July is almost over ...

... and thank goodness for it. It's been a busy month.

Start off first with the good news - Violet is back. She was missing for 8 days and one morning she just showed up here at home. The kids were all thrilled. A week after she came back we spent 1 night away from home and she left again. This time she was only gone 3 days though. Maybe she's finally realizing that we will return.

So, what have I been up to? Camp, camp and more camp. I went with Tristan to Cub World for 3 days worth of Jedi cheesiness. Did I just say that? I hate to say that about a scout camp, but the whole Jedi theme was just so over the top and cheesy. Maybe the kids thought it was great but after 3 days of it I was SOOOO ready to come home. Add in the overwhelming stink of KYBO (like outhouses but worse ... absolutely rancid when it's 85 out) and I was DONE. I did however manage to secure yet another year of camp (4 years in all) without visiting the KYBO. It's worth the hike to the one and only flushable toilet at camp. Trust me on this one.

Honestly though, we did have some good times. It's great to have some 1-on-1 time with the kids and this was Tristan's first time having me to himself for 3 days. I laughed my butt off watching him go down the slip and slide. I helped him shoot his BB gun and bow & arrow. I cheered him on when he was on the BMX track. I nervously watched him whittle for the first time. We made a robot together and I took part in their Jedi ceremony. Lots of fun. Here's a few pics from our time together.

Of course, I'm only home for a total of 6 days and then I leave for 6 more days, this time at Chase's scout camp. Yipee. (Can you hear the sarcasm???) At least it's at the beach. 6 days of soaking up the sun, frolicking in the waves and hanging out on the sand. Who am I kidding? It'll be 6 days of sleeping in a tent, hiking to the nearest flushable toilet and having sand in all the places you don't want sand. The good news is that I will have my dear friend Tammy with me. We always make a good time of it.

While I'm at camp I'll also have my good friend Harry with me ... Harry Potter that is. I am hitting the store bright and early Saturday morning to secure my much-awaited copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I can't wait! Chase and I will be fighting for it, I'm sure. But while at camp he has a 10pm bedtime. Ha ha. Guess what I'm going to be doing when he's tucked in his bed? LOL

Anyways, I better hit the hay. Got lots of packing to do.