Summer Camp

Most of the kids in our neighborhood have spent the summer in some sort of camp. Whether it was the YMCA, a tennis camp or church camp, their comings and goings have caught JillyBean's attention. She keeps talking about being able to go to camp when she's "a little bit bigger."

Well, the camp experience is coming a bit sooner than expected byway of spending a week with Nana in Tennessee. Daddy and I are going on a cruise later this month and are taking the major step of leaving Jilly behind. She didn't like the idea that we were going on vacation without her (and honestly, neither do I) so I quickly told her that she will be spending time at Camp Nana. She warmed to the idea.

Now as anyone who has ever spent time in camp - whether it be a day camp or sleep away camp - knows, you always get a really cool t-shirt marking the event. Camp Nana is no exception. Jilly and I made our own camp shirts yesterday. She is so proud of them and had to make one for herself, Nana, Ma and cousin Kallie. We still have a little bit of work to do on them once they're completely dry. The shirts should provide a good memento of their week together.

Good Bye Summer

It is crazy to me that summer is already coming to an end. Each summer seems to get shorter and shorter as I get older, so I hope that the warm lazy days seem to linger a bit more for JillyBean. These were always my favorite days as a kid - getting to stay out late, run through the neighborhood with friends, swim - and I want Jilly to have the same experience.

We made our last batch of fruit pops last week, and wouldn't you know it they were the best. The peaches seemed much sweeter than those we used the last go around and I have decided that fresh peach pops are a little more refreshing and tastier than strawberry, even though I like to eat strawberries more on their own. The fruit pops will soon be replaced with homemade applesauce, baked cinnamon apples, pumpkin bread and hot cocoa. Not bad replacements, but certainly not as fun to eat as frozen pops or fudgesicles.

Our summer is not officially over. We still have our summer vacation approaching, although the calendar will say that it is fall. We are heading to Bald Head Island in a week and are holding out hope that the warm weather sticks around a bit longer for a few nice afternoons on the beach. But once we return our focus will be on getting ready for Halloween, then Thanksgiving and then Christmas is upon us. It's hard to believe that the year coming to an end.

Lil Fish

You may not be able to tell too well in this photo but Beanie got a bit burned today at the pool. That's what you get after chillin' for 4 hours in the baby pool. She wore her sun hat most of the day but took it off and Beanie Mom didn't think about applying the 50+ SPF. She's OK and the red on her nose and cheeks really makes her eyes shine.

We typically go to the water park at ACAC because they have a primo kid area. The "baby" pool is a zero-entry pool so little swimmers can ease their way into the water. Plus, there is a great squirt park that Beanie loves to run through. But today one of Beanie's buddies called to ask if we wanted to meet them at the Boar's Head Sports Club so we hung out there instead.

I don't know what we're going to do beginning Sept. 1. The pools will close down their weekday operation and I can't imagine what other activity we can do that will keep Beanie occupied for as long as the pool. We're going to have to be a bit creative this Fall and Winter.