Dog Days of Summer

This past Memorial Weekend has been a hot one. It makes me realize that the hot summer days are just around the corner. It's funny how I don't mind being stuck in the house during the winter when its very cold and snowy, but I do mind being stuck in the house when it is only hot outside. I look out the window and see all of the yardwork that still has to be done. In the winter, everything is dead and dormant and the yardwork doesn't really call to me. This morning, I trimmed the front shrubs and boy was it ever hot. I had Kitty on the lead in the front yard and now 2 hours later she is asleep on the living room floor - too hot to gather up much energy to even jump onto the sofa. My outdoor work for today is finished because the temperature will be over 90 today. With cooler weather planned for the rest of the week, the work that is calling to me today, will just have to wait until then.

Memorial Day Weekend Already

Hard to believe that the unofficial start of summer begins this weekend. Memorial Day came up pretty quickly this year. With it brings the end of the school year which I am not looking forward to as much this year. Usually, I love the start of summer, because schedules are very relaxed and I don't have to get up so early every morning. This year it is a different feeling because Casey is graduating from high school and I know that this is her last real summer at home as school will keep her pretty busy. Greg is graduating from 8th grade and will be busy during the summers with sports and other activities. I'm feeling pretty old these days.
The school year is winding down as we are busy going to activities at school. Greg had his last band concert the other day and because he isn't doing band in high school, it is probably the last time we see him on stage playing percussion. Greg's baseball season finished with 2 tough losses, but overall it was a very good year. He really liked the coach and enjoyed playing. Casey is finishing her senior projects and winding down her high school career. As we are finishing high school, she is getting inundated with materials from Dartmouth and things to fill out and return. She is getting excited about college and I'm so happy for her. A lot of her classmates are staying nearby, and while I would like to have Casey around all the time, it is good that she is wanting to stretch her wings.

Here's to summer - hope it's an exciting and productive one.

My First May Post?

Wow, I can't believe that I haven't posted since late April. Things have been busy, but not that busy. April ended with a bang - Casey had her photo shoot for the Best of the Class at Longwood Gardens. It was a beautiful day and I got a bunch of great photos. While she was doing the filming and interviews, I was happily walking around the beautiful gardens and sitting and reading a book. She got a day off from school and I got a trip to Longwood Gardens. A side note, I also went to a Barnes & Noble in Delaware and read the entire book "Where Women Create" while in the store. It highlights female artists' studios and gave me a lot of ideas. I will probably buy the book the next time.

Greg has been busy with school and baseball. His team is doing very well and Greg is having a great time. He plays first base and bats second in the lineup. It's nice to see him playing and not having pain in his shoulder. He will be doing a few baseball camps this summer and may go to Boston with a team in Trenton. They will play baseball, see the Redsox, and visit the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Last weekend, Greg won the Bucks County Math24 Platinum Masters Competition. He is the defending Greater Delaware Valley champ and he won by quite a large number. Next up is the Regional Competition at the Franklin Institute in June. Due to funding issues, there is no state tournament this year. It's a shame because Greg has been to the state competition the last 2 years (earning silver medals) and hoped to end his 24 competitions with a state gold medal. He was lucky in that he was able to compete in 24 while it was a big competition.
I wonder about the future of it as the company focuses more on the online competition (which Greg hates doing). We are amazed at what he has done in 24 - 5th grade (Bucks County champ), 6th grade (3rd place Bucks County, Silver and Gold medals at Regionals, Silver medal at States), 7th grade Platinum Level (2nd place Bucks County, Silver, Gold, and CHAMPION at Regionals, Silver medal at States), 8th grade Platinum level (Bucks County champ, ?). What an amazing kid he is.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with Casey and Greg (Larry was in Illinois). I was showered with gifts and had dinner at Don Pablos - a perfect day. The school year is quickly coming to an end and with it Casey's high school career. I am feeling older and older every day and have to work at slowing down so as not to miss a thing. I'm proud of what Greg and Casey have accomplished and am excited for them as they move to the next phase of their life (Greg-on to high school, Casey-off to college). I can only hope that we have raised them well and given them a sense of who they are and what they can accomplish. We are truly blessed.