Cape May 2012

A' camping we will go

K and E have been at cub scout camp for the last two nights sleeping in a tent.  We have been good-intentioned campers.  "Yeah, yeah we'll go camp out at a family.  Yeah, yeah here's a tent for father's day." Yet somehow the draw of the comfy mattress of our room calls us home at night as we murmur, "tomorrow, tomorrow, we'll camp out tomorrow"  Although tomorrow never seems to come. 

Therefore, Ethan is a bit out of his comfort zone.  "I just don't like the night," he told me yesterday.  "I get that throw up feeling in my stomach."  Poor little dude.  I advised him to snuggle in tight next to Daddy and know that Daddy will keep him safe and never put him in a place that was dangerous.

Tonight's the night we switch places and I go for the evening.  I must admit....Mama's a wee bit nervous.  No daddy for me to snuggle up with.  I already eyed the other tent dwellers when we visited yesterday (on Ethan's birthday!!) thinking, "Whose tent can I knock on in the middle of the night in case of thunderstorm?"  I still am not sure, but have decided that if it storms Ethan and I are trudging through the rain to sleep in the car.  That's right folks:  Mama is a big chicken.

Think clear skies.  Think sleep.  Think comfort.  Or something like that. 

Ways to beat the Heat

It's 99 degrees outside.It's 64 degrees inside our van.
We drove 30 miles to Sonic for vanilla, hot fudge and banana caramel shakes
and watched Happy Feet 2 in the car.

Will asked for a blanket because he was cold.

Ahhhhhh.  Sweet relief.

I am the cause of a Security Breach

The phone rang yesterday and I answered it.  The conversation went a little like this.
Me: Hello. 
Caller: May I please speak to a parent of Ethan? 
Me: Sure.  This is his mother speaking.
Caller: Hello. I am calling from the library to say that Ethan has a book that was due back June 7th.  We were hoping that you would help him return it.
Me:  Oh.  Of course.  I am so sorry.  What is the name of the book?
Caller:  For security reasons we are unable to tell you the name of the book.  We can either send it by mail or you can come to the library.
Me: ?????????

I got off the phone thoroughly confused.  Really? I was proposing a breach in security if I requested the name of the library book that I was to help my 8 year old find and return.

I walked around the house in a stupor.  I take returning library books pretty seriously.  Yes, it is true we have returned our books late once or twice, but for the most part we are good, responsible, card-carrying members of the local library.  We attend story hour regularly.  We check out books regularly.  We are close friends with employees of the library and at least one member of the board. (You know who you are T.)

I made a phone call.

Me:  Hello. 
Library:  Hello.
Me:  I'm not sure if you called or if someone else called but here is the story. 

I proceeded to tell them the details.

Me:  Doesn't it seem counter productive for me to drive to the library to get the name of the book that is missing only to return home to search for it? 
Library:  Um.  Hold on.

Filler of elevator type music.

Library:  Oh, I'll just tell you the name of the book.   [Name of the book withheld for security reasons.  I would tell you but then I would have to kill you.]

Me: Thanks.

Discussion follows at the house.  No one has seen the book.  I was on my way to a knitting shop visit with my Mom and sister.  Kevin states, "I'll take the kids to the library and see if the book is there so you can sleep tonight."

Ethan found it on the library shelf in 5 seconds.  Kevin and Will hadn't even made it down the steps yet.

Sleep easy tonight.  You may check out [Name of the book withheld for security reasons] any time now because it was once lost, but now has been found.

Home Again Home Again

We have been home for not quite a week.  It has been full of activity as per the norm.  Ethan has been attending Lego camp at a local community college (hour drive away).  Kevin took him 3 days and worked on school stuff.  I took him one day and had the most relaxing enjoying three hours I have had in a long time.  I snacked.  I read.  I knitted.  I explored, found a bike trail and walked til my legs hurt.  I returned.  I snacked and drank.  I read and knitted some more.  I picked up a parenting book, cracked it open and then put it back in my bag.  It was glorious.

He seemed to enjoy Lego camp OR just enjoyed being away from his "ruthless" parents for awhile.  At camp he was one of the younger kids and was paired with an older boy named Wade.  I think Wade had a big influence on the themes selected as Ethan told us, "You know how hippies don't like war?  Well we made a hippie walk over to a missile and then kick it.  Then the missile fell on him."  Not sure if Ethan even knew what a hippie was before this week.    Here is one of the movies they created.  "Cliff Duel"



Meanwhile Ben, Will and I tried to put the house back together.  Okay, okay, they played and I tried to put the house back together, though rather unsuccessfully.  Good housekeeping is so over rated.  

Beachin it Up

We are in Cape May, New Jersey right now.  Will is napping, Ethan and Ben are playing Angry Birds and Kevin is playing cards with his Mom.  Lazy days are welcome and invited.  The water has been calm so the boys are having fun playing in the ocean.  Ben isn't feeling so well with nighttime coughing fits so we spent some time at Urgent care and two breathing treatments later he is much improved.

As we are here, some of our lovely friends in Waynesburg began their move across the country to Seattle.  While reading of the goodbyes experienced I was so sad for all involved, especially the kids who have known and played with each other for so many years now.

If I was at home and had access to my photos I would insert cute photo here.  Ahhhhhh.

Safe journeys and much love to you.  Thinking of you tons.