Our last 3 days at Camp Erickson were filled with fun, sun and water galore not to mention amazing meals, wonderful conversation and lots of laughter. We are so thankful to our Camp Directors who gave us an unforgettable experience.

My sweet, fun-loving cuz

After playing many rounds of Aggravation we decided it was aggravating

The outdoor pool at the fitness center. The indoors were just as amazing

Last night with the Camp Director Todd

Natalie wanted to be the "director" but Todd didn't look so good in pink

Fun with my boys

The inaguaral week of Camp Erickson

Ben loves his cousin!

Fun at Lake Altoona with their neighbor Savannah. How convenient she was Ian's age and super fun. Ian was quite smitten. Mom approves.

Ben and the Camp Director

Saturday morning we reluctantly packed up and left Hotel Pomilla for our 4 1/2 hour drive back to Natalie & Todd's. We made one pit stop in Greenville (halfway between Charlotte & Atlanta) to see an old playgroup friend and a dinner stop at none other than Chick-fil-A. After a grueling day on the road we pulled in to "Hotel Erickson" at 8:00 only to be greeted by warm hugs in the driveway and "We're so glad you're back!" from our hosts. Ahhhh. It was so good to be back "home".

This picture was supposed to be at the end-oops!

$1.00 Nutty Buddy's and padded pool. Ben was obviously crazy about this place.

One last visit with Auntie Katherine and baby Cooper.

On our first night in Georgia, Camp Erickson had been transformed into "Hotel Erickson." Todd & Natalie welcomed some good friends from their former home in Boulder to stay the next three nights. We decided this would be a good time to get Ian out of their hair and head up to Charlotte for a couple days. Being that it was our home almost 10 years ago, there was a huge part of me that desired to return to our old neighborhood and re-live those fond memories. We stayed with our good friends, the Pomillas, their sweet daughters and obnoxious dog. (she refers to him this way so it's okay that I did) They were fantastic hosts and the kids got along famously. Charlotte, on the other hand, has definitely lost its mystique for me. More on that later.

Had to take the usual boy pit stop

Our home where I brought home my first two babies. It looked much better when we owned it.

Ian giving Auntie Lisa a tutorial on Facebook. She still won't join.

Could these two look anymore unrelated?

I love this family!!

After a long, boring, first six weeks of summer, our family flew into high gear when August hit. After much anticipation four of the five of us set off on some adventures of our own starting with Ian boarding his first solo flight to Atlanta, Georgia. My cousin and her husband relocated there a couple years ago and they are among some of our favorite people in the world--and Ian in particular is especially fond of them. We searched high and low for a summer camp that would coincide with Ben's stint at Camp Firwood and speak to Ian's love of mountain biking. No such luck. Instead, he opted for "Camp Erickson". At this "camp" this middle child had the luxury of being the center of attention for an entire week. A Braves game, lazy days at the pool and waterslides and a new "friendship" with a fellow 11-year-old southern belle were some of his camp highlights. Then Ben and I had to arrive and bring a dose of reality.

After a red-eye flight in which only one party slept (guess who) we were greeted by Natalie's beautiful smile at 7:00 a.m. We arrived back at their house in Woodstock and attempted to stay awake for the remainder of the day. The next morning, Mimi pulled in to their driveway and took us on a day of adventure through Atlanta. Being that she went to high school here and met Papa Jim at Georgia Tech, this town holds a special place in her heart. She treated us to a day at the Atlanta Aquarium (incredible), the Coca-Cola museum, Georgia Tech's campus and dinner at "The Varsity" complete with their world famous onion rings. It was a fabulous day.

With the Coca Cola polar bear. He would have melted in that 98 degree heat

The entrance to the Atlanta Aquarium

Welcome to Georgia!

Earlier this year Ben began the journey of losing teeth. Something I billed as his first rite of passage. Last Sunday he embarked on R.O. P. #2: sleep-away camp. The summer prior to entering 3rd grade is the age when kids can attend junior camp at Camp Firwood. You're dropped off on a Sunday afternoon and have no contact with the outside world for 7 whole days.
Hard to believe but this was Ben's year. It's funny how when his older brothers went, at the same age, it seemed perfectly appropriate. Yet, when we went to leave this time he seemed sooooo young and little and naive and, and, and......

Yet, it was clear I had nothing to fear. He jumped right in the water, passed the swim test, met his counselor, picked his bunk and waved us goodbye. I did get a message from my friend Val, (her hubby is the camp director) that said "I have a couple of sightings a day of a little blonde blur whirling past." The camp does post daily pictures on their website but I only saw one which tells me that the "blonde blur" didn't stop much to have his photo taken.

Right after the swim test

With his counselor "Voonderking"

His "home" for the next 7 days.

In his words: "the top bunk is the best!"

Last Sunday, August 1st marked 18 years since we said "I Do". Instead of spending the day in some romantic fashion instead we were shuttling kids to camps and airports. This was bit of a celebration in itself but we were looking forward to a real (belated) celebration later in the week once the kiddos were all gone.

Quite a few years ago we started a tradition of putting our loose coins in a jar. The jar has sat perched on the top of Trey's dresser for as long as I can remember. Every year, on the day before our anniversary, I take the jar and gleefully dump it in the coin counting machine at the bank. (Everyone standing in the teller line just loves this ruckus) We then use that money for our official celebration. Sometimes it's only been enough for a shared dessert and cup of coffee. One year it it covered an entire weekend away--including lodging and meals! Yes, that was a good year. Despite the actual amount, it's a tradition I look forward to every August 1st.

This year, in addition to the coins, we got a monetary gift from some parents who shall remain nameless. The combination of this, all the kids being gone, and a midweek special at a local resort, we celebrated in style.

Appetizers in the room

When the front desk heard it was our anniversary, they upgraded us to a waterview room.

Smiling over our 18 years of wedded bliss.