Summertime

So school's been out for a week. My husband calls and asks "What're you up to today?"

"I don't know," I answer. And isn't that the whole point? Still, planned, unplanned, every day has its own adventure.

Paris had birthday money to spend so he went shopping with me one day. And I mean shopping shopping. We go to Mt. Laurel to go shopping at Wegmens, Target and Costco, and I even brought a cooler. Everything went fine til we went to Costco. I told Paris to grab the milk on the other side of the aisle while I got some stir-fried veggies. I rounded the corner and he was gone. I calmly looked down all the frozen/refrigerated aisles before frantically walking up and down all the aisles, with visions of someone grabbing him and dragging him out the back door. (Was there a back door?) Maybe they used the doors of the between the frozen section, where they keep the catering trays and stock the milk. I could picture them watching me pace the aisles, duct tape over Paris' mouth, as he struggled to be heard, but I pass on oblivious. I couldn't believe I'd gotten him safely to the age of 10, just to lose him now. I was just about to confront a Costco worker and have them shut down the store, when he came flying by me with the cart. "Oh, I thought you meant the other side of the store, not aisle" he said when I demanded in a gruff, yet relieved voice where he'd been.

On another day I took Tritan to the Scout store to buy regulation pants and socks and all that for Scout camp. Then we went to lunch and talked about Scout camp. I am excited for him to go, but he's my first one after all, and I think I am going to be more nervous about him going, sleeping away from home for a WHOLE week, without any communication from him at all. I suppose it's good training for when they go on missions. For me.

Anyway, I peppered him with all sorts of do's and dont's. Like if they initiate you, don't get mad, just say "ha, ha, you got me." But if they try to play more than 3 tricks on you, tell a leader--cause that's just excessive. And be sure and pray every night. Promise me you'll pray. Every night. And try to make new friends. What a great opportunity to make new friends. Like sit down and comment about the weather, or the food, or ask them where they're from. And listen to your leaders. And you'll have so much fun. And what do you think they'll serve in the cafeteria. I'm sure he was trying not to roll his eyes at his Mom. Believe me, if I could wrap him in some sort of bubble wrap, like a hamster ball or something, to let all the good things in and keep all the bad things out, I would. I know it's just a week....oh, I'm going to be a mess when he goes on his mission or away to school.

Another day we went to a park which has a mile running trail that circles it. There is a playground in the middle, so the kids played while I ran. Paris ran one mile with me--he ran the whole way!

We got the kid's hair cut. Tritan stuck to the tried and true. Paris is growing his out, Athena got bangs and layered hers, and Apollo insisted on a mohawk--or faux-hawk like the soccer players wear.

I wonder what we'll do today.