Hello from Vacation!

This is a very significant post: It marks my first time blogging to you from anywhere other than home. Even though I got my MacBook back in April, I’ve never actually used it on the fly. Today I am at a coffee shop (with a very impressive tea selection) downtheCape, where we’re vacationing. We came down here under overcast skies on Friday (which perhaps contributed to the fairly easy ride) and then had a weekend consisting of two of the most stellar beach days I can recall—ever. Julie is finally old enough to really enjoy herself in the ocean, and the big breakthrough for Pete was discovering those “rash guard” swim shirts for him. He used to complain all the time about being cold or getting sandy. Now he just dives in—plus we don’t have to worry so much about him getting sunburnt (although I can’t say I don’t miss seeing that tan little body running around!). Steph is still the one who would spend all day in the water if we let her. We’ve also been swimming at Grandma and Grandpa’s pool, and Julie is delighted to show them that she can really swim now! It’s amazing what daily lessons at our neighborhood pool and at her camp* have done.

Yesterday we made our annual pilgrimage to our favorite toy shop, Kaleidoscope (heartbreakingly referred to by Julie as Colitis-Scope; she’s heard that word all too many times). The kids nag us about it incessantly, so we figured we’d get it over with early in the week. They so rarely get a gift “for no real reason” that it’s a huge treat for them to look forward to this. And last night we got a treat for ourselves: Grandma and Grandpa babysat so we could go out to dinner all by ourselves.

Every year I am reminded how much I love the outdoor shower here at Mark and Therese’s wonderful home. (I told Andy I want to install one at home.) That plus the hammock and ceiling fans and fried clams and Dairy Queen and happy, exhausted kids collapsing into bed every night . . . and I know we’re on vacation.

I miss Mr. Jones and Gracie, but I know they’re well cared for by our friends from across the street—who were more than happy to move in for the week and housesit/catsit in order to get away from the hell of having their house de-lead-paint-ized.

*It’s worth mentioning (what isn’t worth mentioning in this blog??) that all three kids had a really wonderful time at camp this summer. Four really happy weeks of sun and fun. I was a little worried for Steph, because she was barely lukewarm about her camp experience last summer, but things just fell into place for her this year. It didn’t hurt that she made a couple of good friends, but I think the key for her is having a counselor she can really connect with, and she did. Pete was with a bunch of school buddies, and camp is just made for someone like him. He positively thrives there. And Julie . . . I was so concerned about Julie! I feared that she’d cry when I left her with a bunch of strangers, but she loved every minute of camp. Every morning I drove away waving to her, smiling and holding hands with her counselor. Every afternoon when I picked her up, she said, “You don’t even have to ask: YES! I had a great day at camp today!” It doesn’t get any better than that for this mommy.

Comments

[scott]

Well look who's steppin' out! WiFi even?

[Janeen]

Happy kids=the best thing ever, I agree.