Life Appreciated: Summertime Summertime Sum Sum Summertime

Summer vacation is officially here. It's nice to sleep in a little later and to have an easier more relaxed pace. Emma is on her own agenda because she is now 12 and 12 year olds can come and go. She never leaves the neighborhood and thanks to technology she is just a text away at all times. She and her friends will go to the pool or hang out, flitting between houses. Ellie on the other hand has the tendency to get bored easily. She does have a lot of activities she enjoys doing but secretly she is so envious of Emmy's freedom. She hates being 6 at times when she cannot just go out and wander about. June 29th is when she starts summer school. I know she will be thrilled. I didn't sign her up for any camps this summer because I would be so lost without her and truth be told I am not ready to let her go just yet. So between summer school and all the other trips and vacations we have planned it should all work out just fine.

Tomorrow we are headed west to Skyline Drive for a scenic day trip to the mountains. We are also going to check out Luray Caverns. I was there when I was about Ellie's age. We took a family trip from Connecticut to Disney World and drove home through the mountains. I remember it being so cold, wet and dark inside the caverns but also very cool looking with all those stalagmites. It'll be fun to take the girls. Steve will be headed to Arkansas for several days for work so he cannot join us. I think he would have really liked it too. On the way home from the mountains we will stop by to see Grandma Marilyn and Emma is going to stay for a bit longer and visit with her until Saturday. She loves to visit with my mom. She will be overly pampered, that is for sure.

Kayne has recuperated nicely. He is back to his crazy self and the neediness is gone. He isn't meowing every 5 seconds for attention. Thank God for that because he was driving us all crazy. He has made friends with all our other cats and is going to be a nice fit into the family.

Here are some random photos from the past few days. Summer is here and we are loving it!

It's officially summer when the pool towels hang over the deck chairs to dry.

Ellie had some fun dressing up Kanye. He is so well natured that he tolerated wearing American Girl doll outfits. We also have learned he is in touch with his feminine side.