Good Bye To Summer

Not to me, but the actual season.
This summer is coming to a close and it is high time I give it a little recap. I keep this blog as a sort of journal, and unlike some things I might like to forget, the summer of 2008 is not one of them.
We had a very busy summer. It started off with a trip to Branson, of course you all are aware of that, because you have had to look at the same post for two months. After that I was a volunteer camp counselor at Camp DaKani for a week. The kids absolutely loved this and are all fired up about next year. I did this with Camille, and I think we did a pretty good job. No child in our care had any life threatening injuries and I only complained about the heat three or four...OK, 15 times. Annaliese went to Camp Chaverim day camp for three weeks with her friend Charlie. She did pretty well with it, although she didn't want me getting all crazy and sign her up for next year just yet.
We had a few court things with Nathan, but still he has not made any decisions about what to do. Not that he has all the say, but he can make a few decisions for himself.
My mom, Don and I, and the kids went to Colorado to see my family. I met up with my father there. Yep, the same father I haven't spoken to in two years. It went as expected. We acted like nothing really happened. I was able to talk to him a little, but his attention span is shorter than Jacks, and he truly believes nothing is his fault. I am old enough now to know that I have to keep on going, let him have his faults, and quit blaming myself for our relationship short comings. I got to see my other half-brother Rudy on this trip. It was nice. He is a really good kid who is trying to find out who he is, and what he wants from life. I hope everything works out for him. Everyone got along well, and I am actually looking forward to some future get togethers.
To end the summer Don and I and the kids went to TX to celebrate Sandy's sister's 60th birthday. It was a surprise party, but I highly doubt she was actually surprised. It was a great time though, and I had fun being with Don's parents and brother. While we were there we visited Ikea. Huh, didn't know a place like that existed here on earth. Read these words... I will be back.
Annaliese is starting Kindergarten tomorrow. I am tha-rilled about this because she is bouncing off the walls after three months of unstructured leisure. And I know it is time for someone else to entertain her, because I am actually starting to feel guilty for not wanting to play train ride, camping, or any other make believe game that requires her to pack a bag and walk around the house. Because if I have to empty one more bag full of one more item from every tub, basket, puzzle, game, bath toy, doll, and make up container, I don't know what could happen. Anyway, I digress. Annaliese did learn to swim without floaties this summer. She has such a sense of freedom now in the pool. She jumps off the diving board and thinks she is hot shit. She's all wild, and tan, and free. Now, on to the boy.
JH learned over the summer that he has the power within himself to be a complete butt hole. You see kids, he was unaware of this for about 3 years. And then one day he woke up, and realized that, in fact, he did not have to clean up when asked, or eat all of his green beans, or that it was perfectly OK to try and strangle his sister. He also learned that he loves soccer and is all excited about playing on a team. A team I might add, that will be coached by his father and mother. Yep, watch out soccer world, 'cause here we come.
Lastly, I purchased a new refrigerator and got suckered into putting my house on the Mesta Park Holiday Home Tour. Whew. My fingers are tired.
I will post some pictures and soon as I find the little thingy that my card goes into.