Vacation Review

I did actually keep a paper blog of sorts while we were gone, which consisted mainly of notes as opposed to actual entries but, it was a good idea I thought to help remember the finer details.

Perhaps the most noteworthy "finer detail?" The skunk that lived under our cabin. Yes that's right, a skunk. We discovered this when on Monday night we were out enjoying the campfire and, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a black and white fluffy thing moving along the border of the cabin. I said, "Oh my God Ryun, that's a skunk!" and then, "Quick, run to the car!" Emily, in typical Emily fashion made us laugh about it a few days later when she quipped, "Running away from the campfire and jumping in to the car to get a way from a skunk...what a classic camping moment." Our furry friend made a few more appearances during the week but thankfully appearances were all he made.

In other Emily-related humor (and this is more than likely TMI but a must share moment nonetheless), one night while the girls and I were inside, Ryun who was out tending to the fire let out this obnoxiously loud burp. Emily immediately comes up with this observant and oh so Emily comment:"Ah, the sounds of nature...the birds chirping in the trees, squirrels running through the grassy fields of New Hampshire and Daddy burping."

We were very lucky weather-wise (well, except for the end of the day downpour toward the tail end of our visit to Storyland, but we can skip that part). The days were coolish and the nights were cooler, which made for comfortable sleeping. The cabin was something out of the 70's but was perfect for what we were looking for. Not having to set up a tent and live out of suitcases for the week was fantastic. Having our own bathroom? Words can not possibly describe how great this was. The pool was awesome and so good for Julia, who was able to walk in for a good 50 ft before the water was even neck high. The scenery in that area of NH...well, it takes my breath away every time I visit.

Katherine, who tends to be a little more anxious about such things as roller coasters, climbing, and heights really impressed us with her wanting to (and in most cases succeeding) try things that she other times may not have (for example taking the tramway to the top of Cannon and going on the log ride at Santa's Village). Emily impressed us with her lack of fear (and scared us a little as well). Julia impressed us most with her physical endurance when doing things like hiking to the Glen Ellis Falls or through the trails on top of Cannon Mountain.

All in all, it was a great week, and one we are looking to repeat for future vacations!

Pictures!

I have finally finished uploading the pictures from our camping trip. The pictures basically tell the story, so go ahead and check them out.

I will be back though, with some highlights, and of course other entries sometime later tonight and in to the beginning of the week.

Ahh...

...I can feel the pangs of "blog withdrawal" subsiding as I type this.


We're back (obviously). I have a lot to do ( more laundry than I'd care to mention, food shopping and picture developing) but I will be back, perhaps later tonight!

Leaving...

Today is the day I have been waiting for. We are leaving for our week-long trip to NH and I can't wait.

This will be the last post here until Saturday or Sunday of next weekend. I am bringing with me a paper journal though (how 90's of me) and am hoping to do some writing while we are there.

Many pictures will of course be taken!

Until next weekend...

Ugh...

Emily was accused (I think by other students) of stealing money today at camp. After talking with her, I have serious doubts that she did it but, that is really beside the point.

I am not one of those parents who thinks my kid can do no wrong. They are not perfect, nobody is perfect. I fully expect, while they are in another person's care, that person will enforce whatever rules are in place, as well as what ever rules and/or expectations I may have put forth before leaving. That being said, I'd like to think that have have instilled in my children good, high, moral standards.

I send them to camp because I feel like it will obviously be a fun and exciting thing for them to do over the summer, but also because I hope that they will learn, from the counselors what it takes to be a good role model. Today, one of the counselors not only did the complete opposite, but they made my daughter cry.

I am still not sure exactly how she was accused of taking the money. It sort of just sounded like someone heard there was money missing and just decided that Emily would be a good person to blame. Emily had to talk to three counselors about it individually which I think is just a little over the top. One of the counselors didn't believe her and as a "punishment" made her sit in a "time out" for a half of an hour. So she was sitting on the cement and at one point, because her but was hurting from sitting so long, she decided to get in to a squatting position. The counselor noticed this and yelled at her, "SIT DOWN...YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE." When Emily explained why she was squatting, the counselor yelled back, "SIT DOWN." This came after she had already been through two other counselors and she was already feeling a little upset. She ended up crying after she yelled at her.

So my first though was "Fuck you bitch, if you were sitting on the cement your ass would hurt to."

My second thought was, "A time out for a 10 year old? Gimme a fucking break."

My third thought was, "Did you really just yell at my kid?"

Seriously...uncalled for.

I will be the first to admit, that Emily is a challenge. She is by no means an "easy" kid. She is a good one though and whether she stole the money or not, she should not be made to cry at camp.

So me, the most "don't rock the boat" person on the planet, is going to go cause a tidal wave tomorrow (ok maybe a minor ripple). I just want to find out what happened from their viewpoint.

It's funny how quickly the easy going, peace-keeping me goes right out the door when someone makes my kid upset or hurts them. At least I am able to calm down from the immediate adrenaline, blood boiling, "I am going to go in there and rip them a new asshole" reaction I have when something like this happens. A level head is a good thing.

A Slacker...

...is what I have been when it comes to updating this blog. My aunt is visiting from California so I have been spending my days with her. Emily and Katherine have been at camp all week (and are going back again this week) so it has just been Julia and I, and my Aunt and her son Sean. It's been very nice, getting to spend this much time with her.

Emily and Katherine have been having a wonderful time at camp. They have been swimming everyday at the town pool, playing sports and doing arts and crafts. They come home every day wiped out!

This week will be spent doing much of the same thing as last, with packing for our NH trip next week being added to the mix. I am really looking forward to the trip!

Parenting

It seems that I have spent a lot of time lately focusing on that topic. It's normal I suppose, seeing as I am a mother. As the kids get older, it seems to me that it gets more and more difficult to know if what you are in fact doing or saying is the right thing to do or say and how will it effect them in the future? One never knows but it sure doesn't help all of the second guessing and questioning that goes on in the here and now.

The latest "am I a bad or overprotective parent" moment came yesterday when the kids came home from camp with a flier regarding a trip to Canobie Lake Park slated for this Friday. Here's the thing...I don't want them going. If they don't go they will just partake in the everyday camp activities so it is not like they won't be having a fun day anyway.

Why don't I want them going? There are a few reasons but lets start with Katherine. It's a HUGE waste of money. She doesn't go on any rides that aren't "Merry Go Roundish" in nature (read: no thrill rides, even mild ones). She also is the type of person who can't function on a messed up sleep schedule and the bus isn't getting back until midnight. We also have plans the next day so sleeping in wouldn't be an option, even if staying up late in "kid time" actually meant sleeping in on the other end. With Emily my concerns are completely different. See, the one area in which I am not overprotective (and some may argue I should be) is when it comes to Emily and amusement park rides. When I (or another family member adult) am with her, I generally let her go on whatever rides she wants to, seizure warning or not. Basically as long as she meets the height requirements, I am fine. Seriously, if the kid is brave enough to do these rides I am not going to stop her. If she randomly started having seizures again or had one on a ride, of course the story would be different but, as of this coming October, she will be seizure free for three years. The only thing about this trip that is getting to me is that a family member won't be present. Of course the Parks Department staff know she has Epilepsy but I just don't feel comfortable letting her go. As for the late bus, Emily could easily pull an all nighter and be fine the next day so that concern is not there. Even if I put my fears of Emily going without a family adult, I couldn't rightfully let her go and not Katherine.

So I feel awful and horrible and mean and rotten but I am not letting either of them go.

What do you think?