Summer Updates 2013

Well- I think the original reason I started blogging was because it was too hard to wait for pictures or movies to upload on our dial up connection (hey it was 2008- everyone was dialing up, right?) and it was easier to just type up a few lines here and there.  Pictures and movies are fun, but again, I find they are holding things up.  I have these movies I made back in late March. I really wanted to share them with you.  They are of James singing some of his solos from Willy Wonka Jr.  Unfortunately, the files won't upload properly (not the problem of dial up anymore, thankfully).  So every now and then and I try to put them up.  However, I think it's time to move on. 

This summer is well under way.  I think things are going pretty well.  Rachel had a swim lesson- she passed her level (waddler.)  I noticed that she was the youngest and not always the quickest BUT she was the best at following directions.  Example, the teacher had a game where the kids had to put their faces in the water BEFORE picking up rings from the floor of the pool.  So Rachel would dutifully put her face in the water every time before picking up rings.  The other kids would run around picking up rings and have stacks of them because they did not put their faces in the water and Rachel would have just a few.  Finally, she got tired of that and ran around picking up rings like the rest of them.  Then she sat down in a corner of the pool and put her face in the water once for each ring she gathered.   I guess that time, she only kind of followed directions. 

James did his first ever week at boy scout camp.  He did this wilderness survival overnighter where you could only take what fit in your front pockets with you.  He took a rope, a poncho and a space blanket.  Sounds like some good planning to me.  He refers to it as the "wilder-terror-freezing-blanket stealing-cannibalistic-thought inducing night."   I have only heard a few bits and pieces about the experience, but apparently, he and 3 buddies ended up sleeping on top of the poncho with twigs piled around them (attempt at shelter)  and through out the night, the others kept waking him up to steal pieces of his blanket.  Yes, I said pieces.  So by the time the night was over he had only a scrap left to rest  his head on.  I have no idea where the cannibalistic thoughts came in, but hope that part was for dramatic effect only!

Mia is at girl scout camp and having a great time. My only regret is that the camps close to us were filled up so I end up spending about 3 hours a day driving her there and back.  (30 minute drive, 30 minute wait, 30 minute return.  Repeat) But she is having a blast there and making friends, so I am glad to do it this once.  You can bet she'll be the first one registered for camp next year.  The camp has a lot of camp elements (crafts, hike, fishing), but the theme is Lights, Camera, Action.  The girls are spending time devoted to developing their own skit for a production at the end of the week.  Mia told me she needs a large stuffed snake (thankfully we have a few) and head phones for hers.  Should be interesting.     
Mia is also sewing pillowcase dresses for a program called "Little Dresses for Africa." People can sew dresses and then mail them to be distributed at orphanages.   Funny story how she happened into this project.  We were eating dinner and she said that she was thinking about donating her hair to Locks of Love.   She said that she didn't really want to cut her hair, but couldn't think of another way to help people.  So I spent some time looking around for a service project she could feel good about and do independently (a big deal for her- she loves her independence.)  Last summer, she took sewing classes at Joann's and learned to make pillowcases, aprons, etc.  So when I found this program "Little Dresses for Africa" I figured she had the skills to participate.  She is currently working on 5 dresses.  She had a goal to do 50 dresses and 50 shorts (for Britches for Boys.)  I don't think she'll get that far, but 5 is definitely a good start. 

Jonny's camp got cancelled.  It was Lego Mindstorm Robotics.  He was planning to program the robot to clean his room.  Perhaps it was good it got cancelled, he may have been disappointed.  He has been doing IXL the math facts website, chores and park meet ups with friends.  His friends always seem to be available, which is great for him, but tends to make the other kids a teeny bit jealous.  I must put in a good word for Jonny here.  Everyone here is supposed to be doing IXL and chores, but he is the most dutiful. 
The other day, Jonny announced that he was going to be a vegetarian because eating meat made him feel like a cannibal.  After careful explanation of the difference between a cannibal and a carnivore, he insists that it's cannibal.  So, no more pepperoni or bacon (the only meat he eats, which we seldom have.)  So for dinner, I put a large bowl of peanut butter and celery next to him and told him that's what vegetarians can eat at our house- that and refried beans.  He was very happy to find that out.  We'll see how long it lasts.


Simon plays games with others and rides his scooter.  He likes to play games, especially Scene It and Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. One day, Jonny talked him into playing Twister and Battleship at the same time.  (Right Foot Green, A2)  Man that was  hoot!  I asked each kid to come up with a hobby this summer and Simon came up with "Baking Brownies With Whipped Cream."  Somehow that was not what I had in mind.  He has a good sense of humor, but has not come up with a more realistic hobby yet.   

I checked out Garfield Comics and Peanuts Collections from the library and everyone is loving them.  If anyone has suggestions for other comic collections, pass them on.  We may need a few more before the summer is over.  (FYI, during the school year we did Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes)