Kid Updates

Just thought I'd give a quick update on the kids.

Tony: Just returned from a week at band camp and the strangest thing is happening ... he is enjoying band this year. Like really, really, really enjoying band. He had a ball at camp and has nothing but positive things to say about all things band. It is confusing, but good to see. I sent a schedule of his football game performances to many. If you want a copy, please email me.

Kristen: Finally got the all clear on her foot last week when she went to her follow-up appointment. She is cleared for all physical activity, so bring on soccer. She and Tony should be playing on the same soccer team this year and games will be on Sunday afternoons. We will keep you updated as soon as we know the schedule (although, this league isn't always forthcoming with details).

Also, Kristen got her stitches out on Friday and her finger is healing well. Hopefully we can keep her in one piece for the remainder of the year.

Emily: Emily is wrapping up summer camp. I can tell that that novelty has wore off. She started off the summer by wanting to go to camp every single day, even if I was home from work. That isn't the case anymore. I can barely get her there on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. I think she is ready for the change of pace and for school to start.

One quick Emily story - last June we went to the the Dublin pool and we discovered that in order to go down the water slides, Emily needed to pass a swim test which was swimming in the area that the slides dump into. In June, she tried it twice and could not do it. I was surprised, but figured we'd do it again later. Due to the weather and the trip to Myrtle, we didn't make it back to the pool in July. We went back in August and Emily wanted to try to take the swim test again. We decided to try it on our own before the lifeguard test and I figured out what was going on ... there was quite a current in this area. Which I guess is why they require the test. But Emily did it twice and could not make it across. I figured she would give up the idea, but as soon as the whistle blew for break Emily announced she was going for the swim test.

I was hesitant to let her, but figured that I should let her go and let it play out. She went for the test and I was nervous for her and wondered how it would play out and if she would be disappointed. She started across and had no problems, but that was with the current. She started back across against the current and she kept going and going and going and going! SHE DID IT!! She made it across and got her wrist band so that she can go on the slide. I was so proud of her. (And so glad I kept my mouth shut and let her try.)

The kids start back to school on August 25th. I think Emily is ready. Tony is getting there with the band schedule. Kristen? This is going to be a complete shock to her system.

Ladybug Land

I hesitate to even make this entry, but we'll give it a try ... We ordered ladybug larvae to put in Emily's Ladybug Land and it arrived yesterday. Emily was excited so we got everything all set up for her and put the ladybug larvae in the dome last night. We decided to take pictures to document the changes that we saw as it sounds like a fun process.

Well, 24 hours in and I haven't seen one of these things even flicker in movement. At first I figured that was okay, but reading more I'm thinking not. We'll give it some more time, but we may be cleaning this dome out and ordering more ladybug larvae.

Or maybe we'll got back to the butterflies. They seemed to arrive alive and we were able to keep them alive.

I am just bummed as normally we get the mail much earlier, but last night we didn't get home until about 7pm. I suspect that sitting in the mailbox for about 8 hours in that heat didn't help the ladybugs chances of survival.

Here comes summer!

Emily, Vinnie and I checked out the "new to us" pool today here in Dublin. We went to the south pool and loved it. I thought it was going to be packed, but was pleasantly surprised when it was not.

We had a fun time. Well, Emily and I did. Vinnie preferred to do anything except go near the water. He screamed when I put his toes in it and when I tried again later to sit in the water and put him on my lap, he clung to me. I'm thinking Myrtle Beach should be a blast with this kid.

Vinnie was happy as long as he had snacks. Emily was a complete water bug and (as you can see above) she jumped right in and had a ball. Before we left, she was asking if we could come back tomorrow. How can two kids be so opposite?