How is it August?
Because I promise, my last post feels like it was just yesterday! Somehow this summer has gotten away from me. Between Wisconsin Dells, Gabby’s play and Girl’s Camp, Zach’s Eagle project, Scout Camp, and Board of Review, the oldest 3 doing their standardized testing (and getting great scores!) babysitting a friend’s son while they deal with their other child having leukemia, and school approaching (I still haven’t found a language arts curriculum I like for high school!) we’ve been swamped. Ask me what I did or got for my birthday and I don’t think I could even tell you. I even had a money-gift that didn’t make it to the bank until today (sorry Mom Foede! But thank you so much!) Summer isn’t supposed to be like this. A whirlwind of activity that leaves one breathless, and no vacation to speak of! I told Mark I was taking a two month trip next year around the country, starting with visiting all the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites I’ve wanted to see for years. (Later on is a picture of her uncle’s grave. If you’ve read the books you met Peter in Little House in the Big Woods, and I learned that he is buried 15 miles from here!)
Zach’s Eagle Board of Review is tomorrow night. There is no reason he shouldn’t pass, but I am still a nervous mom. I am invited to go into the room with him to hear the decision, and I am not sure my nerves can handle it. I know this is why I wasn’t sent children who are future Olympic athletes. I just wouldn’t be able to support them, LOL! Well, I’ll post the resultes as soon as I can. 
So, like I said, the testing went well. The kids got 99,97,and 99 percentiles and post-high school scores. Zach didn’t do as well in “Study Skills”, but it’s an older tests and has questions about card catalogs, LOL, so I don’t worry too much. He can work the library computer catalog just fine, thank you!
Gabby’s camp went well. They had cold, rainy weather (unlike Zach’s hot, sunny weather) but she had a nice experience and showed herself to be a positive, sweet girl. 3 of the girls sneaked off at midnight and I am proud to say that Gabby declined the invitation knowing it was against the rules.
Reese is doing well. The ‘terrible twos’ have hit in a gentle manner, so we are thankful! Dylan is still our precocious sweetie. Still afraid to go to sleep at night because he doesn’t want bad dreams. That makes me sad. A 4 year old shouldn’t have to deal with that. Ethan is doing great in scouts. It’s hard to believe he’ll be a Boy Scout in 6 months! Alisa is loving reading now, and has really blossomed. She is excited to have spelling this year. Mark and I are doing fine. We’ve chosen a cruise, but part of me still thinks “Ya know, you could skip the cruise and get new flooring upstairs…” (The carpets when we bought the house were in horrible condition.) But I also know that making memories and celebrating our marriage is good for the soul!
OK, so on to some pictures. Gabby at camp. Reese feeding Mark a marshmallow. Zach trying to cook on his Altoids grill. (Ask him, not me!) Reese eating a marshmallow. Reese, sleeping on Zach on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Peter Ingalls grave. Gabby’s Snow White cast. Gabby’s fellow ‘Ravens’. Zach and Dylan mowing lawn. Pretty Gabby.)
