move back, so I kept one of the boys on Tuesday and two of the boys on Wednesday. Silas had a great time with Finley, and Tobias has been Josiah's little friend at school all last year. We went to Slate Run Historical Farm on Wednesday and the boys had a great time with horses, sheep, chickens, geese, cows, pigs, turkeys and ducks! It was quite the experience! And then on Thursday, Silas started third grade!! Whew!