Sunday - Just relax
Monday - WORK 5, Karate, Soccer VBS (S,J), Soccer Camp (D)
Tuesday - WORK?,  Soccer VBS (S,J), Co-op Registration Day, Soccer Camp (D)
Wednesday - WORK 5, Soccer VBS (S,J), Massage (L)
Thursday - WORK 5, Karate,  Soccer VBS (S,J), Soccer Camp (D)
Friday - WORK 5,  Soccer VBS (S,J), Soccer Camp (D)
Saturday - Book Club (Shakespeare in the Park!)
Sunday -

James had a good time at his nature camp. He liked the canoes the best. The class was small and he knew several kids from co-op and soccer. He reconnected with a boy that was in Spanish class and they'd like to get together sometime.

James and Suzy wanted to go to VBS this week at the church we sometimes attend and it turned out to be a very nice VBS, although very small. So they were there 3 hours each night. Suzy missed the last night because she was invited to spend the night with a friend.

David and I went on Saturday afternoon with friends to see Captain America -a GREAT movie! We went out to dinner afterwards and had a nice time.

Karate on Monday was "ninja training" - kind of a fun day instead of training. But Thursday, headquarters canceled classes due to the Excessive Heat Warning. So we only had karate one time. We skipped the karate picnic in favor of getting some things done around the house. It's not often we have a Saturday free and so we completed some long overdue chores. We need to work hard through the next month to get ready for testing at the end of August.

This week brings more VBS for James and Suzy. It's the annual Soccer Camp/VBS that we have done for a few years now. David also has soccer camp 4 nights this week - it's soccer conditioning and not so much fun, really; so keep him in your prayers as it's going to be very hot and probably humid.

Our homeschool co-op registration is Tuesday - a full day for me as I will be there the whole time working. It's nice to see all our friends from co-op, many of whom we don't see during the summer. Plus we get to meet the new families and see what classes everyone is choosing.

And Wednesday - I get my first massage ever! There's a massage school in Lapeer and they charge just $10! Bob has been there twice.

I completed week 5 of my 10K training, though the heat meant I didn't do as much exercise as I intended. I did my first full 4 mile run though with a few bits of walking. I'm getting there! I picked a 10K the first weekend of October, so I am on track with training and I will probably give myself another week or two of repeats so I am ready at the right time.

We're considering a trip to Lake Michigan - will it be camping or a hotel? Or will we decide on Lake Huron instead? Or Mackinac? Gotta nail that down here soon. We have one free weekend before the end of summer. It actually wasn't free, but I un-committed myself from something I didn't really need to do and made it free. So we will travel SOMEPLACE that weekend!

July is the Busiest Month...

So, we're camping this weekend - first trip of the year for us and camping with friends! YaY!

And today is the end of June, so I am looking ahead to July and I am a teensy bit overwhelmed!

So, we will spend the first 4 days of July camping. Which meant I spent the last day of June preparing for it and I'll spend several days cleaning up from it! And then cap it off with a Beach Day.

What else do we have in store? Oh, you just wait.  Keep in mind, of course, that I work 4-5 hours every day. We have our regular twice-a-week commitment to karate. I am trying to work out 6 days a week. This is usually enough to fill my days.

But no! There's more!

The second weekend of July is more camping - Cousin Camp, which sounds SO FUN!

The second week of July brings soccer camp for the boys - 4 evenings that week. Suzy is doing Field School at the nature center that week Tues-Fri from 9-2. I am selling books in a used book sale that Thursday, which means I have to drive down to drop the books OFF on Wed. David is going to a martials arts tactics camp that weekend and I am going scrapbooking.

That throws us wildly into the third week of July. This week is James' turn at the Nature Center Tues-Fri from 9-3. He'll miss Beach Day that week. James and Suzy want to go to a VBS in the evenings this week. That weekend is blessedly FREE ... for now.

So I get a little breather before jumping into the fourth week of the month, which holds four more nights soccer camp for David and James, a soccer VBS at night for Suzy, CO-OP registration (which somewhere in there I have to help prepare for and spend a day working at). I get a $10 massage this week too, which I have a feeling I am going to really NEED!

The month ends pleasantly with a Book Club trip to see Shakespeare in the Park and go out for GELATO. And I already read the book!

By the end of July I will be running 5 miles easily, according to my training plan. 

Whew! Thankfully, August isn't so busy!

And did you notice? Emily has NOTHING TO DO! Anyone want to occupy Emily?

Weekly Preview

Well, this week looks to be busier. James and Suzy are going to an evening VBS/Soccer Camp every night. I have two soccer meetings at night, getting coaches ready for the new season. There's a library program and a movie in the park and if the weather is nice that night, maybe we'll swim beforehand. The girls' Keepers at Home group is having a campout on Saturday night - no running water, no electricity. I am camping along with them - roughing it!

I need to get some work done this week - noveling, querying, job applications, etc... And I'll take Emily to order new glasses. What else? Four workouts, grocery shopping, the normal stuff and I'm sure there is more I'm leaving out!

Sunday - Church, Relax
Monday - Work, Soccer VBS (J,S)
Tuesday - Work, Science Alive @ library (E,J,S), Soccer VBS, Soccer meeting (L)
Wednesday - Work, Soccer VBS, Youth Pool Party (D)
Thursday - Work, Soccer VBS, Soccer meeting (L), Movie in the Park: Horton Hears a Who.
Friday - Work, Soccer VBS
Saturday - Keepers Campout (L,E,S)

Manic Monday

The family picnic was awesome!

Whoa, I just had some major deja vu! Yikes. OK, I am apparently doing stream-of-consciousness posting here tonight.

We spent all day Sunday with my family. Will have photos and a report later. Since mostly my family reads this, they were all there and don't need a report! LOL

Monday we hung around my parents' house until nearly noon and then headed home. Got home to unpack the car and head out again for the kids' dental appointments.

No cavities! YAY! One orthodontic referral. One oral surgeon referral. Boo!

Headed over to get David's new glasses - 2 pair! He loves them!

Headed home. By now, we've logged almost 4 hours in the car today, but it's not over.

Had PBJ and pea pods for dinner and then headed out to our homeschool group's fundraiser at DQ - yep Dairy Queen! It was so nice to see so many people there! Then we had a kickball game together at a local park. A nice evening!

Total hours in car: nearly 5!

This is a busy week. The local fair, a night of VBS, beach day, co-op registration, the Jane Austen Book Club. I want to get some work done too. Plus there is BREAKING DAWN to read! lol

KICK! Soccer Camp Revisited

Soccer Camp was AWESOME! I am so glad I got to be there tonight to see it! James and Suzy were very blessed to be a part of it.

This was a soccer camp/vacation Bible school, so the kids had songs, stories, skits, etc... along with their soccer skills training and games. High Power Soccer Camp is the name and evidently it's created by AWANA. This is the second year we've participated and I hope they do it again next year.

Tonight, we all started in the sanctuary where the kids sang the songs they learned this week, led by the high-energy VBS organizer and accompanied by a 4 person band. Uncle Mac came out and did a skit with two kids - very professional! A Bible lesson was given by a bubbly young woman who taught the kids about Growing in Christ - she did a science experiment too. Uncle Mac came back out and did another experiment that illustrated the lesson. They gave away 9 science kits as prizes tonight.

Then the kids went with their leaders into small groups to discuss the lesson. Afterwards the whole group had pictures taken and we headed over to the fields where they started with relay races and ended with soccer games vs. the parents and teens. Water was freely available; snacks were provided. Then back into the church for ice cream.

Each child got a t-shirt and soccer ball. Cost for the whole thing? $10 per child. [or maybe it was $15? Now I am second-guessing myself, but too lazy to go look. lol ..... Ok, I looked it up. It was $15.]

I didn't get any pictures of it, but maybe someone who was there will have some for me. I ran into LOTS of people I know. We did AWANA at this church for 2 years and several homeschooling families I know also attended the camp.

FUN! So glad I took the night off for this.