Angels in Camp Dust

This year we sent the 3 oldest girls to Girl Scout camp in a red VW bug. In previous years our amazing neighbor had volunteered at the camp and drove our girls to and from every day.  Those neighbors moved away, so this year I expected to be the camp taxi. Then a college aged friend, Sarah, who volunteers at the camp called me and asked if the girls wanted to ride with her and hey did I want her to turn in our paperwork. Uhhh really??  Yes!  Each year I have stood in line for 3-4 hours in order to sign the girls up for camp. She was like an angel, skipping line and getting out of taxi service. It was like heaven.

Our girls were excited to go to camp with one of the counselors and to get there in a punch bug. This is the first year the 3 of them have gone together (Rae didn't go last year) and the first year that Emma has gone as a Program Aid (PA). The camp encourages them to pick a camp name.
Emma was Narwhal,
Rachael was Captain Obvious,
(She labeled all of her stuff with sayings like "This is a lunch box" etc.)
and Megan was Hungry.
Sarah their ride was Pepto.
They all knew the routine; including the daily sunscreen and bug spray application. Each morning they threw their gear in the back and piled in Sarah's bug. Then each afternoon Sarah dropped them off and they dragged themselves inside to cool off from the 95+ degrees temps and crazy humidity, full of camp songs, craft projects and a cloud of dust.

Each day has a different theme and they adjust their t-shirt appropriately.. One day is their groups color, another patriotic colors and one day is dress as your camp name. The night before we used the computer to print a Captain Obvious logo that said "This is a logo" and Food items for Hungry. Emma turned striped wrapping paper into a horn and attached it to a headband. On Friday they each made a bag of small swaps, which is a trading item on a pin. Emma made blue clothespin narwhals, Rachael made "this is a Swap" swaps, and Megan made burgers that had a bite out of them. They came home that afternoon with many swaps from the other campers and dragged home all of the gear. I felt like I was watching Pigpen as a visible cloud of dust hovered around them. We washed the dust off of them but the camp memories will linger a lot longer.

Breaking in the Kitchen

Our kitchen renovation has been complete for a number of weeks now and we are breaking it in. The kitchen feels huge when I am working in it. I love that most of us can be in the kitchen and all be doing things without the waiting and bumping that used to happen. We still have to wait for a turn in the refrigerator or silverware drawer but when it is our turn, there is actual space to move to to get out of the way for the next person.

Everything felt very foreign at first. I would go for something and realize that it was no longer in that spot. I wasn't sure what counter to put things on or where we wanted to keep certain items. We spent the first weeks rearranging. One day Jim and I both opened the cabinet under the kitchen sink to throw something away, only to realize that the trash cans have their own cabinet in the peninsula. The funny thing is that we never used to keep our trash can under the sink. We will continue to shift things a few things around and hopefully find a resolution for the calender that lays on the counter.

Most things have now found their proper homes and I have mapped new muscle memory for the routine tasks. I am appreciating the new space daily. I appreciate being able to run the dishwasher without having to roll it and hook it up to the sink. I appreciate having enough counter space to make 10 sandwiches at the same time. I appreciate the color palate that I sent so much time trying to get right. But mostly I love being able to fit us all in. The new kitchen didn't undo our old habits and our brand new granite counter top is regularly covered with our life. The extra deep sink doesn't do the dishes but it does hide a whole meals worth of dishes below the line of sight. I am grateful the shiny new surfaces are easier to get back to clean. The kitchen still feels and looks new but we are breaking it in as only a family of 6 can.

Epic Ending

With the last Harry Potter movie release, came excitement and a little sadness. Jim read each of the 7 Harry Potter books as bedtime stories to Emma and Rachael. They must have been 9 and 7 years old when we started and even with heavy little eyelids they would beg for one more chapter. Before we knew it we had finished the 7th and final book. The books are so well written, that it is really hard to let go of the characters who we have been following for the past five years.

We have been so eager to see these stories portrayed on the big screen, that we have made an event of it and have gone on the opening day. We were definitely not going to miss the opening of the last movie in the series. Bridget and Megan went over to my parents house and the big girls, Jim and I plus friends headed to a historic Baltimore theater. We didn't want to miss this so our friend picked up our tickets a few days ahead of time and saved great seats. There was a huge line to get in when we arrived and tickets were already sold out. It was a great crowd full of anticipation. The girls all wore Hogwarts cloaks and lightning bolt stickers.  Just before Rachael actualy did burst with excitement the curtains opened and the cheers went up.

We were not disappointed. The movie was wonderful, epic, touching, and in the end satisfying. Rachael and Emma agreed; neither wanted it to be over.

Out on her Own

I can't believe it but I am talking about Bridget. She received her 1st friend party invitation and it took her very little time to realize that her sisters weren't invited, just her. She knew this was special. The party was at our neighbor's house just across the street and she was excited. Bridge did make sure that I was coming with her. She picked her favorite dress to wear and when we were there she kept making comments about wearing the dress. It was almost like she was second guessing the dress, but resolving that it was the right thing to wear to a party. She was nervous and was either oddly super chatty or mute. She stayed glued to my side until someone mentioned that the chip bowl was moved outside. She was out the door before I realized it. For the rest of the party she was comfortable and playful. Potato chips are more powerful than I realized.

Bridget then got to attend vacation bible school. Rae and Meg were going as well as a bunch of the cousins. She joined in without a look back, (her best bud Sarah was in her group) and participated enthusiastically. It was a tiring week for her but she held up well. Then this week Bridget attended our church's VBS. She was in the pre-k group, who met in the school and they didn't start the day with the other big kids in the chapel. Bridget looked around when we walked in, and saw some familiar faces but no one she really knew. There were no cousins or sisters. I tried to ease her in and introduce her to the other kids but that pensive face and tight grip didn't change. The teacher helped me make my exit by getting things going and saying that parents had to leave. I was glad to get out the door but it was also tough since that apprehensive look hadn't left Bridget's face.

I knew she would have fun but still worried a little. When I picked her up from Becky's after work, she was raving about the fun time she had and all of the kids she met. A good number of them will be in her pre-school class this fall so I am hopeful that will help ease her in. Drop off was no problem the next morning. Deep breath: she is out on her own.

Making 4th Traditions



Each year our town shifts into high gear as they prepare for the 4th of July, chairs line the road, parrade floats are preparred and flags appear lining all of the neighborhoods. We really enjoy taking part in the community events and doing so as a family. In our excitement a few years back I painted all of the girls nails in patriotic colors, it was so much fun we bought more accurate colors and did it again the following year. Last year we found a white polish designed for detail painting and so this year as the 4th approached it was a given that we would again paint our nails together. Flags, fireworks, stars and strips: everyone goes for something a little different. It has become a tradition.



Watching the Catonsville parade has also become a tradition. When the girls were little we skipped the Catonsville parade which was at nap time and went to the earlier Arbutus parade. But the C-ville parade is a huge deal and 2 years ago we experienced it for the first time. I have a feeling we will be going for many years to come. Rachael, Megan and Jim all walked with the Elementary school float this year, which we helped build the week prior. They were near the front of the parade and then joined us on the sidewalk along with friends. 

Just prior to the parade start, I dropped the parade walkers off at the float and then drove to Becky and Erik's house. They live right near the parade route and have a big back yard cookout each year with neighbors and invite the family. So we park at their house, drop stuff off and walk to the parade. But this year I unloaded the first pile of stuff and then locked both my keys and Jim's keys in the van. I hope that doesn't become a tradtiion. God is good though and the friends we met up with at the parade offered us their AAA service. Since they were coming back to Becky and Erik's with us to help they were invited to stay for the cookout.

The cookout is great fun and is full of wonderful food. I make a noodle salad each year so I brought that and as I was making it the girls asked "Aren't you making rocket pops?" I guess that has become a tradition as well. I saw a recipe for the red white and blue popsicles and made them a number of years ago. Each year I seem to forget about them, but the girls haven't and so each year I make them and the kids all wind up with dripping red chins. We talked and played until dark and walked to the field nearby for a very impressive fireworks display.

As we said our good-byes our friend (the AAA recuser) gave me a hug and said "Thanks for locking your keys in the van." It was a good time and who knows maybe seeing them each 4th will become a tradition too.