July

 This month has gone by fast.  Jackson and Michael attended Boy Scout camp up in North Georgia two weeks ago.  It was a week-long camp and Michael went as one of the chaperones because he needed to take a couple of classes that were offered during that time.  Unfortunately, his week was cut short because of severe pain on Thursday that sent him to urgent care and eventually the ER where it was determined he had kidney stones.  So he came home that evening and rested the remainder of the weekend. This camp offered a lot and Jackson completed several merit badge requirements while there.  The main downside was it was so spread out and their campsite was the furthest away it could have been - causing them to walk about a mile to get anywhere.  Here are some pictures from the week.

Rachel also started band camp that week.  She had two weeks of 12 hour days - which was exhausting.  She struggled with being sore and tired, but other than that, she enjoyed it.  She found out the first day that she did make drumline this year.  So she's still in percussion, but she's not in the pit any longer. She will have to learn to march and do drill and play the bass drum all at the same time this year.  Here's the only picture I have from band camp - her pointing to the drum she's going to be playing.

During the week they were all gone, Lucy kept waiting for them to come back.  She'd sit on top of the couch and just watch the door...

We did go to dinner for Michael's birthday a few weeks ago, but we told the restaurant it was Jackson's birthday instead (Michael hates the attention there and Jackson begs to be able to yell when they celebrate birthdays)... So here is Jackson celebrating a tiny bit early for his.

And then for his actual birthday, we went to a Japanese Steakhouse for dinner.  His best friend, Dax, ended up joining us for the night as well. 

The new school year starts Monday.  With band, I'm sure the next 3-4 months will be busy (as if they aren't already...).  

June and the 4th

Swim team always takes up most of our month of June.  Michael is finally off of the swim board so he had a good bit less to do his year with it all - thank goodness.  And Rachel didn't swim this year so it was just Jackson.  We started out the season with an unusually cold evening - I even had to have a jacket on!  We had many rain delays and weather-shortened nights.  Rachel babysat for a few of the meets also.  

Both kids went to church camp at the start of June.  Jackson's was the middle school camp in Kentucky and Rachel went to "beach camp" at Panama City Beach!  

He was most excited to see Lucy when he got home at the end of the week. 

Rachel got her permit a couple of weeks ago.  She's very excited about that. 

We went to White Water one day and Jackson had the chance to go to the lake with a couple of friends. 

And this past Monday was the 4th of July.  We went to the church the night before for their celebration and fireworks and then Monday night's fireworks got rained out with a big storm - mostly.  People have still been shooting them off in the neighborhood though since Saturday... Enough is enough already.  The loud booms cause Lucy's anxiety to go up - which in turns makes her have seizures.  So, I'm not a fan of close fireworks anymore.  We did go see the Woodstock parade Monday morning though.  We sat with some friends and had a good time.

This is Rachel's last week of summer as she starts band camp on Monday.  Michael and Jackson go to scout camp all of next week so they will be gone too.  I go back to work in just under two weeks.  Michael is staying busy with working from home now and trying to get into a routine here. Happy July!