The Lazy, Hazy Days

It's downright shameful how long it's taken me to post. I mean, I miss my BFF and all, but really? How long you all have to read about it? My apologies, friends. I have but one excuse...

SUMMER.

It's upon us in full force. Two short weeks since the end of school, and we're up to our eyeballs in swim team practice, nature camp, basketball camp, sleep-away camp, library reading incentives, pool visits, barbeques, softball and baseball tournaments, summer concerts, dinners with friends, and general fun and mayhem.

I love summer. Truly, I do. There is nothing better than a sun-kissed kid nose, a brand new smattering of poolside freckles, and some icy drinks dripping with condensation. Ahhhh.

We're in the midst of planning and preparing for our trip to Emerald Isle with the Fabers and B. The wisecracking Brian Beat Down has already begun and is setting the irreverent and side-splitting tone for the entire trip. It's a miracle that he even agrees to speak to us at times. But damn, that man can COOK!

We dropped Gus and George off at Spring Hill on Sunday. It's Gus's first full week of sleep-away camp and Geo's first sleep-away camp EVER. They're bunking with Carson and Ethan, so it should feel a bit like home -- without the air conditioning and unlimited supply of clean underwear. (I'm sure they're much more inclined to miss the air conditioning.) George indicated that he was a little nervous about camp and I asked him if he was afraid he'd miss me.

"NO!" he replied. "I'm just nervous. It's not about missing you AT ALL."

When I was packing his bag, he made one request: "Only boxers, please, and NO baby pajamas."

The camp is ultra-cool, and I know they'll both have a great time. They were transported to their cabins (Gus's cabin resembles a treehouse on stilts and George's cabin is a teepee!) via fire engine. I mean, if you start camp by riding on a fire engine, how bad could it possibly be? I encouraged each of them to step outside their comfort zones and try things they normally wouldn't consider. From zip lines to giant lake slides, they have plenty of opportunities for adventure. And if they don't melt in the 100 degree heat or get blown away in the Indiana monsoons that are appearing every day on the radar, I'll consider that a whopping success.

Sam has already completed a Teen Leadership seminar this summer that has him looking at the world in new and different ways. After his class, he posted on his Facebook status, "Just finished a long and tiring leadership weekend." I remarked that perhaps he should re-think the tone of his post because it seemed a bit negative. His reply? "Mom, what I posted on Facebook is neutral. You're the one assigning a negative value to it."

I think he gets it.

Sweet Mary Claire is swimming her brains out and getting ready to venture into the world of orthodontia. Big summer for her.

I'm still in VIA, working on my next novel (tentatively titled, "See How They Run"), training for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, have shed 50 pounds (and counting), am surrounding myself with some incredibly talented, loving, and powerful friends, and am loving and living life to the fullest!

But the biggest changes are in store for my sexy lovah. And those details, my friends, will all be coming your way soon enough.

Until then, don't forget your sunscreen... and your clean underwear!