Ben's First Trip to the ER

Well I guess having your first trip to the Emergency Room at age 8 is ok. He was playing on some equipment at a friend's and got konked. They opted for some type of glue sutchers. He is afraid others will make fun of him. I am betting it is all healed by the time school starts.

Eating Out of My Hand

I went to the zoo on Friday with Judy, Ethan and Hunter. It was a perfect visit, even if it was a little hot.
The zoo is put together so well that there is rarely time out in the pure sun. The kids were great and it was cool to see the zoo through their eyes. Feeding the birds nectar was a new experience for me. I wonder if the birds would have preferred to be sitting on a beautiful flower someplace drinking the nectar rather than sitting on my hand drinking from a plastic cup. It was a lifetime experience for me, even if the bird didn't have fun, I did. Is that selfish? I am really an animal lover, I do feel a touch guilty.
ps
I corrected my mistake. I tell you my mind is going......going......g_ _ _.

A Beautiful Smile to Share

Just had to share the new smile of Ben, my precious grandson. He got, at least the first round, braces off.
Such a great smile. Had to share it with you.

Miracle or Just a Gift?

Yesterday I received on of those emails, I know you have all gotten them, filled with angels and a little prayer. In addition to the instructions not to delete but send to seven friends, it even said I would get this miracle by 8:30 a.m. the next morning. I have never counted the exact number of friends I feel "safe" sending these kind of emails to, but I dutifully sent off the email to my "email friendly" set. This morning, one of the friends from the list called and wanted to know what miracle I had been granted (plus she gave me instructions to take her off of my "email friendly" list). So, I had to think if any miracles had occurred. This is an activity I think I need to do more often, and I recommend it to all of you as well. So here I was thirty minutes past miracle time figuring out if I had had any miracles. So this is what I came up with. Do you think it was a miracle or just a great gift? Yesterday I had my windows cleaned (all I had to do was write the check) and I can't believe how wonderful it is. Today I am going around the house all happy. It is like everything in house seems cleaner and newer, brighter and better! I had cleaned the house (myself) the day before and it felt good to have a clean house. It always does, even if I feel cripple for a day following the actual cleaning. But to have a clean house and clean windows. Wooow! I knew I had this one window (the one in the photo) that was bugging me because I could tell it was filthy. Also this is a window I have to look at often because it is opposite the throne in the "library." (Those of you who know me, know that I visit this spot frequently.) Well this window has been bothering me for awhile. I never knew the other windows were keeping so much of the beauty out!
So there you have it. I am full of joy today because my house is still clean and the windows also being clean is icing on the cake.
So do you think I got my email promise of a miracle or did I just get a wonderful gift?

Another Successful Camp Mamaw Ends

I put the kids on a plane right after noon and came home and took a well deserved nap!
It is always bitter-sweet to see them go. We do have a great time and I love that we are
making memories together.
I'd love to know what they say when someone asks what they did during the summer.
They have had a busy one, and it is not stopping yet. First to New York, then here, then
tomorrow they head to Megan and Levi's.
Yesterday we spent the day at Sea World with Charles, Carla, Dennis and Caden.
Emily loved all over Caden. I thought I was going to have to "take her down" for a
few of those baby kisses. Being the sweet child she is she shared nicely.

S'More Fun

Yep we are still having fun at Camp Mamaw. Unfortunately the week is winding down. Last night we had dinner with Charles and we cooked out S'Mores. It was a messy fun time. Today we are heading off to Sea World. I am predicting a fun but exhausting day. What do you think?

RATS!

Things are going well here at Camp Mamaw. We went to see the movie Wall-e today and it is darling. Right now we are having some well earned quiet time.
Yesterday we did our school clothes shopping. Ben is such a boy! He just wanted to get it over with. Emily and I could have kept on going.
One new addition to camp this year, is the magic bag. I bought a group of surprises when Judy, Walt and I went to Gruene. There is an old fashioned general store there that has all sorts of unusual and old fashioned candy. Remember candy lips, and fizzies? That kinds of stuff. They have candy that looks like hamburgers and cell phones! Well I got some and put it in a bag and every so often Ben and Emily get to pull from the magic bag. This photo is Ben eating his "treat."
His white rat came with some rat-facts. Did you know a rat can squeeze though a hole the size of a nickel? Or that two rats can multiply to over 1 million in 3 days? That rats can go longer without water than a camel? And that a rat can tread water for 3 days? There was one other fact about holding its breath, but we all forgot the exact length of time. But believe me, rats will survive far longer than you and me.