FUN END TO SUMMER

We did so many fun things this summer but last weekend was definitely the cherry on the sundae. Claremarie always makes her summer dream list and this year we did everything on it. I told Sam that I was going to make a list of what I wanted to do this summer but the only think I could think of was tanking. What's tanking you ask? It is basically like tubing except you float down a river in a horse tank. It is not a traditional metal horse tank but rather a fiberglass blue tank. You can bring coolers and some people even bring grills. The tanks don't tip over like a canoe so you don't actually have to get wet unless you choose to do so. We floated down the Calamus River near Burwell, NE. There was a group of 16 and it was a blast. We had 4 tanks and 4 tubes. Claremarie and Camden loved it but Sam and I are afraid we created little monsters as they really liked the tubes better than the tanks and now tubing is all they can talk about. My cousin Ted, who is in a wheelchair, even got to go with us. I don't think there was a better way for us to finish out our summer adventures than floating down the river with some of our favorite people, through the sandhills, surrounded by the quiet and the beauty of that part of NE, while drinking peach nectar and eating delicious homemade donuts and cookies (Thanks Joye), cheese and crackers and brownies (Thanks Jane!) and plenty of diet coke! It was just so much fun. I will put a couple of pictures on the blog. If you want to see the entire adventure please go to my Picasa album. Thanks Ted and Joye for getting everything arranged. This will probably need to be an annual event!!!

3rd GRADE

Today is the first day of 3rd grade for Claremarie. It is the first year we haven't cried once we dropped her off. I think that is because we had a great summer full of fun with no regrets about things we should have/could have done. I just pray she has a good day today as nerves got the best of her last night. She woke up at 12:30 am and didn't go back to sleep until around 3am. I was so hoping she didn't inherit the worry gene.

This last picture always just kills me every year.

We call it the "letting go" picture.

OLYMPICS

We are loving the Olympics around here but since we are now so inspired there is no time to blog due to our grueling swimming, gymnastics, and beach volleyball practices. We'll be back next week!!

GRIEF AND FAITH

I'm just sitting here watching Steven Curtis Chapman and his family on Larry King. They are talking about the death of their 5 year old daughter. It is so heartbreaking to see them be so real about their grief and yet so comforting to see them be so strong in their faith. What a great example.

SERIOUSLY......

I know I'm especially sensitive to the age issue this year due to my landmark birthday quickly approaching but honestly. Several times this summer I have been asked if my kids are my grandkids. The latest was while we were having Camden's birthday party at Chucky Cheese. Do I really look that old??? (If so please don't feel the need to comment and tell me.) I know I am a somewhat "older" mom but seriously people. They have no idea the damage they are doing to my self-esteem.

THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR...........

....AT THE DINNER TABLE

Camden: Mom, I want to get big like you.

Me: Why?

Camden: So my bras will waggle and jiggle like yours.

I'm sure you can all figure out what bras are in this little scenario. Thanks Camden!!

(For those of you who think I blog a lot more about Camden-I wasn't blogging yet when Claremarie was saying all her cute things. Maybe I will pull out some of her classic lines. )

TO SCOOBY OR NOT....THAT IS THE QUESTION

As you can see, Camden had a Scooby Doo birthday. He loves Scooby Doo. I started letting him watch it (the TV show-not the real people movies) a couple of years ago because as far as I remembered it was harmless. I watched it when I was little and for the most part the shows that are on now are the same ones. Until Camden started watching it, I had not remembered all the witches, demons, magic spells, etc. that the show contains. We usually don't let our kids watch shows like that so now we had a dilemma. Should we continue to let him watch it or not? We decided to only let him watch the shows without any of the supernatural stuff in it and I have been vigilant about making sure that he only sees the appropriate shows. However, we may need to rethink our decision on letting him watch it at all.

It was almost supper time not long ago and I heard a small voice from the living room say, "Fetch me my supper you serving wench."

ZOINKS! DID I REALLY JUST HEAR MY SON SAY THAT??????? I couldn't believe my ears and immediately asked where he had heard that. Guess who went to a renaissance festival to solve the latest mystery? The one, the only Scooby Doo (and Shaggy too!).