James started off the summer with two big wins: Passing the full YMCA swim test, which allows him to swim everywhere independently and go on the fun slides and learning to ride a two-wheel bicycle, which means daily bike rides around the neighborhood and on the trail. In the first week of riding, he ran errands with me to Wegman's and Target.
Alma has been tearing through books this summer. After entire afternoons in her bedroom, she comes out with a dazed look and usually an announcement that she has read another chapter book. It is super impressive and she loves every minute of it. Every night, I knock on her bedroom door to remind her to stop reading, turn out the light, and go to bed. Alma also made a new friend, Roni, who lives just three doors down the street and has a similar wonderfully chatty spirit as Alma.
Both kids attended one week of day camp on my campus, Future Stars. They spent the week doing crafts, playing games, using computers, swimming, and making friends. Alma was awarded "Top Banana" for being such a great camper in her group. James was a little less enthused by camp, mostly due to some stress about swimming. The last two days of camp, I picked him up before swimming and we hung out, playing cards.
Joshua is busy prepping for
MEIPN teaching in August (theater, music, geometry), preparing for his largest group of students at the elementary school, and completing house projects (i.e. cleaning gutters, wallpaper removal in our bedroom, etc.). I'm so grateful for all of his hard work and that he is able to stay home with the children in the summer. They love their long days of creative play. Usually, I come home to a house full of projects, which makes me smile. Yesterday, the gym was decorated for a party using the workout equipment.
While it is a busy time -- I have certainly overbooked our weekends and we are still juggling my doctoral courses, consulting work, and a busy full-time position -- we are so blessed to have the means to enjoy this time of health, love, and comfort.
