Last week of "Summer" Post

So this is it...
...my last week of lazy summer days before I start all my staff development for the new school year. And when I say lazy, I DO mean L.A.Z.Y. We have had a B.U.S.Y. summer in some ways---June, at least. Matt has been extremely busy, and I myself have taken 3 trips and been gone from the house more than 3 full weeks, (more on that in a sec.) But the days that Noah and I have been home, we have re-laaaaxed. The kind where you don't change out of your jamas or shower until well after noon, enjoying cartoons and reading and lounging all morning. Then in the afternoons we often eat a late lunch (due to our late bfast) and occasionally make a trip to the library or a park or maybe the pool, but even the pool takes a lot of energy from me! It has been a GREAT couple of weeks, this July.

I haven't blogged all summer, so I have some catching up to do...I'll try to be quick and brief. [Don't LOL here!] Let's try sentence fragments here. At least when possible.

JUNE--gladly wrapped up the HARDEST school year...
...SIDENOTE: & this can't go unmentioned: found out the last week of school that after all our stress and hair pulling, my kids actually DID WELL on their state tests (90% passing rate) and that I, along with the other 2 5th grd. math teachers, should receive a BIG BONUS check next Dec.!!! What a huge surprise and blessing from God. We have gotten so behind since living here and it will not be ill spent in any way.

Anyway, JUNE: last day of school=teens' Out of School Pool party--big turnout. First full week of summer: Youth camp. I went for first 4 days, came back Thurs. night. Noah did well staying with our friend Michelle. Good camp; first time I'd been back at camp for more than a day since Noah's birth. Enjoyed it, but feel old...er. Had a the weekend and a few days off, then the next Wed. packed up and flew to SC for 48 hours with Hawkins family... good stuff...swimming, eating, a movie, got to see Emory -my niece-for the 2nd time--she was now 5 mo! Fri--drove up to NC for the weekend with the Robisons' wedding--Matt and Ellen. Matt and Noah were in the wedding, Noah did well. Very nervous about him actually walking down the aisle on the big day, but bribery works wonders. Both looked adorable--Matt had to wear teal. Nice. Loved spending time with the Robisons. Miss them terribly. Also got to Tom & Cheryl Kincaid and Wendy and Johnny. Disappointed more people from Vero didn't drive up. WE came from TEXAS!!

Then, Matt and I flew from Charlotte, NC out to Sante Fe, NM to join our youth group and sponsors on a 10 day backpacking trip to Colorado we call RTA. Noah stayed with Gigi, Papa, and Aunt Leah in SC. We had a great trip, albeit 3/4 the group got the flu/diarreah and one of our girls had to get Life Flighted out of the canyon we were in, both events which drastically changed the course of our trip. But relationally, the kids grew closer and had some cool God moments, and that's most important. Everyone returned home healthy and happy. After the trip, (we got home on Sunday evening at 9p) Matt and I both flew out the next morning less than 12 hours later. Matt went up to OKC for a pastor's conference and I flew out to Augusta, GA to get Noah. Noah and I came back the same day, finally getting in to Houston around 11p, but only after a delayed flight, missed connection, and RUNNING thru the entire Atlanta airport to catch a standby flight. Noah did GREAT at the airport, ran the whole way with me, and we BARELY made it...it was awesome...and as we entered the doorway to the plane, Noah says to me, "Mom, can I WALK now?" It was so cute, and hilarious. When we got back to Houston, my mom was already here waiting for us, having flown down to Houston from OKC herself on Monday. She had to wait a good 6 hours or so for us, but was patient of course. Mom got to spend the week with us here, and we slooooowed down during that week; went to the library, some stores, and the Aquarium together and rode the rides. Matt and my dad got in on Thursday night from the pastor's conference, and got to stay till Tues. We went swimming together during the weekend , went to Chuck E. Cheeses, and had a Fourth of July block party at church. It was very nice to have my parents visit for so long.

Bedtime...to be cont.