summer's almost over!

August 18, 2006

Hi All,

Just thought I'd write a quick upbeat post before school starts next

week :-) I just found out that the Resource teacher we LOVED is

pregnant (yeah for her) and won't be coming back next year, bringing the

total of RSPs we've had in the past 3 years to 5 (this next one will be

#6). Oh well, each time they've gotten better and better, so I'm hoping

that this one will be dynamite!

This summer has been really quick :-) We've had family visiting for

about half of it, which has been great fun for the kids. Grandparents

for a couple weeks (both sides) and a couple aunts for the dance

recital. My nephew were here for about 10 days in July, and my niece is

going home today after being with us for about 10 days as well. Looks

like San Diego is going to be the destination vacation for summer

pre-teens who can fly alone....... guess I should advertise " Camp Aunt

" or something next year :-) My kids were happy because it got me

off my butt and we did more stuff to entertain the cousins :-) Next

year I will have to have them bring their own money!

We just got back from a week long camping trip in the Sierras.....

REALLY primitive tent camping (though DH bought me a solar shower bag

and little pop up shower enclosure from Walmart....... greatest

invention in camping ever I think). had a little withdrawal

from her electronics, but did have some great moments without them.

First and most importantly, she went fishing in my dad's boat

(previously wouldn't go due to a variety of excuses....... too loud,

might tip over, etc.) God was fishing with her that morning because

even though it was 10 am and the real fisherpeople had been back for an

hour, they went out, my dad put the poles out, and within 5 minutes had

a fish on the line. She reeled in a nice rainbow trout, had a " fishing

breakfast " ......... sweet roll and Sunny D, checked out the fish finder

(since it looked like a TV, she was hopeful), and was back on land

within a half hour :-) She was so excited to show everyone her fish,

and she got tons of positive reinforcement for trying something new.

She also went out in my aunt's blow up boat, and enjoyed being paddled

around like a queen. She also enjoyed " swimming " in the lake (in 10

inches of water, on her tummy), but wasn't allowed to go out deep on the

air mattresses like the other kids because she couldn't swim in deep

water (actually, she can't swim at all, but when her belly is rubbing

the sand, she thinks she's afloat, LOL). She's very resistant about

getting her face in, and all the swimming lessons she's had have been

fun, but no actually swimming :-) So, by midweek, she was saying " Mom,

when we get home, can I get swimming lessons? " Nothing like a bright

pink air mattress to motivate you! We'll see, but I've got the number

of the Y that does special needs swimming lessons through UCP, so maybe

that will be the ticket....... understanding instructors and her

motivation. We also had a bear in camp every night (between 3-3:30 am

:-( , which entertained the kids to see what he got (a bottle of

syrup.... left in front of the campsite with big teethmarks in it, a big

bite out on an ice chest, etc...... just more work for us having to

store the food in the truck every night!)

Ah, summer.....Lots of beach, lots of sunscreen, lots of sand.........

my house is a mess, and I don't even really care :-) They go back on

Thursday, and I'll have plenty of time to clean once they are

gone......... took me enough years to adjust my summer attitude!

is going to middle school (sigh) and they are growning up so fast.

Sammy is playing competitive soccer now, which give a whole new meaning

to the term " soccer mom " ........ I was happy in recreational sports, but

she's the athlete, and we gave her a shot and she got it, so here we

go.... bye bye weekends. can't wait for school to start and

see her friends....... hopefully 3rd grade will be good to her.......

girls started getting kinda cliquey in 3rd grade if I remember right.

At least she'll her her Brownie troop....... all those girls are nice to

her!

Well, time to go take niece to the airport....... she's flying

as an unaccompanied minor, which means we have to get the " pass " to take

her in, and all 5 of us get through security and the wait until her

plane takes off before we can leave........ sounds like I should bring a

game and some snacks! I keep telling Sammy " Don't wear those heelies "

because I'm sure those shoes will cause someone to get strip searched :-)

Hope eveyone is enjoying the end of their summers..... I'm sure the

posts will be picking up in the next couple weeks as schools begin and

we begin to educate new teachers!

, mom to (10), (8 DS), and Sammy (6)

August 18, 2006

Thanks for the update! Your summer sounds really busy.

You mentioned San Diego. My son and his new wife should have arrived in San

Diego this morning to find an apartment and jobs to live there. He will miss

his younger brother (now 17) when he is that far from home. (OK) In fact, my

other son is starting a teaching job in MO, so that leaves us with only one son

at home now.

We've had a busy summer too. We had a wedding in Hawaii, camps, sons moving

out, a death of extended family member, etc.

I started schooling for Josiah this week (homeschooling) to keep my mind

busy--with my son moving to CA. Even when it's time for them to go....I still

have trouble with it.

Well! Best wishes to you all.

Shirley