Golden Days

The first 2 days of school have been really nice. I've enjoyed having the boys gone so I can miss them but it's sure been quiet. It's nice to have L to myself too until his pre-school starts next week. I hope work (subbing) starts in earnest soon after that. I just can't imagine being home a lot without them after having them here all summer.

Day 5...Home Sweet Home

The boys got a few last turns in with the go carts then we packed and headed home. We were sad and partly not ready but man it's good to be back! I'll leave you with a few pics from around the campfire!

Day 4...Underground Again

We headed for Penn's Cave today. We enjoyed it a lot. One of the funniest things is that one of the men in our tour group looked so much like my BIL (but older) that I swear I thought it was his brother! The pics from today are my favorite from inside the cave, a group shot of the boys outside the Penn Cave House, and a shot of Ty and Cory just because I love the pic so much! If you compare Cory in it to him in the header of my blog (from last October) you can really see how much he has matured in less than a year!

Day 3...More of the Same

We spent day 3 just enjoying the campground again. The pics in this post this will be the boys enjoying the bumper boats and go carts. The campground had different activities each day too. Today the boys enjoyed the foam party by the pool. There was a huge blow up pool filled with soap bubbles to play in and you got hosed off as you came out.

I enjoyed every minute but my best memories will be from around the campfire. It's amazing what the boys will talk about in front of the relaxing fire with nothing else to focus on but the flames and each other. I feel like we got to know each other all over again and they sure can surprize me! They laughed, talked, told jokes and stories. Even L at 4 years old told amazingly creative (although frightingly graphic for his age) scary stories in such a wonderful story teller voice. It was so beyond what I expected of him that the shock of it made us all laugh til our sides hurt. It was just so surprizing to hear that breathless, edge of your seat tone from him as he told the tales. I'lll NEVER forget those nights around the campfire, just me and my boys.

Day 2...Aaaaahhhh

Day 2 (Tuesday) we spent enjoying the campground. There was the pool and splash park, bumper boats, mini golfing, game room and pedal carts. There's a hot tub there too but it wasn't very hot lol. Still relaxing though lol.

The pics this time are from the pool/splashpark.

Day 1...Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho

We're back from our vacation. We had a great time and got a much needed time away together.

We couldn't check in til later in the afternoon on Monday so we left home early and went to one of the points of interest on our list. We took a mine tram tour of a PA coal mine, which was very interesting and educational. I'm not sure the boys cared about the educational part but they thought it was "wicked cool." The tram took us to the middle level of the mine I guess you'd call it. This meant we could look up gangways (emergency passages for the miners to climb if needed) and down into the ones to the lower level. The pictures just don't do justice to the scope of the length and incline of the gangways. The one we saw from above looking down into the deeper level of the mine was mind boggling. To point out how dangerous it could be the tour guide turned off all the lights and said, "Now find the Wishing Well (what it was called.)" In the picture you can see a grate over it but back when it was in use of course they couldn't block it off. Another thing that hit home for us all was the story of what they used for brakes on the mine carts (12 yr old boys used to stand along side the tracks and throw wood into the spokes to slow them down). We all really enjoyed the whole experience.

After the mine we checked into the campground. We had time to enjoy the pool and splash park and the boys rode bikes and pedal go-carts for a while.

Catching Up

Obviously I've been neglecting my blog. It's so strange how you can feel so busy and yet not feel like there's anything to write about. Anyway...here's what's been up in our lives since last I wrote.

Ty has been sick. Where he caught it I don't know but mono has been going around and he caught it. He's coming into week three of being down with it. He's been feeling pretty good for a while now so the hardest thing on him has been the restricted activities that go along with it. He's missed bike riding the most but is also upset because he'll be missing the first two soccer practices of the season.

I've been getting some big projects done around the house. Well, maybe not big but things above the normal daily routine. I took apart, cleaned, and fixed the ceiling fan in my room; hoed out Ty's closet, deep cleaned the kitchen, and prepared for a yard sale. Which we have yet to have. I've also managed to swing us a vacation! We're going to be camping at a campground that has a lot to do and where we got a great deal. We'll also be going to some attractions that are in that area as well. We're all really excited. We leave Monday and will be back Friday.

In amongst all of the yard sale prep, cleaning, and vacation planning and prep....I GOT AN INTERVIEW! I went this morning at 8:30. It's not a full time position (and I'm not even sure it's permanent), but it's perfect for me for this year. It's 4.5 hrs/day maximum but the hourly rate is GREAT so I'd have wonderful hours and still make the most money I've ever made in a year lol. The interview went well as far as I could tell but I don't have a feeling if I got it or not. If I don't it just wasn't meant to be. Of course I'll keep you posted!

There's been nothing more on J and L's case, though something MUST be happening soon. I have reason to think that the next hearing (goal change) will be happening within the next few weeks. As far as behavior goes things have settled down. Still no rages since visits have stopped. None. I HAVE figured out that although L is physically 4 and smart as the dickens, somehow behaviorally he is more like 18 months-2 years. He needs a lot of supervision. In my head I've seen this for a while now but it's really hit home this summer. Two cases in point: he recently had a sticker on as we got in our car. We hadn't left the parking lot from where he'd gotten it when I heard, "Mom, he ate his sticker." Then just a few days ago I had to take him to the ped to have his ear flushed because he'd stuck a piece of bird food in it. I know, I know. Lots of kids do that. But most do it earlier, like at 2. He's non stop and it can be exhausting, though I don't want to seem like I'm complaining. It just is what it is.

School starts a few days after we get back from our vacation. So we need to be getting ready for that as well. And in good news I was approved for a car loan so I will possibly be looking into getting something with more seating after things settle down a bit. Exciting times!

Fun(d) Raiser UPDATED

If you haven't already please check out Nate's blog. If he raises $3,000 or more for the the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by Friday August 8th he'll shave himself bald on the internet that night. MAYBE you have to be more involved to get as much of a kick out of this as I am but hey it's a great cause with some fun and humor thrown in! As of this morning they were already half way to their goal!

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Just wanted to let everyone know that Nate made his goal (and then some I think). On top of that it was a blast to watch!