I don't think I could have summed it up better or said it better than my sister. I've wanted to post for weeks and just haven't found the time or the right words to say. I've started so many posts and started with so many angles. Do I really want to divulge my honest opinion of how I felt during CampG? Do I discuss with you the undertones that occured that only certain people picked up on? Should I mention the destructive conversations that went on behind closed doors without my knowledge?
I choose not to.
I choose to just link to my sister Lizzie's blog and have you read her post "Summer Vacation Take 3" to view all the pictures of our week together and to read about all the great things we did. And while you're at it, scroll up a post and listen to Rascall Flatt's song "Stand" while you're reading. You might want to take a minute to read the lyrics as you're listening because they mean alot to our family.
We came together for the 7 cousins to be together, for my mom to have her week being the Camp Director. And despite all the drama that happened beforehand, the three of us survived that week. We tried to put our differences aside, dodged oncoming daggers and came together for our kids.
Sunday is church. Getting myself and 3 kids up to get there on time is always a chore. But this Sunday I had to get 6 kids up and out - that was a feat. But we made it and all 6 sat as still as church mice during the service. We took up an entire pew and placed adults strategically between the most disruptive children to ensure a peaceful worship service. After church, we got home, ate lunch and everybody just chilled for the afternoon. Before I knew it, dinner time came (pork roast on the grill and fresh corn from a roadside stand)and that was when this ordinary day turned into something special.
My older daughter announced that her tooth was loose. I did a tooth check and sure enough it was pretty loose. After we finished dinner, my sister, my cousin and I went out on the swingset to enjoy the cooling evening. Olivia came up to me to check her tooth out again and my innocent tooth check turned into a tooth removal. POP. Out it went! This is her third but her excitement was still new.
Within a few minutes of spreading the news, my youngest daughter came up to claim that she had a 'wiggly tooth'. My tooth check proved that she did and actually, it was pretty loose. That evening happened to also be a family party for my now 10 year old son. After the cake was served and the presents opened, Gabi announced again that she wanted me to do a tooth check. To my surprise it was much wigglier. Since we were leaving within the hour for a trip to NY, and I already had to play "tooth fairy" to one child while traveling, I was hoping this wiggly tooth would hold off until we got home. But my baby Foo insisted that she wanted her tooth out. I had bought 2 little Tooth Fairy bags at a boutique to hold teeth for the Tooth Fairy and up until this moment had only needed one. So I told Gabi that I had a special bag for her tooth to go in and went downstairs to get it. When I showed it to her she said, "Let's bring it to NY just in case my tooth comes out when I'm there." "No," I said, "the bag only goes with a tooth in it." Well, let me tell you that those were the right words to say to that little girl. She took me into the study, away from all the people in our house, and had me do some really strong pulls on that little tooth. After a few tears, she sucked up the pain and told me to just do it. I obeyed and pulled just enough so it was literally hanging there and she was able to do it herself.
Now my little baby doesn't look like a little baby anymore and my princess is just simply toothless! The sorrows and joys of parenthood.
My nephew has come to stay with me for a few weeks in July since he was 4 years old. This summer he will be 13. Last summer was the first time we missed out on his visit because their family was going through a major move and we thought it best that he spend as much time in his old home as possible. There are things that we do every summer with him and have established many traditions. Since we moved and this is his first time spending time in our new home, most of the old traditions of Ohio have gone away. But there is one thing that has stayed the same. Pig pieces. To those who aren't familiar with this delicacy, you probably know them better as ribs. Tonite was Pig Pieces night.
Alyssa Loves Pig Pieces
Before dinner was served tonite, the kids all heard the very familiar tunes of the ice cream truck coming. They were all in the basement playing and all it took was one kid hearing that tune to alert the others of the trucks arrival. I too heard the truck and rushed from folding my laundry to flag her down - even in the pouring rain. The poor ice cream truck girl didn't think she'd get any business but when my flock of kids ran out after her, barefoot and umbrellas in hand, we made her day. (I apologize for the last part of the video where it is sideways, my video lady is a little crazy!)
Best Friends
Mutt and Jeff
Crazy Boys
As you can see, Anthony is much taller than his cousin. And yes, Jacob's hair is done up in a mohawk!! Both were posing as if going to jail for a line up! Don't look they look mean??
Our Fourth just about got rained out but we still made the best of it and really tried to stick it out despite the bad weather. The vote was 10 to 4 in favor of staying at the celebration at Baker Park in Frederick. The guys went back to the car to get the blankets and tarps, the girls stayed and let the kids play at the park. By the time the guys got back, we got hammered again and the 4 people who had lost the original vote were now elated because we were going home. Oh, well, at least we had a huge bag of sparklers, poppers and other lightable paraphernalia to do at home.
'the moment I let go of it was the moment
I got more than I could handle
the moment I jumped off of it
was the moment I touched down' - Alanis Morissete, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie album
