One night away

Several weeks ago, some friends of ours from our former town suggested we take a night and get away together.  Since it was only one night it would have to be close, and they even agreed to cash in points they had earned in order to help pay for our room.  The 24-hour window they chose even meshed with our schedule!  We made arrangements for my cousin's fiance (who lives here in town) to stay overnight with the kids, and my mom was willing to be a back up in case she had to work during part of the time.  Every thing worked out perfectly though, and Sunday afternoon (right after the band buses pulled away) we were on the road for our hour drive.  Honestly, the timing could not have been more perfect!  It has been forever since we've laughed that much, and all-in-all, it was just great to get away.  We came home yesterday afternoon, retrieved the younger two from my aunt's house (my cousin had taken them there to swim), picked Robert up from work, and then had no where to be for the rest of the day.  It was nice to just relax and enjoy the rest of the day before we start gearing up for a family reunion we are hosting this week!

One of those things your mind forgets so you are willing to do it again

On Sunday afternoon, nearly 80 high school students loaded three buses and headed south to band camp.  The week leading up to that, well, GRRRR.  I had forgotten from the previous summer how crazy the week leading up to camp had been for me, and because of that I agreed to some additional responsibilities making it even crazier!  I got to the point that I was actually counting down the hours until the kids were on their way.  I am so very grateful that  is done for another year!

Our Most Improved Swimmer

Last evening was the year end banquet for the summer swim team.  I wasn't able to be there because it was also the family potluck picnic for the marching band, so it was an evening of divide and conquer.  Andrew went with the younger two, and shortly after I arrived home I received a text that Catherine had been named "Most Improved Swimmer" for her age group!  I was so excited and so proud of her!  She was especially determined the last couple of weeks, and the head coach told Andrew last evening that she was a unanimous decision...the coaches didn't even discuss anyone else.  We are so excited for her, and very proud!

Wisdom teeth gone

Robert had his wisdom teeth removed Monday.  Overall it went well, although I don't think he was prepared for the discomfort he would feel.  He has not been in a great deal of pain, but he's pretty much been uncomfortable ever since.  He's not bouncing back as he wanted to, but overall it wasn't a horrible experience.  One down, two to go!

Summer swim season wrap up

We have been BUSY around here...and I'm ready for it to slow down.  Seeing as how school starts in about three weeks, that probably isn't going to happen though.

This week brought the end of swim season.  Our league allows everyone to participate in the championships as long as they participated in at least two meets during the season.  Both Catherine and Thomas wanted to do this, so we signed them up.  The week prior, Catherine had cut 26 seconds off the time for one of her strokes, and we knew they were heading in to championships swimming as well as they ever had.  They were each entered in three events, and in their final swim meet of the season, they each had an event where they managed to beat someone.  In fact, Catherine managed to win her heat in her final event.  It was the "JV" heat so it was against other traditionally slow swimmers, but she got to touch the wall before anyone else in the pool.  What a great way to finish the season!

Loving Legos

Thomas's birthday gift the last two years is a trip to the Lego Store.  It's pretty much nirvana for him!  We never make it anywhere near his actual birthday, and this year I completely messed up the day that we went and it turned out there was no Lego Store at the mall we had driven to...but we finally made it this week!  To make it even better, the mall was having a display of Americana Lego...ten American monuments/buildings all made out of Lego.  Between loving Legos in our house and being Social Studies geeks, it was right up our alley!  Thomas would tell you it was the best day he's had in a long time...seeing the display, shopping at the store, and lunch out!

Weekends in the summer

Last weekend was really a lot of fun in our house...one of the most fun of the summer!

Friday evening began with friends coming from our former town and bringing their girls to hang out with out kids.  It was so great to be able to laugh and just hang out like old times...it was really good to laugh that much!  Saturday, Andrew took Robert and Catherine to visit with friends for a cookout, and I took Thomas to his former scout leader's house where Robert and the older two met us later.  It was another fabulously fun evening with great people, and just reinforces Andrew's feelings that we are moving back when Thomas finishes school.

Sunday was my aunt's annual pool party.  Everyone was there who was invited, but due to some fighting within the family, that still isn't everyone.  It also isn't the same because the kids are just older, but it's still nice to get together.  We followed that day with an evening out at the fire pit where there was some marshmallow roasting and just hanging out...another fun family evening!

This weekend Andrew has taken Catherine and Thomas to visit his parents, and Robert is at a church gathering for the weekend.  I have plans to scrapbook, clean, and just kind of "be" this weekend.  We love our summer weekends!