Summer Recap!

J has just finished band camp, but don’t think he’s off the hook—he still has evening practices, car washes, and fundraisers until school starts. I swear this kid has shot up about a foot since Christmas! Handsome and growing—watch out world!

G has had a great summer, especially at Royal Rangers. He’s our resident military enthusiast and the most reliable kid in the house. Need something moved? He’s there. Need moral support? He’s there. Need to wrestle a new sectional up a flight of stairs while the rest of us are busy? Yep—he’s there too. Trooper doesn’t even begin to cover it.

N has spent almost three weeks with Grandma and Grandpa, living the grandparent life. Earlier this summer, he discovered carnivorous plants while tubing on the Blackwater River. Somehow they ended up in the cooler (mud included, naturally) and then an aquarium at home. They’re still alive, but no, they are not allowed inside. Pewee! Really!

M continues to be our sweet little mother hen. She helps her little sister constantly, drives me nuts with questions about art, and is determined to be like her mom (me!). I haven’t drawn in years, but apparently my past sketches are fair game for relentless questioning and critique.

A had a whirlwind seven weeks here. She’s 100% outdoorsy and somehow crammed in camping, horseback riding, tubing, sea shell collecting, Chuck E. Cheese, zoo visits, pool time almost daily, bonding with her baby sister, diaper practice (proud!), bike riding, our battery-powered jeep, and even the pocket rocket. Whew. I need a nap just reading that list.

Ki is growing fast and slowly transforming from baby to little girl (sigh). Potty training is underway, with a slightly relaxed approach—hey, she’s the last one! She loves to write, draw, and color, and her vocabulary is finally taking off. Praise God!

As for me, I’m doing fairly well and my health is stable. My new allergy to cold continues to be a royal pain in the bootie—hamburger patties made my hands swell up like balloons. I can’t drink, eat, touch, or even be near anything cooler than my body temperature without breaking out. Rain? Forget it. Bummer! But here’s the big win: still cancer-free for two years. AMEN!