Camps and Campers

Well that 3 weeks since my last post ended faster than a pack of Curly Wurly's last in our house.

Where to begin? Summer camps are on: Jack at acting camp (yes darling, he wants to rule the stage), and the local Rec. Center for Danny.  Both boys started off happy with their choice and then grew a bit jealous of each other; Jack wanting to spend time with neighbour friends, Daniel sad he can't do the Star Wars acting camp. But they made their choices so ...

Jack's camp

With his school friend Aaron. Nice "dab" Jack. Apparently a "Dab" is  a cool thing these young 'uns do. 

I have no pictures of Danny at camp. When I drop him off he drops me like a hot brick and would be mortified if I got my camera out. Sigh. But he's loved being with his neighbor friends and had a blast, so that's very good :)  This week he's been with my friend Erika and her boys and loved every minute. I'm so so lucky.

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We bought a Pop-up Camper. HURRAH! We've wanted one for a while. I'm going to post a lot of pictures later as there will be a "before" and "afters". Of course.

Here's what I have to say so far about having a camper versus a tent:

Thank the Good Lord for air conditioning, walking upright and not having to find a zipper at 4am. Especially when tipsy with a bladder the size of a bowling ball. Done that too many times.

Thankful for a place to escape and hide from people. Yes I'm social, but yes I need  alone time every day. If I don't have alone time who knows what will happen.

It's too damn hot in a tent to do anything during the day, but not a camper with AC. Yes AC. AC!!

Waking up in a dry place means a lot. Waking up covered in condensation on a damp pillow sucks ass.

I can sit, at a table, and play card games with my lads. Priceless.

So here's to a summer of camping and making great memories!

Vacation: Day 5

This morning I picked up Lyn & grand kids and we went to Columbus Commons, where they have a free kids event each week. It was a tad too young for Jack but we met some other friends there and they had fun. Afterwards we wandered over to the Ohio Statehouse lawn and let them play in the fountain and we got them ice cream from our friend's food truck. All in all a successful morning.

Then they went to a friend's house for a little while and I found myself at home alone. Woohoo! Time  alone in the house is so very rare for me!  I got to do housework (I'm lying of course). I used the  time to catch up on my blog and email. And goof off.

Craig finished work a tad early so we got the boys and went to the pool, and had some family time. The best.

Vacation: Day 4

Last night I was working on Daniel's quilt and then fell asleep on the couch. Woke up at 4am with my new bifocal lenses stuck to my eyeballs like glue. Dragged myself to bed,  but then Craig got up 2.5 hours later and I did too. I snook down to the basement so I could work on his quilt again.

By 8.30am both boys were up but we had a lazy morning. I'll rephrase that. They had a lazy morning. I quilted, cleaned the kitchen, did housework, and did laundry etc etc.

But it was a great day: Chilled at home, pool with Lyn and grandkids,  Mexican food truck for tea,  Jack's fist cello lesson, my new Jamberry nail wraps, and being able to carry my little one to bed. That never gets old.

A fab day again.

Vacation: Day 3

This morning I took the boys to "Fountainside", a free event in downtown Columbus, with crafts and play areas and fountains. It was a tad chilly at 70 degrees but the kids ran through the fountains anyway and had a good time.

Afterwards we met Lyn & grandsons again to go and see Kungfu Panda 3 at the movies (it was cute and watchable, thankfully). We also snook in our own popcorn and candy. Rebels!

Afterwards, we went back to her daughter's house to let the kids play some more. Her daughter's house has a steep driveway which the kids took full advantage of. They raced down there on scooters, bikes, wagons and anything else they could find. They'd typically get catapulted out at the bottom and land with a thud in the shrubbery.  Lyn and I sat at the top of the driveway, drinking tea and trying not to watch. Lord help me.

IMG_8302 from Pam on Vimeo.

Vacation: Day 2

We are the house that neighborhood kids come to, and that's fine by me. Growing up, our house was that house and I always wanted my kids to have that experience. The downside is that kids come a knocking in the morning when you aren't quite ready, which happened today, but that's ok.

We took the visiting kid with us to the library to sign up for the summer reading program and get some books. Mine got books on The Simpsons, Assassin's Creed, Zombies and Pokemon. Not exactly Shakespeare but I'm hoping the old adage "as long as they are reading it's a good thing" holds true.

After lunch we sent the boy home and we met my friend Lyn and her grandsons for an afternoon at Inniswood Gardens. The kids loved it - they pretended to be warriors and played the game for a couple of hours.

When we got home we had a leisurely night in, while poor Craig worked on getting the thermostat and AC working. It's been a chore to say the least.

Best photo bomb ever

Vacation: Day 1

I took a week off!

English people will think that's ok. American people will shake their heads in wonder and tell you they never do that. I don't care. Actually I'm caring less and less about "rules"  these days - gotta love your 40's!

So I'm off all week, with my boys. Went to the pool with my friend Lyn and her grandkids. We were there for 4 hours.

We played a lot: "What time is it Mr. Wolf", tag, races, and Jaws.

Unfortunately, I told a few teenagers off for being awful ( I do not want to be a helicopter mum but Jesus - some kids are dicks!)  I had to talk to a mum at one point. I tried really hard to hang back and let my kids deal with stuff, but a 9 yr old (Jack) versus  a 16 year old trying to steal his money crosses a line.  He denied it at first but his friends ratted on him, right in front of me and his mum.  She was mortified (as I would have been) and said to me "I'm sorry, he's leaving ".  I saw him 15 minutes later. SIGH.

But hey,

My kids loved it and I played with them for a solid two hours! :)

They ate candy floss and ring pops

Me and Lyn had a good old natter while we floated. I Loved that.

Overall a great day.  4 hours at the pool = success

Love this kid. His sense of humour is really great

Daniel: Fearless. Also hides and runs. He'd be the kid in the Gorilla enclosure 

Me old mucka, Lyn

May - One Second a Day

May 2016 from Pam on Vimeo.

End of 1st & 4th Grades

Today marks the end of 1st and 4th grades in elementary school. There was no big hoopla, just a nice gathering in the playground with a few awards and popsicles.

Some of my friends had 5th graders who were graduating and moving on but their ceremony was yesterday. Some of those kids are not moving on to the local middle school, and so it was sad to know they're leaving. And of course one child died last week, so I believe it was a very moving ceremony.

But the occasion today was lighthearted and fun. Jack has one more year at the school and Daniel has 4 (I'll be going to Daniel's 5th grade graduation in slippers, with a hairy chin & mumbling about lost car keys).  They both make me so proud to be their mum. I looked at both today and realized that time is flying by far too quick and I need to savor it more. Savor their sweetness and their need to be with me. Savor every time Danny grabs my hand as we walk across a parking lot, or Jack whispers all of his dreams and fears at those precious moments just before he falls asleep each night. Seeing Jack as a 4th grader and yet clearly remembering every detail of his first day as a Kindergartner was a bit of an eye opener for me. My mantra is to savor every minute.

And so it is officially the start of summer! Nine weeks of day camps, two weeks of winging it, a visit from their sister Leanne, a trip to upstate New York, and tons of time at the pool. Bring it!

4th Grade

Jack with his friends & teacher Mrs T.

Jack and his buddy Mario

   I remember the first time these 3 met each other in kindergarten. It seems like just yesterday. 

With his buddy David

Daniel's ceremony started with a 10 minute slideshow in the classroom.  When the kids sang "Tomorrow" we all cried. I'm such a softy when it comes to that stuff.

1st Grade

His best friends and fellow Cub Scouts

Best Friends (sometimes)

With his lovely teacher, Mrs S.