4H Camp

John the morning after the camp out. They did not sleep the entire night. And he was FILTHY when I picked him up. He was so funny. I picked him up at 3. No, I'm not tired at all, he said. He took a shower and had something to eat, was asleep by 5.

Ethan on vacation

Ethan went on vacation with a friend of his right after school ended. It was the first time he has ever been away from home like that. It was very hard to let him go, but he had so much fun. I'm so glad. It is going to be so hard to let them grow up and leave home. Well.....I say that.....but there are times..........we call Ethan The Great Debater. Always has to have the last word and enjoys it!!!! It can be exasperating. What's a good career for someone who enjoys arguing so????

Ocean City, MD

I could so live there! Love that place! The best board walk, nice beach, good food. Boardwalk fries!!!!! Could live on them! Don't know how Ethan escaped his picture taken more than once. A very relaxing place to be. We had a good time. We had to cross a 16 mile (I think it's 16 miles....13 maybe)....LONG bridge to get from Virginia to Maryland. Anxiety inducing! Has two tunnels....I hate the tunnels.

Odds and Ends

Well, I decided that I was going to be better about posting. I decided that about two weeks ago and haven't posted a thing in that time. So, since nothing is really going on right now, I will post a couple of odds and ends pictures. Having a wonderfully boring summer....spending lots o' time at the pool. I am doing a very relaxing pediatric practicum and a psychosocial class. And even though I HATE psychology, it is a very laid back class. I should be working on a paper right now, but I am procrastinating. Post-traumatic growth--concept #1 of a 3 concept paper. It's not horrible. My preceptor for my pediatric practicum is a wonderful teacher and quite relaxed compared to my last preceptor. Well, she was a good teacher, she just kept me afraid the whole time that I was, indeed, stupid. And let me just pull out my soapbox for just a second here......please don't give your kids koolaid. Especially toddlers. Juice, water, or milk. Koolaid is BAADDDD! It's amazing how much parents want your advice and then don't listen to a thing you say. Simply amazing!

OK--pictures--John has decided that since dad has been in Baltimore, he can have dad's side of the garage. It's very entertaining. Pictures 2 and 3 are the driveway. In our neck o' the woods, a paved driveway does not come with the house. What you get is gravel. So, we finally have a paved driveway. I feel like a queen. It was a spontaneous decision, and I'm glad. If John had too much time to think about it, I'd still be wishing for a paved driveway. It was a deal we couldn't pass up. And we finally have grass in the back yard that we even had to mow this week. I coulda cried, it was so beautiful to see John and Ethan out there mowing.

John is at a 4H overnight camp tonight. We could have gone with him and stayed part of the night or the whole night. He absolutely did not want us there. I don't think he's embarrassed of us, I think he is just that independent. He didn't need us. I'm proud and my feelings are hurt all at the same time. I so wish I had been as brave as he is at his age.

We went shopping today and I have new clothes. I am a happy woman. And furthermore, I have good chocolate. Could not ask for a better day. Well.....we could be at the beach with new clothes and good chocolate.....I guess you can't have everything.

Emily's Jazz Routine

As promised, here is the video of Emily's jazz dance, so you can all agree how wonderfully talented they all are.

She had field day today. I'm so sad I couldn't go. Today is my first psychosocial class. Blech!!! I do not enjoy psych stuff. Do not!! I would rather be with Emily. I hope she is having a good day. John is in the dunking booth at a party at his school. Wish I was there too. Wonder if they would let me dunk him. Wouldn't that be fun??? And Ethan is having a regular ole day at school. He has had football practice everyday after school for the last two weeks, so he has been sleeping well. And now he will have a break for about 3 weeks and then start up again and there will be NO break until after the football season is over in the fall. Crazy!

Dancin' Queen

Dance Recital 2010.....she did so great! They all did! I, actually, have some video I need to post for you, so you can all agree with me. They had so much fun! Recital week is very hectic, rehearsal every night, and then recital is a workout for mom's as much as it is for the girls. Racing to get them into the next costume, fixing the hair, reapplying lipgloss, and getting them to the stage on time......amid all the giggling anxiety and yakking amongst themselves. Emily took an Irish dance class this year. Very cute! I don't know how they much their little legs move that fast. Their jazz class went to competition and won first place.

And now....dance season is over, we can all relax....except for horse riding lessons (John), football, which is a RELENTLESS schedule (Ethan), and summer dance (Emily, of course). No rest for the weary! or the broke! And oh, wait.....I still have class and practicum this summer. There won't be ANY rest. I just want to sit by the pool and read a book! CALGON........