Day At Highland

The camp that our boys go to each summer has a fund raiser dinner the end of June each year.  In the past we have brought our tent and stayed for night.  This year, however, having dealt with sickness, and Adam being away, we decided to just go out to play for the day.  

We packed up our swim gear and bikes.  Noah came over so he could play with us and we headed out.  The boys played, biked, and honestly I don't know what all--I didn't see them very much once we were there. 

Noah's family has a cabin very near Highland.  We were invited to his cabin for a little in the afternoon. 

  They have a creek on their property.  It is actually an extension of the creek that goes on Highlands property, but the boys enjoyed enjoyed playing in it as if it was a whole new experience.

The main reason they invited us over was because they have a Go-Cart.  The boys were given a chance to drive it.

 As Austin was driving this, I found it very hard to believe in about 5 years he will be old enough to drive a "real car".

 Then, Adam took the wheel.  I have to say that is a little scary.  I love Austin's expression in this picture.  I'm not sure if he is screaming for joy or fear. 

The one constant at our site, was...

 

Glen.  He hung out there most of the day.  When nobody knew where the other kids were, Glen was usually close to where we had put him.  I happened to get this picture and thought he was pretty cute in it.

We didn't camp, but we had a wonderful day!

Adam Went To Camp

I have known for a while that this week was coming.  I tried to prepare myself, but I still worried just a little. Adam went to camp.

Adam is my child who is a little more difficult to feed.  He has tendencies to sleep walk and talk.  Here I was getting ready to send him to 2 young men (who are not parents!) for 3 days and 2 nights!  

We dropped him off on Wednesday morning.  As it turned out I knew the mother of one of his counselors.  We grew up at the same church.  She was a few years older than me, closer to my sisters age, but I at least knew the family.

I thought about him A LOT during those 3 days and 2 nights!  I was anxious for Friday to come.  Our house seemed empty with him gone.

Friday came and we headed out to get him.  We got to camp a little early.  We parked, from our parking area we were able to watch the children play some relay games.  Adam didn't even know we were there. (Adam is the first in line behind his counselor Caamon)

 They looked like they were having so much fun.  I could tell that Adam had taken a liking to Caamon.  Caamon was very patient  with Adam as he hung close by or on him. 

Then it came time for the program.  They sang songs for us, and we got to see pictures of the week.  We got a picture of all of Adam's cabin mates.

An interesting side story.  The boys that is beside Adam, his name is Michael.  We came home from camp on Friday, Sunday evening we were in the house and the doorbell rang.  It was the neighbor behind us.  He said, "Am I right that you have a son named Adam?" Yes.  Then he said, "Let me clear up a rumor..."  Turns out Michael is his grandson.  He is staying with them this week.  So, Adam was able to play with him at camp last week, and at home this week.

I was able to get a picture of Adam with his counselors (Caamon on the left, and Jackson on the right) Noah is with them as well.  Noah and Adam were great friends in school last year.  They had the same teacher and became very close.  Noah's family goes to the same church we do.  It was very special that they were able to go to camp for the first time together.

Adam had a great week at camp.  He ate (I really had no reason to worry) and apparently he slept fine with no walking or talking.  I am glad he had these young men as his counselors.  They took very good care of him, and he has grown very fond of them.  I am so glad he had such a great experience.  He has already said he wants to go back next year.

11

Austin turned 11 this week.

The plan was that I did not go to work that morning.  We would take Adam to camp.  And the whole afternoon and evening would be all about Austin.

However, things do not always go as planned...

We came home from taking Adam to camp.  I was doing a little work around the house, and Austin walked through the living room and said, "It is so cold in here."  Now, let me back up.  Sunday we did not get to stay at church because Adam was "so cold" at church.  As it turned out he had a fever.  He was finally over it and well enough to go to camp.  Now, Austin is saying it is cold.  I immediately took his temperature, just as I thought--a fever.

It broke my heart to tell him that we would not be going out that night.  He was terribly upset because this was "his day."  As I tended to Austin that afternoon and evening, it occurred to me that he was sick on his birthday 11 years ago.  This time however, it was only a fever.  I could cuddle him and care for him.  That time, he was fighting for his life--we did not know what was wrong, and there was NOTHING I could do for my baby!  I would take a fever over that any day!

It's interesting, every year around his birthday I get particularly emotional.  I guess it mainly comes from having a rocky start.  I start thinking about different parts of the 2 weeks that he was in the hospital.  This year it occurred to me that when he was in the hospital I asked the Dr. if he thought Austin might make it to the age of 5.  I started to think about it, he has doubled that plus 1 year!  I'm not sure what made me ask about 5, but that seemed like such a significant age at that time.

Back to this year....Austin was able to celebrate his birthday the next day with Mike.  I, however, was sick at that time and had to bow out.

Austin, you have grown into a fine young man.  You have a very gentle heart.  I am very proud to say that I am your mother.  Daddy and I love you very much.

Fairness

Adam is my child that always wants everything to be EXACTLY fair. 

The other day, he asked me to cut something in half so he could share it with Austin.  I eyed it, and cut it.  He asked me how I knew it was exactly in half.  I said, "it is very close."  I knew what he wanted me to do, he wanted me to get a ruler and measure it to be SURE that it was the exact same amount for both halves.  I was not about to do that, so I explained to Adam that he and Austin are two different people.  With that comes different experiences, and opportunities.  Not everything in life will be exactly the same, but I love both of my boys and I will do my best to keep things as fair as I can.  Then I said, "Adam, how do you know that Austin has not breathed more air than you"  (thinking that since Austin is 2 years older, it is pretty likely)

Adam looked and me and said, "Mom, you can't measure THAT!"

I guess this fairness thing only applies to material things...

A Visit To The Children's Museum

 One day this week, Lana and I decided that we should do something that afternoon.  After talking about a couple of options we decided that we would go to the local children's museum.  The museum had moved to a new building within the past few years.  Austin had never been, and was anxious to go.

 Inside the museum they have a real ambulance.  The lights work and you can pretend to drive it.

Adam and Grace did a bike race.  Adam won due to the fact that Grace's feet barely touched the pedals.  As you pedal lights come up on the board ahead of you and you can "ride" your way around Virginia.

In the theater, Adam fixed Grace's face paint to be just so.

 They have a child sized kitchen with all kinds of ingredients and things you might need in the kitchen (including a "washer and dryer")

Austin enjoyed playing with the largest "Operation" board I have ever seen.  He enjoyed taking the paddles and saying "CLEAR!"  He has quite the sense of humor.

They had a desk set up like the local TV station.  Not only could they sit at the desk, but...

They could watch themselves on the screen.  This is actually the green screen monitor.  Austin is giving the weather.

They had some green material that Adam like to drape over himself and say, "floating head!" 

They had a car that they could work on.  Austin is doing something with the tailpipe.  Adam is removing the license plate (not sure I want to know his plans with that!)

Austin is doing something with the care fluids.  (Still not ready to let him work on my car :)

At one point, I wanted to show Austin something.  He said, "just a minute. I'm making _________"  And I really did not hear what he was making, but I thought he said caffeine.  I looked and saw this...

So, I asked, "what did you say you were making?"  He looked at me and said, "Caffeine."

Sure enough, he made the caffeine molecule.  He loved it!

They all loved playing with the smart board.  They have these at school and probably know more about what can be done on these things than I know.

They have an X-ray board (I'm not sure that is what it is called)  Austin played Dr. and looked intently at the x-rays.

Adam studying what he has under the microscope.

I love seeing these boys in lab coats. 

They had so much fun, and actually learned a lot while playing and having fun.

May Day, Graduation, & Madalyn

In early May, the boys school celebrated 100 years of educating children.  Their school has done May Day for many, many years.  On the year that you are leaving the school, you get to do a processional down the hill to the May pole and then you get to wrap the May pole.  This was Austin's year to participate in these activities.  

To do the processional, they try to match a boy and girl.  Austin was matched with Madalyn.  Austin was very excited because Madalyn is Austin's 3rd cousin.  They would call each other "cousin" at school instead of using their names. Madalyn is a very sweet girl, and Austin felt very comfortable with her.

 

 

 On the day of May Day, Madalyn's mom was with me on the side of the hill (waiting for them to come down the hill), she told me that Madalyn was so glad she was with Austin, she was comfortable with him too.  However, when she told her mom who she walking down the hill with she said, "Mom, Austin always looks good, so I need to look good too."  Apparently, they ran to the thrift store to get her dress the night before, then to Target to get her shoes.  She did look very good.  (We, on the other hand, got up that morning, and threw clothes on him that were clean, (he did go to school with a hat, but decided that I would want to see his face, so he left it in his classroom)--it must be so different to have a girl!)

Then came graduation last Friday.  I was very proud of Austin.  He got an Academic Achievement  Award.  Mike and I did not know that he would be getting this award.  He has worked very hard this year, and his teacher said, "he is very deserving of this award."  I am very proud of him!!

 

Mike was able to get a picture of Austin and Madalyn.  Madalyn is going to a different school next year, she will no longer be with Austin.  However, I know that when Austin hears about Madalyn he will always remember going to school with his "cousin."