…is on a mini-vacation…..without ME!  WHAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Okay, those were fake tears.  I am fine because I know she is fine, and more importantly, ready to take this step toward independence.  She is spending a few days with her Aunt and Uncle Mokturtle a few hours away.  We drove down for our annual picnic day spent with friends, and left her behind when we headed back home.  I will admit to a tiny squeeze of my throat as I drove away, watching her wave from the porch, but even more than her being separated from me and her Dad, I think I had a harder time knowing that the siblings would be separated from each other.  Thank goodness they are all very close…they get on each other’s nerves like any other siblings, but they really and truly love each other.  I think the first day or two will be like Heaven for them, and then their missers will get sore.

But, for her the time will go quickly.  They have a day of hiking planned (weather permitting) and a girly spa day for the ladies planned.  And they have a horse, and a swimming pond, and walking paths galore.  It will be a lovely vacation for her. 

I’ll have to see if they will let ME come and stay with them for a week next summer.  I promise to be good.  🙂

So, this is the last week of school in these here parts.  Big Girl has three mornings of exams, and Little Girl has four half days and then it’s OVER!!   I look forward to the company, but I don’t look forward to the daily bickering that is sure to start within the first hour of the morning on Friday.  With a thought to keep them both a bit busy and focused (hopefully limiting the amount of bickering that will take place)  both girls sat with their Dad tonight and set their summer goals.  Not to worry…(lest you think we are meanies) along with reading goals and the “new experience” thing or two, there are goals such as “camping in the backyard” and “day trip to NYC with Daddy.”  🙂  The list is great because it helps us avoid that intolerable “I’m boooooored” comment.  “Pull out your list” is all we need to say when they are looking for something to do, or when I need them separated.  Magic!

I am most excited for Big Girl.  She needs a break from all the social drama that has been sixth grade.  This first year of Middle School has been as challenging as I worried it would be, but she survived (and so did we!)  Little Girl’s transition won’t be quite so easy.  She loves school and always has a hard time saying goodbye to her teacher and her friends.  To make matters worse, her best little friend is leaving for Japan on Thursday to visit family and won’t return until the third week in August.  She’s feeling a bit sad.

Personally, I’m finding it a bit difficult not having a summer vacation destination to look forward to, but we will be attempting a couple of camping excursions-the first one since Mister was born.  Boy, have I missed eating Hobo Pies!!!!  Yummmmmm!

So, the days of freedom begin…slower mornings, lazy afternoons, days spent at the beach, visiting friends, playing outside until after dark.  I think the whole world should shut down for summer vacation.  It would be a much happier place.  (Okay, and I know that isn’t practical…just humor me for a bit.)

So, my son, my darling Mister Baby Boy, the one who loves cars, spotted the girls’ old Barbie Jeep in the garage a few weeks ago.  The air was rent with the music of a thousand harps, and rainbows and butterflies ascended at once from the depths of the garage where the abandoned Jeep sat, powerless and unused.  My darling boy was in love…his very first crush. (Well, maybe his second…he was pretty turned on by Magdalena the Mermaid when he was just six months old.) 

So anyway, for the past couple of weeks Mister has been driving around in his pink and purple Barbie car, much to the amusement of Dear Neighbor Man.  Zan hasn’t been quite so amused.  I didn’t have a photo of Barbie Jeep, but I found this one on the internet as an example:

Having his son drive around in a pink and purple Barbie Jeep got to be a bit too much for Zan’s sense of masculinity, so one trip to Lowe’s and a few cans of spray paint later….TA-DA!!! 

A Jeep fit for a “REAL MAN!”  Man-liness  saved!