Sarah is off to camp for a week. It is her first time being away from home this long. 5 nights. I am already suffering withdrawal!
On the way back down the hill from her cabin, I commented on how much easier the trek was for me this year. I wasn't sliding around in the gravel and I wasn't huffing and puffing even though I had carried a lot of luggage. SOMEONE dared to comment that it was easier for me to walk on the gravel this year because I DON'T SINK IN AS FAR. I have lost weight and it is nice to see the difference, but quite frankly, I didn't know whether to say thank you or kick him. I was definitely leaning toward the kicking...
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Fountain of Youth
I was just sitting at the computer reading an email, when the phone rang.
"Hello," I said in a perfectly normal tone of voice.
"Is this Matt's sister?" said a small voice on the other end.
I practically had tears dripping down my face as I struggled to hold back a rather HUGE snicker! OH MY!
I am suddenly feeling SPRINGY! :) I just lost nearly THIRTY-SEVEN years!!! Wow!
I think I'll go jog around the block. :) Well, maybe halfway around the block. On the other hand, walking a few steps over to the neighbors might be better. What the heck, I'll just have a cookie. 37 years ago I could actually EAT cookies and not see them hanging around for a decade! :)
"Hello," I said in a perfectly normal tone of voice.
"Is this Matt's sister?" said a small voice on the other end.
I practically had tears dripping down my face as I struggled to hold back a rather HUGE snicker! OH MY!
I am suddenly feeling SPRINGY! :) I just lost nearly THIRTY-SEVEN years!!! Wow!
I think I'll go jog around the block. :) Well, maybe halfway around the block. On the other hand, walking a few steps over to the neighbors might be better. What the heck, I'll just have a cookie. 37 years ago I could actually EAT cookies and not see them hanging around for a decade! :)
Friday, July 4, 2008
Sparkler Night
What a great night! 100 fireworks and 144 sparklers later...fun was had by all! The rain finally stopped and we got together with two neighbor families. What a display of fireworks! :) I was so glad the day wasn't a complete fizzle (due to the drizzle).
We bought fireworks but the neighbors went to one of those firework tent places and got GOOD ones. Wow! What a nice surprise.
I didn't realize how creatively some of the better fireworks are named. We all liked the "Icy Black Hand of Death" for scare factor. But, the "Naughty Crocodile" turned out to be the most shocking noise and light show! It was great. (Although, it is possible the person lighting that "Death" firework had read too much Calvin & Hobbes and was pulling one over on us with the name.)
Men seem to turn into BOYS when it comes to fireworks. It's really rather cute, in an eyeball rolling sort of a way. :) One dad bought not one but TWO of those eternal smoke fireworks. The really really smelly kind. Let me assure you that they really do seem ETERNAL... especially if you are downwind of the odor! At one point a certain wannabe comedian dad was yelling, "GET TO THE CHOPPER" in an Arnold S. voice. You know, like in the movie "Predator." The kids just thought the voice was funny and running through the smoke was hilarious. What a night.
And as if we weren't already up late enough and having enough fun, the kids decided they just had to play flashlight tag before bed. I just love all the memories we create on nights like tonight!
We bought fireworks but the neighbors went to one of those firework tent places and got GOOD ones. Wow! What a nice surprise.
I didn't realize how creatively some of the better fireworks are named. We all liked the "Icy Black Hand of Death" for scare factor. But, the "Naughty Crocodile" turned out to be the most shocking noise and light show! It was great. (Although, it is possible the person lighting that "Death" firework had read too much Calvin & Hobbes and was pulling one over on us with the name.)
Men seem to turn into BOYS when it comes to fireworks. It's really rather cute, in an eyeball rolling sort of a way. :) One dad bought not one but TWO of those eternal smoke fireworks. The really really smelly kind. Let me assure you that they really do seem ETERNAL... especially if you are downwind of the odor! At one point a certain wannabe comedian dad was yelling, "GET TO THE CHOPPER" in an Arnold S. voice. You know, like in the movie "Predator." The kids just thought the voice was funny and running through the smoke was hilarious. What a night.
And as if we weren't already up late enough and having enough fun, the kids decided they just had to play flashlight tag before bed. I just love all the memories we create on nights like tonight!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Day After
The day after a trip to Idlewild Amusement Park...
I woke up feeling REALLY old. I hobbled down the hall wondering why my FOOT, of all things, hurt. Then I remembered the way I used my feet to brace myself on "The Whip" ride, and it became obvious. We'll go with that. I'm not old or anything. :) That could not possibly be the reason. :)
We had a ball. Taking 5 kids to an amusement park is a wild ride in itself, especially when two of them are SIX.
We rode nearly every ride and enjoyed a quick dip in the ARCTIC pool. I have ice cubes in my freezer that are warmer than the water in that pool! Sarah is used to those kinds of water temps from swim team, but the rest of us were turning blue. Brrr!
The highlights of the day included riding the "Wild Mouse" roller coaster (absolutely adorable mouse cars + lots of screaming = terrific time). Really, how can you not have fun on a ride called the "Wild Mouse?" Then the kids begged and whined and begged and whined some more TRYING to get me to ride the "Spider." The very THOUGHT of that ride gives me heart palpitations. Really. Sarah and Thomas and I went on it a few years back and we went into a WILD spin as soon as the ride started that DID NOT STOP until they finally let us off (which took at least one lifetime). So, I was understandably reluctant to try it again. I surprised them all by taking all five kids on it as our very last ride. OH, THE HAPPINESS! :) This time it was a normal ride and I even got it spinning on purpose just so I could yell, "STOP THE SPINNING" and make Thomas laugh as I threatened to squish him. I owed him for telling me that I was weighing down my side of the spider. Ahem.
The trip home was interesting. We hit a traffic jam. I even asked AAA before we went if they knew of any traffic issues on I-70. Oh well. It provided some entertainment. After going only 5 miles in 90 minutes, we actually passed a construction worker with a big sign that said, "SLOW." I laughed so hard that I woke up all the kids. OOOPS! They thought it was funny too. But, not as funny as the NEXT worker (one mile and 15 minutes later) holding the OTHER sign saying, "SLOW" ...in case we missed it the first time. Oh my! There was no sleeping after that! We pulled in at 11:30 PM with a van load of energized kids.
So, our day ended in much hilarity and high spirits. I can't wait for our trip to Kennywood in August!
I woke up feeling REALLY old. I hobbled down the hall wondering why my FOOT, of all things, hurt. Then I remembered the way I used my feet to brace myself on "The Whip" ride, and it became obvious. We'll go with that. I'm not old or anything. :) That could not possibly be the reason. :)
We had a ball. Taking 5 kids to an amusement park is a wild ride in itself, especially when two of them are SIX.
We rode nearly every ride and enjoyed a quick dip in the ARCTIC pool. I have ice cubes in my freezer that are warmer than the water in that pool! Sarah is used to those kinds of water temps from swim team, but the rest of us were turning blue. Brrr!
The highlights of the day included riding the "Wild Mouse" roller coaster (absolutely adorable mouse cars + lots of screaming = terrific time). Really, how can you not have fun on a ride called the "Wild Mouse?" Then the kids begged and whined and begged and whined some more TRYING to get me to ride the "Spider." The very THOUGHT of that ride gives me heart palpitations. Really. Sarah and Thomas and I went on it a few years back and we went into a WILD spin as soon as the ride started that DID NOT STOP until they finally let us off (which took at least one lifetime). So, I was understandably reluctant to try it again. I surprised them all by taking all five kids on it as our very last ride. OH, THE HAPPINESS! :) This time it was a normal ride and I even got it spinning on purpose just so I could yell, "STOP THE SPINNING" and make Thomas laugh as I threatened to squish him. I owed him for telling me that I was weighing down my side of the spider. Ahem.
The trip home was interesting. We hit a traffic jam. I even asked AAA before we went if they knew of any traffic issues on I-70. Oh well. It provided some entertainment. After going only 5 miles in 90 minutes, we actually passed a construction worker with a big sign that said, "SLOW." I laughed so hard that I woke up all the kids. OOOPS! They thought it was funny too. But, not as funny as the NEXT worker (one mile and 15 minutes later) holding the OTHER sign saying, "SLOW" ...in case we missed it the first time. Oh my! There was no sleeping after that! We pulled in at 11:30 PM with a van load of energized kids.
So, our day ended in much hilarity and high spirits. I can't wait for our trip to Kennywood in August!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Everyone Needs a Hazmat Suit
Today Sarah went to science camp with her best friend, Meg. They couldn't wait to go on the hike along the Ohio River to capture various bits of wildlife, namely frogs.
Well, Meg arrives home this evening to regale her mom with stories of the excursion. Evidently, she neglected to mention the exact day's activity when she told her mom that she needed shoes that could get wet. So, the river trek was news to her mom.
Meg's mom just happens to be my dear friend too. So, she calls immediately upon discovery of the "Ohio River Trek." Heather grew up far from the Ohio valley and its perils.
Me: Hi Heather.
Heather: Did you know about the visit to the Ohio River?
Me: Yes.
Heather: Did you know they were IN the river? IN THE RIVER?
Me: Well, I don't think they were swimming in it or anything. They just searched for frogs on the edge.
Heather: I had Meg change her clothes and disinfect as soon as she got home. Do you think I should take her to the doctor?
Me: Ummm...Why would you do that?
Heather: Well, you know there are mutated fish with 5 eyes in that river! I hear people talking about it!
Me: Heather, I don't think the river is still in that condition. You just talk to elderly people at the museum where you work and they remember the river of 50 years ago with all the factory waste.
Heather: Well, maybe I should just get her a Hazmat suit.
Me: (practically howling with laughter) Your husband would like that since Meg could re-use it for Halloween.
The conversation degenerated from there. Imagine that! :)
I'm serious! I REALLY HAD THIS CONVERSATION!!! :)
Well, Meg arrives home this evening to regale her mom with stories of the excursion. Evidently, she neglected to mention the exact day's activity when she told her mom that she needed shoes that could get wet. So, the river trek was news to her mom.
Meg's mom just happens to be my dear friend too. So, she calls immediately upon discovery of the "Ohio River Trek." Heather grew up far from the Ohio valley and its perils.
Me: Hi Heather.
Heather: Did you know about the visit to the Ohio River?
Me: Yes.
Heather: Did you know they were IN the river? IN THE RIVER?
Me: Well, I don't think they were swimming in it or anything. They just searched for frogs on the edge.
Heather: I had Meg change her clothes and disinfect as soon as she got home. Do you think I should take her to the doctor?
Me: Ummm...Why would you do that?
Heather: Well, you know there are mutated fish with 5 eyes in that river! I hear people talking about it!
Me: Heather, I don't think the river is still in that condition. You just talk to elderly people at the museum where you work and they remember the river of 50 years ago with all the factory waste.
Heather: Well, maybe I should just get her a Hazmat suit.
Me: (practically howling with laughter) Your husband would like that since Meg could re-use it for Halloween.
The conversation degenerated from there. Imagine that! :)
I'm serious! I REALLY HAD THIS CONVERSATION!!! :)
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