Summer Trippin

Summer vacation has brought our much anticipated annual pilgrimage to visit all things grand!

We started in Florida to visit with G&GM and got a quick and brutal introduction to the heat that is defining summer 2010. We had LOTS of fun and LOTS of pool time. Our daily schedule went something like ... wake up, swim ... snack, swim ... swim ... lunch, swim ...watch a movie inside while the daily Thunderstorm rolls through ... swim ... dinner, swim ... sleep. We diverted from that schedule only once when we headed to the sandy, yummy beach where the Gulf water temperature was 89 degrees! It was crazy warm, but still - somehow - refreshing. Who knows what the Florida beach will be like on our next visit, so we enjoyed it enough to last a long time.

We returned home for two weeks to start summer camps for both of the boys and practice breathing in 90 degree temperatures. #1 is turning into a little fish - swimming every day and working on his "real swimming". True to form he is all about the uniform and insists on having swim goggles with him at all times ... sometimes with a back up pair just in case. He is more experienced in the water than most of his camp-mates which has given him some special one-on-one instruction with one of the junior counselors. We hope this gives him an opportunity to enjoy learning strokes instead of the turbo speed dog paddle he's got going now.

#2 started "Kindercamp" and starts each day around the indoor (electric) campfire. He sings songs and plays games that are exactly what you would expect for summer camp. The groups of kids are mixed up in ages so there are 2-5 year olds working together on projects and such. He's been working on his big brother skills with the littlest guys and learning very little that his brother hasn't already taught him from the older guys.

In July, #2 got his special "big boy trip" to visit with his Grandma & Pops in Atlanta - ALL BY HIMSELF. Grandma flew up to DC to pick him up, then the two of them flew back together. Mr. Right and I have not had #1 to ourselves, as an "only child" since #2 was born three years ago. We had a fabulous time, as did he ... and we didn't spoil him rotten. #2, on the other hand was spoiled ROTTEN. He's been looking forward to this trip for a long time and has known that he had to be three years old before he could do it. So his birthday came and went in May and he said in his own way ... WTF? Where's the trip? I've never seen such a quick exchange of parent to grandparent at the airport when his Grandma flew up to get him. His bag was packed, shoes on, ready to go! I barely got a kiss good-bye.

After a few days alone we all flew to Atlanta and joined up with #2. He was happy to see us for about 10 minutes ... he then remembered that sharing was part of the deal that came with having a brother, as well as compromise and all kinds of other things that are not necessary when your brother and parents aren't around. I'll leave it at - there was an adjustment period.

After a day at the pool in Atlanta, we all drove up to the NC mountains and enjoyed some much cooler temperatures (thank goodness says Shamu - with child), family time with cousins, lots of golf cart rides, fishing, more pool time, a hike or two in the woods, a cruise on the boat and even a trip to the ER for a super bad cough. We had a wonderful and restful trip and did not want to come home. But, by the time our trip ended, I think we got everyone sick (love 3 and 5 year old germs) ... so I think we were not welcome anymore.

We've settled back into daily routines and 90+ degree days. There is still a lot of pool time to help everyone cool down and get some energy out while not turning into a sweaty, red faced mess. Some days #1 is too hot and tired for Tae Kwon Do - which is shocking to me. I get it, but he's usually so ready for anything ... especially punching and kicking. It makes me feel a little better about the pity party I throw my up 25 lb. self these days. It's freaking HOT here!

Thank you family for being such generous hosts ... and putting up with our chaos. I hope these fun boys remind you that it will be worth the additional *pink* chaos that comes with our next visit. All signs in the belly point to a female form of #1 ... I suggest you all rest up now.