Eleven days and counting. I’m very much looking forward to the R&R, even if I have to work during a portion of our time away. A change in scenery and the peacefulness of the ocean are just the ingredients I need right now.
Continue reading Countdown to Vacation and Other Miscellaneous Thoughts
After a great week in Ithaca and serious bonding with Temba, the dog, Chloe and Sophie are home and happy. And we’re happy, too.
Sophie loved the waterfall. She communed with it earlier today and swam with Chloe in the cold water. All while Papa and I were stuck in our offices, staring at our computers. Am I just a little bit jealous? Never.
On today’s agenda: a hike at Treman State Park. Apparently, the water was very cold. But Sophie enjoyed spending time with her best canine friend, Temba. And I love the shot of the girls with their great-aunt and uncle, who are wonderful hosts every summer!
Erratum: Chloe requested that I set the record straight about the story below. She said that what got her goat was that Grammy started dialing the phone to call me as she herself was getting ready to call me, and that just was not fair. Grammy – do you care to rebut?
Chloe cracks me up. She’s very righteous. Has a keen sense of right and wrong. I guess she’s not so different from most kids her age. I was certainly like that, too, many moons ago.
Every summer, the girls go to Ithaca with my mom to visit my aunt and uncle. And every year, I wish I could go with them. It’s admittedly tiresome to experience this same longing year after year. Will I ever do something about it?
In the meantime, all I can do is enjoy the photos my mom sends, including these two taken a couple of hours ago at Lake Cayuga.
Is that Chloe practicing for some future job as a lifeguard?
If there was ever any question about whether Chloe had a good time at camp, these photos say it all.
Like peas in a pod, at least for now. For the most part, anyway. Except for earlier this evening when Sophie served as Chloe’s sous-chef making chocolate muffins. I came home to a house that smelled like a chocolate factory and an 11-year old daughter who was upset with herself (yes, you read correctly – she was upset at herself) for losing patience with her little sister during the baking session.
Chloe seemed taller to me when we picked her up on Friday. Granted, she’d only been gone one month, and we saw her for visiting day.
Maybe she’s just standing up straighter, I initially thought. But something was definitely different. I took out the tape measure.
With Chloe’s back up against the wall, I was determined to find out once and for all if I was imagining her growth spurt.
Needless to say, I am not going crazy. My little Chloe is now officially over 5 feet tall. Which means, I hope, that she takes after her Papa’s side of the family.
And this photo says it all. Chloe had an amazing time, but boy, was she tired when we picked her up.
BTW, I guessed correctly. We just came home from her favorite pizza joint on the planet.
Chloe, we’re really happy we were able to send you to camp. But we sure are glad you’re home.
