Camp Update

I feel awful that I have not had any updates on the blog since we left. There are pictures on the Camp Cayuga sight that has the girls in many different activities..... Some of my updates...

I had to laugh... this was my day yesterday......

* - Wake up to rainy day - extend wakeup for camp
* - call rainy day activity
* - Deal with headlice of 6 campers
* - trek over to teen campus Infirmary for camper problems
* - back to jr. camp break up a fight of 4 campers one camper left with a boot mark on his back
* - have a meeting with the 4 head cooks. They are staging a mutiny - head chef storms off and slips and falls in kitchen
* - Get a call from another camp that 2 of our campers got injured at their camp during an intercamp game - Just Great!
* - did I mention I haven't even showered yet... or had lunch
* - Grab a piece of cold pizza from kitchen and eat it while driving around camp on golf cart
* - see the girls for the first time at about 4:30 - Lucy is crying wants to see me.. no time
* - Fire a cook
* - Have to get my big guys as back up as I feel like he wants to punch me.
* - Finally shower
* - miss dinner
* - Dress up as Heidi Klum for evening activity
* - go home put kids to bed in like 4 mins.
* - out to the quad, check on the campers
* - go to main house to look for burglars by myself!
* - go to bed at midnight
* - Lucy is up a few times in the night - with just a bad night

* 8am start all over

I guess, people that don't know camp dont get that I don't even have time to brush my teeth. There is a line out of my door and I am pulled in a million directions all throughout the day.

I am the Co-Director with Brian (the owner for you non campers) , so I am crazy busy, I of course play the bad cop to his good cop. But I knew that going into it.

I have manged to go out a few times at night. And you will be happy to know that I still got it. And have managed to beat everyone who challenges me to a chugging competion. It really bums out the young British counselors when I beat them. Oh well.

The girls are doing fantastic. Ruthie has really embraced camp life. She is begging me to sleep in the cabin, and if she hadn't stolen a girls sunglasses and tried to flush them down the toilet with her other friend yesterday... (Forgot to add that to the list) she might have been able to. Yeah, that conversation was great... "Ruthie kids at camp get sent to my office for this. Now I have to yell at you?"

Lucy has her days, she is really coming out of her shell but still gets overwhelmed at all the chanting, screaming and loud evening activities. She thinks people are going to "get her" or hurt her. She loves campfires and playing with her friends, but really struggles to like the food, and to have down time.

I have had 10 hours since I have been here that I have been off duty. That includes, nights weekends what have you. So I feel a little run down. I have to give the nanny some time off soon so hopefully I may manage to get out of here. I have lost all track of days and times!

Re-reading the above may sound bad, we are REALLY having fun, it is just alot of work for me, and hard to balance everyone and everything, but I am super pumped to be using my brain again for something that I truly enjoy and am good at!

Hopefully pictures and stuff soon!

Alligator Farm

Feeding the 9 ft alligators.

We made the regular trip to the Alligator farm. This place is totally nuts. Perhaps it is the crazy alligator trainer that makes it nuts. The girls loved holding, feeding, and playing with the many alligators.

GROSS!

Ruthie the Gymnast

Ruthie had her recital for gymnastics this past week. She did SOO good. She was really the strongest kid, and the teacher mentioned several times that she had the most strength. And that she really flies! In the video you can here one of the moms even say.... Wow, that was really good.

She has truly enjoyed the challenge of gymnastics as she is not supper flexible. But what she lacks in flexibility she makes up for with strength. She has been moved up to the next level in gymnastics and she is super excited to be part of the "pre-team" group for another year!

The video started just after she pulled herself over the bar for her routine. So proud!

Day at the Lake

We spent a day at our friends house on the lake over Memorial Day. It was a glorious weekend filled with friends, sunshine, and fun. The girls played with friends, the adults hung out in the water most of the day because it was hotter than anything. Simon lost his sunglasses on the jet ski. Ruthie stalled the jetski (driven by Julie). Lucy collected about 10 pounds of seashells.

As I was lounged out in the back of the boat, going to collect Simon who stalled the jetski... (i.e. fell off and couldn't figure out how to start it) I realized, I am really looking forward to camp, but I am REALLY going to miss Michigan, my lazy summer lifestyle, and most importantly....My friends!

Ruthie the Soccer Star

Ruthie has really been enjoying soccer this year. She usually scores a couple of goals a game and is literally all over the field. Her most recent game was in the middle of a 95* day. The heat didn't slow her down. I managed to capture her scoring a goal.

Hitting the Road

The girls and I will be going to camp this summer! We are all really excited! Ruthie is determined to be the camper of the year! Lucy is apprehensive but excited to "ride horses and swim". I am excited to put my brain to good use and not cook a meal or do dishes. Simon will miss us but will be extremely busy finishing his Master's Program, traveling for work and school and coming to visit us for a while too!

Stay tuned for updates from Honesdale as we leave in just a few weeks! Better start packing!

Way to Go Marty!

My little brother Marty graduated from Law School a few weeks ago, and already passed the Bar Exam! He is totally awesome. We were so glad we got to go to go to his graduation and celebrate the special day with him!

I am ALWAYS bad at this stuff with Marty and by bad, I mean, as soon as I see him in a cap and gown I start crying and I can't stop! His undergrad, Simon multiple times had to tell me "get yourself under control, you are embarrassing me" He is my little brother and I couldn't be more proud of him and ALL his major accomplishments! I was somewhat under control just a few crying moments. The girls loved cheering for Marty as he crossed the stage.

Just a totally awesome day!

Martin Regis and Lucy Martin

Maybe she will follow in her Godfather's footsteps!

Mother's Day

*** Realized never posted these pics by the fabuulous Amy*****

What a fabulous Mothers Day!

Woke up at 9:15am to breakfast in bed.

Family trip to Lowes.

Lunch and shopping with awesome friend Amy

Home from shopping to empty clean house.

Took a loonngg nap.

Woke up to flowers from the girls

Kickball game against the neighbors

Filet dinner with potatoes

Simon bathed, kids and put them to bed while I went to Target

Bought book from my favorite Author

In bed asleep by 9:45pm

I have the best husband and wonderfufl girls and I am so happy to be their Mama.

Going to a Meeting

Lucy put on all her jewels, her favorite skirt and had on her purse with the doggie in it, and asked me.... "Mama, can you babysit my baby while I go to my meeting?"

I guess that is the interesting part of my life as a stay at home mom. I go to the gym, but I bring them and they go to the childwatch. Other than that I NEVER leave. I am always here 24/7. The thing I tend to do on my own without the girls is go to meetings. Ruthie has colored me pictures and told me I could take them with me to my meetings. I tend to have to get sitters while I go to meetings if they are a lunch meeting, or if it is at night while Simon is traveling I have to get a sitter.

They know that daddy works and have been to his work, knows he does great stuff with the youth of today, has a beautiful campus, we even go to their church services and bike rides when the weather is nice. Yet, they can't seem to wrap their heads around my meetings.

While, I am sure that many of my groups would not mind having my girls come "visit". I am sure the girls would be bored and it wouldn't do it justice. So for the time being while they "play" meetings... I will try to not let it drive me crazy. I will just find comfort in the fact that alot of what I am involved in is making just as much of a difference as Simon, I just don't get paid for it. I really don't know why it does, maybe cuz it sounds like I am going to a 12 step program meeting. *** Which is great, if people attend and go, just not what I am doing.

* Junior League, and the board for the JL, social committee for the club, now this new giving circle which will be giving grants to non-profits in our area, and my Triathlon Training group.

TGIF

Been way to long since my last post. Having no computer really makes it hard to post.

Updates....

* We had an AMAZING camp weekend with old friends in NJ. We drove to Ohio dropped off the kids, then drove to NJ.

* We calculated almost 30 hours in the car over a 5 day period. While we needed to have a car to do all we did, that was obscene and I am just now starting to feel human after that trip.

* The consumption combined with all the driving... (NOT AT THE SAME TIME) could have something to do with the exhaustion too! Not alot of sleep occurred.

* The drive out Simon and I didn't listen to any music and talked over 8 hours. I love being married to my best friend. I guess it was good to talk in the car because once we were with all our old friends, I felt like I never even saw him the entire weekend.

* The weekend was all about my great roommate/friend Ken. I think he as surprised and had tons of fun.

* Mary Cay hosted all of us crazy cats and she once again proved why she totally is "Julie the cruise director". Simon and I both laughed we were so busy catching up with everyone, we kept laughing going....where did this food come from it would always just appear. We really felt like we were on vacation. Next time we promise to help a little.

* Our friends Vicki and Tony surprised at Mary Cay's. What a treat. Great as always to see them. I just don't think they had any idea all the camp faces they were going to see!

* Erin said the party was like "speed dating" and that was the best way to describe it. You wanted to catch up with everyone and yet you didn't have time to talk and it was loud and everyone was telling stories. I felt like I didn't get enough time to talk to everyone properly.

* Chris passed me a note through someone else that said... "meet me in the front yard at 7:30 BYOB" that pretty much sums it up. If you wanted to talk to someone you had to make an appointment.

* We got to meet Debi's little baby Adam. He is super cute. I was afraid to hold him cuz I thought maybe babies were contagious.

* I literally took 5 pictures of camp. I was so bummed. I really wished I had some great black and whites to hang in our house. Maybe next time.

* The five pictures I did take.....4 pictures of the Camp sign....... And 1 picture of Kens Butt. Some things never change.