Sun, Fun and Love

CAMP

Growing up I always loved the idea of Summer Camp (what girl hasn't put herself right smack dab in the middle of the movie Parent Trap).  Most of my childhood Summer's were spent playing softball, which I don't regret one bit, but that left little time for Camp of any kind.  


So truth be told I may have been living just a little vicariously through Carter last week as she embarked on her very first week of Summer Camp at T Bar M.  I We had so much fun coming up with an outfit for each of the theme days.  Picking up where we left off after Superhero Day came a Luau...

Followed by Camo day...

Emme was dying to get in on the face painting action...

Carter had the best time hooking up with her buddies each morning...

It was easy to see by this photo that I found on the website day three of camp she was having an absolute ball...

The last day of Camp Carter put on her Omega gear and was ready for action...

Later that day we joined her at Camp for the closing ceremonies.  Her "Coach" was adorable and said the nicest things about my little girl.  You know the things that make you really proud as a Mama.  The things that make you feel like you can get away with sending your little person out into the world unattended. I may have shed a tear or two...

Carter, this week we were all SO proud of you.  You rocked your first week of Camp and we can't wait to make it a Summer tradition!

Faster than a Speeding Bullet

More powerful than a locomotive...

Able to leap tall buildings (or maybe just red pickup trucks) in a single bound (don't try this one at home folks)...

Do do do do do do do do...do do do do do DOO DO doo...It's S U P E R G I R L!

She flew straight into day two of camp...

Not even Kryptonite could have stopped her...

Oh, and did I mention she's cool?  

Rest well tonight my friends...

You're safe and sound under the watchful eye of Supergirl!

Today

Today Carter woke up early and got dressed lickety split.  Today was a big deal.  Today was the a day she's been looking forward to all Summer.  Today was her very first day of camp...

On our way to drop her off for the bus she said, "Mom!  I have butterflies!"  But I'm pretty sure they melted away the second we got there...

My butterflies stuck around.  It's not everyday you stick your baby on a school bus and send her down the highway...

I took a deep breath said a prayer and trusted the fact that I know even when I'm not around she's in the very best hands (they just so happen to belong to this cool dude I know named Jesus).  Emme and I weren't quite sure what to do with ourselves.  So we made some funny faces to pass the time away...

And before we knew it our happy camper was back!  Her only complaint was needing more "bus snacks".  Problem solved...

Today was a good day.

Teardrops in the Rain

This week we had a nice break from the triple digits with several rainy days.  Getting out of bed is just a little harder on gray days.  I could have easily slept the morning away but these little sleepy heads were insisting I feed them breakfast...

I remember why I loved the rain so much when we first moved to Washington.  In Texas rainy days (especially consecutive ones) are few and far between and I always enjoy them.  We did a little singing in the rain (fans make the best microphones)...

And there was also a heck of a lot of peeing in the rain going on...

June's not the only one we're "training" Emerson has also decided she kind of likes the idea of big girl panties (we're not in full force but giving it a go when she's interested)...

There were goggles in the rain...

Ice cream in the rain...

And unfortunately there were teardrops in the rain...

My sweet little Carter.  She can be stubborn but she also has once of the most precious hearts.  We had gotten home Monday and I'd been on the phone for a little bit.  When I hung up she came out of her room and I could tell she had been crying.  I asked her what was wrong and she burst into tears again.  Through her sobs I could barely make out, "I miss Jaden and Hudson."  Time is a hard thing for kids to understand and I'm pretty sure right now a year feels like forever.  I'm thankful she loves well but unfortunately that sometimes comes with a little pain too...

Don't worry baby.  One thing I know about rain is it can't last forever and the sun will shine again.  I love you!  Mama

Spur of the Moment

Friday night it was 6:15 and we were poolside.  I was unintentionally eavesdropping on conversations around me and overheard someone mention the Circus.  I was instantly disappointed realizing they were in town and I had totally meant to talk to Nate about going...fail.  I hopped on my trusty IPhone hoping to score last minute Craigslist tickets for the next day but could only find people selling them for that night...for the show that started in an hour and 15 minutes.  


Like I said we were at the pool...we weren't "planning" on going...WE are not spur of the moment people.  But suddenly Nate was saying, "Let's do it" and we were throwing our stuff in the car.  The next hour was a wet suit changing, dog feeding/hurry up and poop and peeing, car snack making, drive as fast as you can to meet random man for tickets...blur.  It was fun, uncharacteristic and we had the best time at the circus...

Thanks Nate for being a memory maker :).  I love that about you...

Fireworks, Questions and Goodbye's

Things have been "popping" around here this last week!  First up fireworks.  We had a good ol' fashioned backyard cookout to celebrate the fourth...  

Kim and Bryan brought the fun and set up a badminton net...

There is no shortage of competition around here and the girls took on the boys...

Our little fans chanted "Go girls GO!" from the trampoline... 

But we lost...sad.  Oh well, better luck next time.  With darkness came the opportunity to teach our kids all about playing with fire...

Thanks for being born America we were happy to celebrate you!

Fireworks aren't the only thing that got popped this week.  He popped the question and she said yes (of course)...

I'm so happy for my sister.  I mean really really happy...

It was a sweet day and I'm so glad that we got to be a part of it.  I'm also so glad that this girl was there...

It wouldn't have been the same without you Cayce.  Our best buddies are off for a year long Hawaiian adventure and I can safely say, after they've been gone for a mere 72 hours, we are going to miss them like crazy.  We did our best to squeeze in as much "togetherness" as we possibly could before they left.  Going away parties, pool dates, and celebrating Hudson and Claire at a dual birthday party...

Cayce has always been "Kim's best friend" but she has very much become one of mine as well.  Saying goodbye is sad especially when it is to those that are such a seamless part of your lives...  

It is hard to imagine what our lives will look like without the Harris family in it.  I'm happy for the perspective the military life has given me.  A year will fly by (at least I sure hope so) and we will all be together again.  I know the only thing that will have changed is the fact that they'll have had an amazing adventure in the mean time.  Thanks for being "our people" guys, we love you...

  
On second thought...goodbye's kind of suck.  We may be visiting Hawaii in the very near future!!