Summer Wrap-up

I know summer's flame is nearly extinguished when it's time to go camping with our friends again.  Going camping is a great experience for Mykey and Kitty - they hop in the car one morning and go camping.  Going camping is a much different experience for Booney - Booney spends days and days organizing, shopping, meal prepping, and loading the car.

Booney is tired on the morning Mykey and Kitty hop in the car to go camping.

I always have a bad attitude about our annual camping trip.  I have a bad attitude right up until camp is completely set up and we're lighting our first fire. Then I'm happy to be camping.

But only for 2 nights.  2 nights and not one second more.

We went to Tumalo State Park again this year.  I wished we had gone someplace new just for a change of scenery.  I also wished that Mykey had not hurt his back days before our departure.  It was a painful trip for him and I had to do all the things he usually does.  Like getting in the FREEZING cold river with Kitty.  She's one cat who does not hate water.  Booney hates water.

Despite our little setbacks, we had a nice camping trip.  It's fun to get away for a few days and just be together. 

Farewell Summer!  You were good to us this year!

Traadition! Traadition!

I've been going to my sissy's house every summer for many moons.  I went for many moons before I had Kitty, and now Kitty gets to come along.  Actually, Kitty ditches me for a few days and goes on her own, and then I get to come along later. 

Someone is invading my territory.

Who can blame her really?  My sissy's house is the best. 

Kayaking and paddle boarding!

Silverwood amusement park!

Indoor camping! (My nephew graciously slept in the tent with her and read The Hobbit aloud)

Mini golf!

Yummy Boba drinks! (My first Boba experience)

Rock wall!

A whole box of Zotz!  A whole box!

Watching my sissy race in a triathlon! (I spectated with my brother-in-law while eating popcorn and drinking a soda.  We didn't want to be mistaken for athletes.)

We also sit around and talk and eat. It's wonderful. No wonder I go every year.

Traadition! Traadition!

Normal?

I thought it would be a good idea to read some child-development books so I can better understand my child.  Here's what I learned:

Cats are supreme tree-climbing hunters, with strongly muscled backs and hindquarters that give them tremendous power to jump - either horizontally or vertically.  It's normal for cats to jump and climb to high places as they explore their environment.

There's nothing to be concerned about; Kitty is perfectly normal.

Come back!

It was beautifully sunny and nearly too hot outside a few days ago.  The next day, Summer tipped his hat and exclaimed, "See ya later, suckers!" and hopped a flight to Florida.

What a jerk.

But...we made the most of Summer while he was around.  It was a gorgeous and eventful few months around our place.  It was truly a joy having my Kitty home with me again and I savored our days together.

This summer we had lots of adventures.  "Like what," you ask?  Well, like:

The beach!

The zoo!

Playdates!

The State Fair!

The library!

Super Mario World!

Morning exercise!

 And taking hundreds of selfies!

It was a fantastic summer indeed.  I still need to tell you about our trip to Idaho and camping in Bend.

I know you just can't wait!

It's Time

I always know when summer has officially arrived - my niece comes to visit!  This year marked her 7th summer in a row.  I made it very clear this year that even though she is graduating from high school in the spring, she is not excused from summer visits.  In fact, I expect her to still be here every summer in the future with her 5 kids in tow.

It's just how it is.

I love it when Britta comes.  Kitty loves it when Britta comes.  Mykey loves it when Britta comes.  Aika loves it when Britta comes.  You know who doesn't love it when Britta comes?  Britta's mom - because then her house is quiet.  Too bad for her.

It's just how it is.

When Britta comes, we talk and laugh and lay in bed and eat and laugh and talk and she teaches me teenager lingo.  Life seems less stressful with her around.  It's one of my favorite times of the entire year.  Here are some of the things that we did this time around.

We ate sushi.  LOTS of sushi.

We fulfilled Britta's lifelong dream and went to Chuck E. Cheese's.  She earned fifty million tickets on the Barrel of Monkeys game and spent them all on cotton candy - which she shared with Kitty.

We climbed the steps to the top of the state capitol building.  It was hot up there.

We went bowling.  Thank goodness for lane bumpers.

We went hiking and Britta made Kitty a flower crown and Kitty drew Britta a picture.

And we laid around in bed and ate crepes, of course.

Sheesh.  Just think of the number of crepes I'll have to make when she comes with her 5 kids.  No worry, I will happily make them because we always have crepes.

It's just how it is.