(Oops-guess I did not send this one out-I keep waiting to catch Tom so he can put in some photos). It certainly was quiet around here with Allison gone to GS camp. Tom and I caught the Public Enemy movie with Johnny Depp Friday afternoon before Allison came home. Tom was disappointed that they didn't spend more time getting to let us know more about the characters. Allison arrived home on Friday evening very tired and dirty. But she had a wonderful time at Assateague. Her and her friend Jenna went crabbing and caught a crab, they caught creatures in a net in the bay, they went on a birding hike early in the morning through the dunes, swam in the ocean, played mini golf at Ocean City, but most of all they were just in awe of all the wild ponies roaming freely around their camp and the island. I was sure Allison would have loved to have packed a foal in her backpack and brought it home with her. So she definitely wants us to go back. Even the bugs weren't too bad she says but her legs look pretty eaten up by mosquitoes. She is busy recuperating this afternoon. Not only from a long week of communing with nature, but also from her camping sleepover birthday party that we had last night with 8 of her friends from school. Of course , noone actually slept. We set up a tent in the backyard for the girls, but since we had threats of Tstorms we decided to move them into the basement to "sleep". But the camping theme went off well-they went on an alphabet scavenger hunt through the neighborhood, looking for items that began with every letter of the alphabet. They are very creative(so are our neighbors apparently) and they all did very well, each earning their very own marshmallow roasting stick. Allison and I bought a big fire pit and Scott collected wood from our neighbor so we could have a bonfire in the driveway and roast marshmallows. After eating hot dogs and hamburgers, they each made s'mores(to go along with the s'more cupcakes that Allison made). We found a great recipe in the Woman's world magazine. The girls also played Grandpa Seitz's bean bag toss game and Allison won(naturally). And to keep the girls occupied, we bought a movie DVD player for outside. The girls all watched RV on a homemade screen that Tom set up in the backyard while munching on popcorn. It was a lot of fun(and surprisingly quiet). They actually put down their cell phones to watch the movie! We just had a brief interruption when I discovered the cat had gotten out of the house and a fox was stalking her in the front yard! I found her when we all heard the fox screeching. It sounds a little like someone is killing your kid. Pika was sitting outside our fence, safe and sound though, (much to Tom's dismay). She quickly returned to the house.
So after making all the girls pancakes and bacon, we sent them off so Allison and I could get a nap! Scott had his own sleepover at the neighbors house and they spent the next day playing. The boys can't get enough of each other. They only get to see each other in the evening since Scott is gone during the day at camp. He really enjoyed another week at the YMCA, this time taking extra swim lessons. He loved all the extra time in the pool, and then a carnival on Friday with sno cones(he was missing out from the 4th of July concert), bounce house, kettle corn and face painting. He'll be back this week with a science theme.
Allison will be heading to her intermediate field hockey camp in hopes of getting better prepared for the fall tryouts at Mt Hebron. I was up to her school this week talking to the counselors about her classes. They have the whole building tore up since they are remodeling. It should be done by the time Allison graduates. The school district fought for a whole new building, but the county decided to save some money and just remodel. What a mess. The high school was originally built as a jr high building and is over 40 yrs old. Over the years they just added on and it looks like a mish mash of building styles and dead end hallways. They still have chalk boards in the classrooms! But I hear so do the catholic high schools where most of Allison's classmates are going in the fall. Her new school is supposed to get an update, including the technology.
And as if the kids weren't busy enough, I dragged Scott and Allison off to a cub scout fishing tournament on Sat morning. We fished at a local lake in one of our parks. I have taken the kids there before to fish and we caught a whole bunch of sunfish, but that was in the fall. The fish just weren't biting that well(we needed Grandpa Seitz and Mark and Eric's fish guide I think!). But this was strictly shoreline fishing and I think most of the fish have moved off where the water is cooler. Anyhow, Scott still caught 4 small fish and Allison 2 and Scott's Troop took 5th out of 10th place for most amount of fish caught. For those that caught the biggest fish, they had very nice fish trophies and prizes. The grand prize was a half day fishing trip on the Chesapeake Bay! All for 5bucks registration. Not bad. Maybe next year I will have to get a fishing license. I was just too busy this time pulling fish off the line and baiting the kids hooks. Meanwhile, Scott discovered they also had a contest for most amount of trash collected at the lake at the end of the tournament, and he took home 2nd place! He won himself a very nice handyman tool set, and they gave him a second set for picking up the most cigarette butts! That is definitely a contest he enjoys since he usually loves swapping in trash at the Y camp for candy bars at the end of the week.
So now I am off to do laundry-Allison brought home a whole bunch! And I need to do laundry so I can pack for our trip to Michigan next week! We are looking forward to our visit to Charlevoix and the lake house. Allison will be staying there for the 3 weeks afterwards with Grandma and Grandpa Bozyk. She is looking forward to her 4H sailing lessons that she will be taking in August. Tom will then be picking her up since he has to travel to Uof M to teach a class.
Doesn't look like we will be having any family or friends visiting at that time however this year. Well if anyone changes their mind, you know where we will be!
Happy 14th Birthday Allison and Cousin Nicholas Bozyk!