So I am not such a great blogger...

I realize that it has been almost a month since I have posted anything here. This does not mean that it has been slow in our world - it just means that I have had very few free minutes at camp. We are leaving for Atlanta in just over 3 days and I have very mixed emotions! My thoughts tonight are in no particular order.



After the excitement from the swine flu settled down we experienced a more calm portion of camp (I will get to the lice breakout later). The girls continued to be in love with Camille, their babysitter who among other people spoiled them ROTTEN! Sophie has had a few hard days over the past few months, but overall the girls have been great.

Right after my last posting, we left to spend a weekend at the Hampton Inn just down the road from camp. After arriving at camp we learned that it is a pretty religious place, so we would be unable to come and go on Shabbat (from Friday evening through Saturday night). Unfortunately (or fortunately however you see it) we had to spend 3 weekends out of camp to accomodate family and friends visiting. Here are accounts of our trips outside of the camp world or should i say "into the real world."

Trip #1 - Dan had to have dinner with the Camp Committee (read: the people that hired him). He asked me and the girls to join them for this dinner. It meant 2 nights in a hotel with a clean bathtub and two nice comfy beds. Lily's favorite part was the "alligator" otherwise known as an elevator. We were able to spend Friday night and all day Saturday hanging out in Hendersonville as a family window shopping and eating. The special dinner with 2 cranky children was all that I expected it to be. Sophie had to be coerced into being friendly to people at dinner. She ended up friending the only couple in this fancy restaurant that were NOT a part of our party. She danced for this elderly couple - the man looked ready to leave, but the woman was very encouraging - everyone was entertained. The next morning we ran into them at the hotel - and the girls earned their first money for dancing. I just appreciated that there were no poles or laps involved! While Dan and the committee were busy meeting on Saturday night, the girls and I went with a few other people to a Harley Davidson Rally for Autism. The girls had a blast and enjoyed looking at the motorcycles. It was a great evening. Oh did I mention that we all got to stay in the same room - again?!?! What great family bonding!

Trip #2
Dan's parents came to Hendersonville to visit for the 4th of July. Sophie was going to stay with my in-laws in their room at this little inn. Needless to say she was afraid that we were not spending enough night time hours together - so she ended up with us! HOORAY! Luckily on Saturday night I had to come back for a camp staff meeting and ended up with a wonderful night alone in our room at camp (this meant an incredible night's sleep)! Dan and the girls stayed with his parents.

Trip #3
Our wonderful friends Lyn and George (the girls "adopted grandparents" who I know are reading this) came up to visit us during the intersession. This was especially wonderful since the day before we had to say goodbye to Taylor who was on her way home to enjoy a great rest of her summer. The girls were not happy to have her go home - but were distracted by the arrival of Lyn and George. We ate wonderful food, wandered around Asheville, and enjoyed spending time with them. They invited BOTH kids to spend the night with them in their hotel room across the hall... but guess what - you are right - they really love that quality time! George happily delivered them back about 15 minutes into the bedtime ritual! So much for Dan and I in a room together - alone!

We just enjoyed a surprise 4th visit when Lisa came up to visit for 2 nights! She just left this afternoon. We stayed in camp and she was able to sleep at camp with us - but not in our already crowded room. She arrived on my staff Tie-Dye night and got to hang out with me in the art shed for hours (what fun). I guess I should mention that the entire camp looks like it is at a Grateful Dead concert - I have started a tie-dye craze that just won't end. Those of you that see my fingernails in the next month will see evidence of this! Back to my story. Lisa enjoyed hanging out with my girls and I enjoyed getting time with my great friend! Today we wandered around Hendersonville (a fun thing to do here), ate a wonderful breakfast at Fireside - where my girls are obsessed with Chocolate chip- blueberry pancakes. We also drove down to a small town - Chimney Rock - and to see Lake Lure (where parts of Dirty Dancing were filmed). It was a great visit!

In other news...
-My second session staff has been incredible - I can't say the same for the staff they gave me 1st session!
-The girls are loved by many at camp. They have been out on many dates with staff members. One couple took them to dinner, ice cream and then watched a movie with them in their room. It was my first night of staying up to wait for them to come home (not looking forward to the teenage years). A few nights later 3 friends took the girls to Chuck E. Cheese - because they wanted to (obviously they must love my kids). I rarely eat meals with Sophie anymore - she makes the rounds of her fans. Lily is attached to a few certain people... it is very cute.

I am excited to come home for the following reasons: want my bed, in my own room, with a lock on the door. miss my friends and my family.

I am dreading coming home for the following reasons: grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, reality, not having 300 playmates for my girls!

Ok if tonight's posting is incoherent I apologize... we had a rough night last night with the girls waking up for about 3 hours... have I mentioned that we are all sleeping in one room!?!

Will try to post one more time this summer! Off to bed. My friend Greg wanted a shout out so here it is! Good night!