Science Camp & VBS

Markie and Lizzy both have camps this week. Markie did the first three days of Vacation Bible School at our church, he seemed to enjoy it once I convinced him to stay, he had some separation issues when I dropped him off. Anyways, Markie was talking last night about how Jesus walked on water, and yesterday he was alone in his room on his bed and when I asked him what he was doing, he said he was praying quietly in his head. Very nice, however he is unable to complete the last two days of VBS. Yesterday, when I picked up Markie and Alex they had "lost" Alex and could not find him. They did not know if he was even in the church. The especially upsetting part of the whole situation was that there was no intensity in the search for Alex, like it was not really that big of a deal because he always "runs off". He could have been anywhere, but he was finally found in the bathroom. Needless to say, Markie and Alex are not going back if they can't keep the kids safe, forget it. It is a real bummer, it is hard to express in this blog just how upsetting it was to have Alex lost. Equally upsetting the lack of security and safety for the kids at VBS.

Lizzy is loving Science Camp. It is 8:30 - 3:30 all week. Did you know how the frisbee flying disc got its name? From WIlliam Russell Frisbee, a pie baker who put his name on the bottom of his pie pans. After his pies were eaten, kids would play catch with his pie pans! They are learning how to be creative and invent things as well as about recycling and helping the environment. Did you know that one gallon of motor oil can contaminate up to one million gallons of water. That's why we must dispose of it properly. Oh, in her picture she is a super hero, that was the dress up theme of the day for Tuesday.

First time on the medal stand

Lizzy had a big gymnastics weekend. The first three pics are from the Grand Canyon State Games where Lizzy posted her highest scores ever on three events. It was a smaller meet, and she made it onto the podium for the awards. She was so excited, after they are given the medals the announcer says, gymnasts salute, and Lizzy held her pose for a really long time, she was so proud of herself.

Friday night was the end of the year awards banquet and they distribute all the team trophies among the girls. Lizzy got the second place trophy from the first meet she competed in, so it is really special to her. It was their largest trophy of the season. She is very proud, it has held a coveted spot on our kitchen counter since we brought it home. What the hell am I going to do with that thing when she goes to college????

More corn please.

Markie loves corn on the cob. He had two ears for lunch today. He really does not care how fresh it is, as long as it has a lot of salt on it he is happy. He started vacation bible school today and really seemed to have a good time. Alex is in his class and he is having fun also, I guess Alex loved duck duck goose today.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there. My dad called me this morning to thank me for the gift he got this morning from Kim and I. We went in together on a reel for him to fish with. I am in Washingon D.C. on a really long layover, Dad is in Yuma, he night fished last night til 3 a.m. with Steve and Chris. Anyways, I am thankful my dad is here for me to talk to on Father's Day. He has had some health scares lately. He is 65 years old now. Wow, he is getting up there in age.

Mark is home with the kids today since I am on the road. I guess Lizzy was waiting for him to wake up to say Happy Father's Day this morning. We wrapped presents and made cards before I left town the other day. As far as I know they have given him almost all of his gifts including a personalized soft sided cooler with a 6 pk of his favorite beer on ice. He still has one more gift in the freezer, hand packed ice cream with four mix ins from Cold Stone. I think they are giving it to him later. I will be home very late tonight. Mark is a great dad. He may not clean the house when I am gone, but he does a great job with the kids, takes them wherever they need to go, plays with them a lot. He took Lizzy, Markie, and Ben to a water park (Bella stayed with Kim) last night for a party Lizzy's gymnastics center threw for all the team kids. It sounds like they had a great time. He was right there in the water with them playing the whole time.

It's not just the price of gas that is rising.

I went to Target with Lizzy and Bella today to kill time while Markie was in his two hour sports mania class. With the price of gas I just couldn't drive back home for such a short time, so off to Target! We went straight to the snack bar where I ordered my usual popcorn and soda combo for a buck for Bella and I to share and a hot dog and soda for 2 bucks for Lizzy. Well, the total was 3.79, I asked what went up in price, the popcorn and soda combo is now 1.60. The lady looked at me like I was really,really cheap, but hey, it had been a buck for so long I was a bit surprised at the increase. Anyways, I got my money out and paid. Then the story gets really good. Lizzy gets a 1.29 ice cream as we get up to shop, we make it no further than the dollar section when she drops the whole thing in the cart. So now I have to go buy another one. I don't know how much I spent in that damn snack bar but I am pretty sure it wouldn't have cost that much in gas to go home. We did have fun in Target, Lizzy had her first day of basketball camp this morning and needed some new shorts and socks. She absolutely refused to shop in the boys department for a basketball style shirt, so she just got shorts and socks. She wouldn't even buy boys socks. I guess the sneakers Mark got her yesterday are boys, and she let me know today that was the only boys thing she was getting. Did I mention out of the twenty kids in bball camp she was the only girl?

Squat on

Lizzy got her squat on at camp this week. Mark caught it on his cell phone video camera. Lizzy came home from camp this morning. She seems to have gotten two years older in 6 days. Within twenty minutes of being home she asked me if Santa was real. She also told me she is sure the Easter Bunny is not real. This is what I get for sending her to overnight camp at age 7.

ASU CAMP

Lizzy is on her third day of her ASU Gymnastics camp. I dropped her off on Sunday and she is there until Friday. Yes, she is sleeping there too. I went to drop in on practice yesterday to see how she was doing and was quite impressed with the camp, you can see pics of Lizzy on the website and post her a message under the guest book tab. http://www.sundevilgymnasticscamp.com/ On the home page with the group picture she is third row up dead center, eight girls on either side of her. She has bangs now so she looks different. She is in several of the other pics from the first day in a blue leo. Anyways, back to the camp, she seems to be having fun. I guess the nights have been tough on her and the first two nights has ended up in a 14 year old counselor's room named Katie. Thank you Katie! Anyways, I have had two cryptic phone calls with her on a friend's cell phone, and it sounds like she is having fun. When I dropped in yesterday, her roommate Moji told me they eat meals at a nearby dorm and it is buffet style all you can eat. I guess that is exciting for them. I ate at that dorm a few times my freshman year, Manzy, I guess the food has improved over the last twenty years. Anyways, here are a few pics I snapped yesterday and when I dropped her off Sunday. Sure is quiet around her without Lizzy. I don't want to sound like a bad mom, but it has been very peaceful without the high maintenance princess in the house. Thank you ASU!!!!