T-minus seven days.

And just like that, summer is over.  Ten weeks gone in the blink of an eye.

If you had asked me on June 6th, I would have naively told you that summer would be a break from the craziness of the school year.  After school is out, I'll have time to relax/get organized/get something accomplished/breathe.  Yeah right.

When I look back on this summer, I will remember how it was all about the kids.  Which really is how it usually is and how it should be.  But this time around the activities were much more involved and time intensive.  It was over, under, and all around me.

(There was my highly celebrated birthday week, but even that was not immune.)

The first half of the summer was peppered with baseball game after baseball game.  Every other night we sat at the ballpark, cousins chasing after each other and shyly admiring Andrew, trying to ignore the sweltering heat, cheering on a brand-new pitcher. Then came Girl's Camp, that hotter-than-hot (yet still not the hottest) week that left me with the realization that I actually enjoyed myself...and also with a back injury that would last six weeks.

Then there were the weeks when I had a driver's seat permanently under my derriere.  Back and forth, back and forth, here and there, and back again.  Safety Town, swim lessons, theater camp, cross country practice, rehearsal.  And don't forget the occasional doctor's appointment, a couple of trips to the chiropractor, and weekly allergy shots.

It's all so tedious.  You feel like a taxi driver, only without the tips.  You do it for the kids, knowing full well that they have no idea how much goes in to coordinating, to rounding up, to keeping the gas tank filled.  But every once in a while you get a little something back.  But when you see your children grow, improve, succeed, and thrive, you know it is all worth it. 

I saw Emma and Leah feel the Spirit, strengthen their testimonies, step outside of their boxes, try new things.  I watched them associate with other kids who are like they are: good, kind, pure, strong.  It was an honor for me to catch the small glimpse I did.  I saw Brooke pour her natural exuberance into an impressive theatrical production.  I saw her confidence with her cast mates, with her cue times, with her part.  I was introduced to a heartwarming and clever musical that was unbelievably well-performed. 

The frenzy of summer activities and the buzz of conferences and plays have now devolved into a madness of orientations, band practice, school shopping, and last minute doctor's appointments.  The late Olympic-watching nights turn into sleepy mornings.  We feel the first day looming large before us.  A lesser-experienced person might be fooled into thinking that starting school will stop the insanity.  But not I. 

School starts in one week.  But I am smart enough to know that the insanity never ends.

Patriotism in two acts.

***ACT I***

To celebrate on July 2nd we traveled downtown, waited for a long time in pleasant weather, ate snacks, watched the kids dance and play, listened to music from the Cleveland Orchestra, worried that we'd get wet from the sprinklers, and watched a disappointing 5ish minutes worth of piddly fireworks.

***INTERMISSION***

July 4th. 8:30am. Ward breakfast at Clague Park. Very very hot. Ward members marching in parade. Bad back allows me to sit the mile walk out.  Plans to head to the beach are scrapped due to heat advisory.  The only thing left to do is sit in a (semi)cool movie theater and watch an awesome movie (Brave).

 ***ACT II***

To celebrate on July 4th we traveled to Clague Park, waited for a long time in unbearably horribly hot weather, ate snacks, watched the kids dance and play, listened to music from DJ Easy, worried that we'd get wet from the threatening storm clouds that passed overhead, and watched an amazing half-hourish long fireworks that were actually worthy of the holiday.

***END SCENE***

A word about Scouts.

If I ever wonder why I have been blessed with three girls and only one boy, I just think about Scouts and I understand.  I really do not like Scouting.  And I am fine with this.  I will make encourage my son to pass off requirements, I will support various Scouting activities with my attendance, I will do my best to see that my son earn his Eagle award, and I may even make a financial contribution here and there.  But deep down inside, it just is not my favorite thing.  A week at Girl's Camp was such a good trade off to avoid having to help just one day at Cub Scout Day Camp.

There are people out there who love Scouts and feel passionately about it.  I am so grateful for people like that, because I know that once we transition to Boy Scouts, my power to sign off requirements is stripped.  I will rely on and give thanks for those devotees to help my son advance. 

Having said all that, I am proud of Andrew for earning his Webelos badge and a whole slew of other awards at this month's pack meeting.  He needed some prodding and cajoling and maybe a firm word here and there, but he worked hard to get things done.  He is a good example to others and a good example of what a Scout should be.  If there is any program that I'd want my one boy to be a part of, it is the Scouting program.

But that doesn't mean that there won't be massive celebrating when it's all said and done.  By me.

Gee, Mom I wanna go, but they won't let me go, gee Mom I wanna go home.

Ahhh, Girl's Camp. Such a love-hate relationship.

I hate:

~the HEAT.
~the BUGS.
~when girls disappear when it's time to do work.
~when my canoe gets stuck on rocks and I have to drag the thing (with 2 girls in it) behind me.
~the HEAT.
~the BUGS.
~when taking a shower doesn't make a difference.
~hearing a loud group of girls screaming camp songs from across the campground at 12:30 am.
~the HEAT.
~the BUGS.

But I love:

~the beauty of the campground.
~getting away from everyday life.
~seeing my girls develop friendships.

~listening to the lessons taught during Destiny.
~that we didn't have much rain on top of the heat.
~texting my sister across the campground.
~hiking in Nelson Ledges State Park.

~getting to know great girls that I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to.
~the feeling that comes after building a successful campfire.
~hearing sweet testimonies from the girls.
~having my husband come up to go canoeing with us and staying for testimony meeting.
~not having to cook dinner after canoeing.
~Becca's famous braiding abilities.
~laughing with other leaders.
~realizing that there are so many great youth in our stake.

~learning that there are things I need to teach my children not to do at camp.
~getting a great night's sleep by using ear plugs.
~the traditions our stake has established.
~feeling the Spirit while touring the Johnson Farm.
~sharing this year with my sister.
~singing loudly in the car to High School Musical songs.
~observing ways that I can be a better mother and person.
~making things a little easier on the nurse by taking a splinter out of a girl's toe with a needle.
~accepting the fact that with Brooke coming for the first time next year, I am in this for the long haul.
~the divinely inspired church programs.
~COMING HOME.

Hey now, you're an All Star!

Baseball this season has been a tough one for Andrew.  His team has an interesting mix of players and quite often the action on the field rivaled that of the Bad News bears.  One good outcome is that since Andrew was one of the few kids who could throw the ball a decent distance, he has had the opportunity to pitch for the first time in his career.  And it turns out he's pretty decent at it.  He has become the coach's go-to guy to be starting pitcher, and has called Andrew in to relieve several times.  Each time Andrew was able to get his team out of a sticky inning.

Andrew was excited to be selected to play in the All-Star game again this year.  He was able to pick the person who would pitch to him for the home run derby, and he picked his dad.  (Not sure how his dad felt about that...)  He hit it out of the park on the first pitch!

Andrew had a great game.  It was nice for him to field a ball and freely throw it to first for an out and not have to worry about the first baseman not catching it.  He made several great plays and had a couple good hits.

In the last inning, Andrew was called in to pitch!  He only faced 5 batters.  He gave up one unearned run, had one strikeout, and made the other two outs with balls hit right back to him.  Even though his team ended up losing the game, Andrew had a great individual performance. 

The weather was great, Grandpa Brooks and lots of other family was there to watch, and it was a perfect morning for baseball.  We're proud of Andrew and the good sportsmanship he shows and the hard work he puts in for each game.  Congratulations, Andrew!

Quotes of the Day: North Carolina Trip By Leah

April 9:
"Sometimes I end up playing by myself." ~someone who caught up to Emma and me on our way to the beach

April 10:
"She's the reason I barfed!" ~Andrew, commenting on a contestant on the Voice (he had thrown up in the car earlier)
"I'm the Lost Colony. Where did I go??" ~ Daddy, pretending to be the Roanoke Colony
"I was all tangled up." ~Daddy, explaining his kite-flying skills on the sand dunes
Observed on the Piggly Wiggly Sign: "No" animals involved "except" seeing eye dogs, etc. (sorry but misplaced quotes are kind of a joke in our family)

April 11:
"But it had a red bottom!!" ~ me saying that a picture of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse in the lounge of the ferry was drawn incorrectly
"Why..... did it have a rash??" ~Andrew, responding to previous quote

April 12:
"The top looks like it's wrapped in Saran wrap." ~Daddy, remarking on the top of the Bodie Island lighthouse
"I didn't know they had Saran wrap back then!" ~random dude walking by, right after previous quote
"You guys are just WONDERFUL..... so who's your favorite movie star? Bridget Mendler? Mine too! We have SOOOOO much in common!...speaking of common, do you have the common sense to be awesome?" ~someone being creepy in the crow's nest
"YOU GOT ICE CREAM?!!? What kind?" ~someone
"The kind with your face on it" ~Emma

North vs. South

There is a great tradition at the junior high for the 8th graders.  After a year of studying U.S. History, it all culminates with a huge Civil War Ball.  There is a grand march,

there are hoop skirts, there is dancing,

 (please forgive the breaks in the video...it was the only way I could get stills and still record)

there is a lovely a capella rendition of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," there is a drill team,

there is drama, and there is pageantry.  But despite all the gaiety, we sometimes found ourselves on the other side of the battle lines.

Those who made appointments at the salon to get their hair done vs. Those who had their hair styled in their bathroom by a clueless mother who had done extensive research about Civil War hairstyles on youtube and used copious amounts of bobby pins and hair spray.

Those who purchased a professional portrait package and had a sitting in the makeshift studio at the school vs. Those who reluctantly smiled for their mother as she snapped away in the front yard, drawing the attention of onlookers as they drove by and some friends who were at the church.

Those who crowded the narrow yet trendy streets of Crocker Park vs. Those who smartly chose Friendly's and had the whole restaurant for themselves and their friends.

{no pictures allowed}

I am glad that we were not held slave to the going social norms of the day.  The girls looked beautiful and did a lovely job dancing the Virginia Reel.  They had a fun time with their friends, and I didn't sweat in the hot, crowded gym nearly as much as I thought I would!  Glory, glory, hallelujah!  It really was a special night.