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.

Just in case you were wondering, "Grease" is the best movie ever made. Ever. There has never been a better movie before it. There has not been a better movie since. And there never will be. I have watched it at least once a year since it came out on DVD. I saw it on Broadway. I faithfully watched the reality show a couple years ago where they searched for the next Danny & Sandy to star in the Broadway revival. Believe me, if I could carry a tune and/or dance and subtract 15 years off my age, I would have been camped out in New York City waiting for my turn to wow the judges. My girlfriends knew what a nut I was about it that they threw me a Grease themed fortieth birthday party.

So back in May when I first heard about the "Grease Sing-Along" coming to select theaters this summer, I immediately contacted my high school BFF (she might love it even more than me --if that's possible) and we secured our tickets for last weekend's screening. We had the time of our lives. We did the second showing at 9:45 and the theater was only 1/4 full. It didn't matter to us. We belted our hearts out along with Danny, Sandy, the T-Birds, the Pink Ladies and the single guy (who had to be a closet "Grease" fan sitting at the end of our row. ) I'm telling ya, I was born in the wrong decade. Long live Rydell!

Teri and her sister, Needa.

Lacey and I donned our best Pink Ladies outfits. There's a story behind those scarfs.

We tried to get the manager to let us have this cardboard cut out but he was adamant that 3 others before us requested it. In retaliation, we made him take about 20 pictures of us in various poses. He still wouldn't budge.

We won the "best dressed costume contest" and got these lovely t-shirts. Never mind that we had virtually no competition.

Oh Danny!

Twenty years ago today I was laying out my 90's power suit and packing my lunch in preparation for my first day of work--at a bonafide "real job." Having just graduated from college a few days earlier, I was ready to take the world by storm and climb the corporate ladder. Little did I know that, at the age of 42, I would be returning to the same campus I had left in June of 1990. "Never say never" has never been more true than now.

Although I've had to jump through about a million hoops, and listen to a handful of naysayers on the sidelines, I am officially enrolled for summer quarter at Western Washington University. Aside from my husband's marriage proposal, I have never been more sure of anything in my life. Let it be said that I'm not under the illusion that this will be a bump-free ride. Yes, I know that there are no jobs out there right now. Yes, I know that middle schoolers are the most challenging age group. Yes, I know that "summers off" doesn't necessarily equate to "summers off". Yes, I know that I will be one day working for close to minimum wage. I am well aware of the reality that I most likely will be mistaken for a professor than a student more often than not and there's still a very real chance that I maynot be admitted into the college of education. But what I know most of all is that God wastes NOTHING. No experiences great or small occur without first being sifted through His hands. I believe He has directed every step of this journey and has said "This is the way. Now walk in it." Nervous? Yes. Excited? Yes. Fearful? NO!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go shop for a new backpack.

Every day I've been thinking "I need to get on here and post" but so much has happened that I thought I'd save it for one fell swoop. The end of the school year holds so many rites of passage and celebrations whether you're graduating from high school, middle school or elementary. This year we had a fifth grader moving on to middle school which was the biggest celebration of all. Added in there was a cast FINALLY being removed and a seventh graders in charge of a carnival. (when you see the pictures, you'll understand why that can be a scary prospect).

So ready.

Finally!!

The calm before the storm.

Argh! Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

Their favorite teacher, Mr. Owens, bought the last pie.

They auctioned off the cherry pie and Sammy was the highest bidder. She thoroughly enjoyed her victory.

Ian's teacher was such a good sport at the fifth grade picnic. This was the culmination of the relay race to put spaghetti in her hair.

Part of the winning class.

I've never been much of a bragger. And I'm quite turned off by those who make a regular habit of boasting. However, a couple of the most current events in our household have earned my middle guy some bragging rights. But since he doesn't have a blog of his own, I've been given permission to share his recent historic moments with you.


Now, mind you that I feel a bit awkward about devoting an entire post to what could be construed as arrogant. But, because both events of which I am about to share involved more participants than just my son, I'm a little more at ease about the whole thing. Credit should be given where credit is due, right?


Saturday, May 22: As I posted last year, Ian and 5 of his classmates participated in our local Ski to Sea Junior race as the "Pink Paparazzi" and took home the first place trophy for the elementary division. This year their same team with a different name--"LemonLime" set out to defend their title. With a time of 25:34, they not only clinched the title once again but set a record for the best time in the race's history. Ian's grandma was on hand to witness the moment which made the victory even sweeter.

Team LemonLime on the podium (middle)

Ahh...the sweet taste of victory.

Thursday, June 3rd: Our school district holds a track meet every spring where the fifth graders from all 10 elementary schools come to compete. It's one of those important rites of passage for the students before heading off to middle school. And one that Ian had been looking forward to all year. The kids' respective P.E. teachers assign them two events in which to participate. The 800m and 4 x 100m relay were Ian's. Like any of us, Ian loves to win but he much prefers challenging himself than having anyone else pushing him. For the previous two weeks, he had Ben timing him as he ran the 3.5 times around our cul-de-sac most every night but spoke very little to the rest of us about his time or his anxiety about the whole thing. The boys' 800m was the third event and though he gave it his all, he lost by 2/10 of a second. But who better to lose to than one of your teammates from last month's Ski to Sea race? All was not lost though as their relay team rocked the race and took home first. Way to go, boys!

Lining up for the 800 meter race

The race to the finish. Tyler (in blue) pulled it out and took first.