Last Full Day of Summer

School does not start until next Wednesday but yesterday was the last day where we woke up with no agenda. I had purposefully left this week as empty as possible to try to soak up some last minute time with my boys. What I failed to realize is that we are all pretty ready for school to start. Now, I'm not looking forward to getting up early, making lunches, having homework, and what not, but I am ready for the routine and predictability of school. And, I believe, the boys are ready to be with someone that is not me.  Although Jack did say today he wished summer was 10 more weeks, I truly believe they are as ready as I am.  

Even so, I was determined to make this last day count. I asked the boys for ideas on what they wanted to do on this last day. Micah offered up open swim at the local pool. Jack first said stay home all day, which was not a huge shock, but then changed it to the zoo. Finn just echoed whatever his bothers said.  Going into Thursday I was debating swim or zoo, zoo or swim. Really, both are my least favorite activities, but it wasn't about me (or so I kept telling myself).

Unfortunately we woke to rain on Thursday. At first it was a little rain, and I thought we could probably do the zoo but then it said thundershowers/lightning were predicted later. So, no swim or zoo for us.  Instead, and I know you are all dying to know, we went BOWLING.  The one bowling alley near our house was recently torn down so it was pretty fun to surprise the boys by telling them we were going bowling. They were pretty sure I was crazy.  But we went, we bowled, and we had a really good time.

Showing our muscles

Agony waiting to see if any pins would be knocked down

Finn has the longest ball roll ever, sometimes it didn't even make it

And bowling makes us hungry

Also, I won. But I guess I shouldn't gloat since my competitors were under the age of 10.

It's That Time of Year...

For Family Camp!  Last year was the first year I took the boys to family camp. In the rational part of my mind I know it wasn't all sunshine and roses. I know I cried at least once, was sweaty hot, thought about begging Brandon to come up, and probably vowed to never do it again. But the emotional part of my mind only remembers how much fun the boys and I had.  Leading up this week, we were talking about camp, what we were going to do, how much fun we would have, etc.  But a couple of things happened that made this week much more challenging.

First, my dear niece suffered a sudden and very sad loss as her grandfather died in a hiking accident on Monday. We were all set to go camping with her on Wednesday, we had just been making plans and finalizing food, when we heard the news.  While, my niece did come out to see us, we missed having her be with us.

Second, it rained. Not in a, oh look it's raining a bit, but rather, OH MY GOD IT'S RAINING. I dug my first trench as I worked to keep our tent from flooding.  That was also the day of the memorial service. So not only was it raining, we also left camp for most of the day.  When we came back Brandon was with us, but we were all wet, tired, and emotionally drained.

It may not look impressive, but it was still a trench that I dug, in the rain, wearing my danskos.

Our reward for having to leave camp. I will confess we went not once but twice that day.

But I love family camp. I really do. I loved going as a kid, I have fond memories (and a few hard ones) of working there when I was in high school, living there for a summer before finally saying good-bye when I went off to college. And I love watching my boys take off on their bikes and head off to their classes.

Finn mastered riding his bike. Now I have three pro-bike riders in the family.

A rare moment of quiet time.

One of our favorite things to do on camping trips: car repairs!

In the end, it wasn't the week we had planned, but it was still a good week. The boys are singing camp songs all day (which is both good and bad). They have good memories of camping with grandma and Aunt Lisa, who is the most prepared person they know (according to Micah), and meeting new and old friends.

Miss Renna Jean, next year you will be 2 and twice the force to be reckoned with.

Of course we already signed up for next year.  Now on to recruit a few more friends to join us!