Skipping Send-Off and Summer Firsts

Ahhh, summer....you finally found us.  The temperature has kicked up a notch (or ten) and our lives seem headed for some slow down.  Last week's skipping extravaganza came to a successful finish with Schmoo's team's Big Show on Sunday.  They did the 2-hour performance twice in one day, leaving many very tired skippers.  It was a big week.  Lots of practicing, with several other events sandwiched in between.  Schmoo seemed to survive it all, but probably would have been more than happy to just hang out at home today instead of going to school.

The Big Show was amazing, as expected.  Schmoo did a great job.  She was one of the few little kids that got to perform part of her solo for the audience.  Her first place solo, to be correct.  She also got to do her four-person routine too.  I managed to sell over 50 tickets, so there were lots of friends from school and other activities that came to see the show and cheer her on.  Bean enjoyed the matinee with Papa, but mostly for the two bags of candy that he got to eat while watching.  Papa put on a brave face after his sad start to the day (England's loss) and was proud to watch his little girl in action.  It will be nice to have a skipping break now....no more practices until things get going again in September.

There's been lots of summer firsts in the past couple of days too.  Saturday night we had an impromptu dinner party with another family.  Papa was busy in the kitchen on Saturday making up a veggie lasagna that we decided should be shared.  It was great to just sit out on our back deck, visiting, watching the four kids race around together.  Of course there's already been a few trips to the Dairy Queen....always a summer must.  Today we also had a big first - the kids' first Slurpee.  Both kids were excited to get their very own cup today and despite the plethora of choices - lime, grape, cream soda - they both opted for what Mama usually gets....Coca Cola.  Bean drank his right up and Schmoo had about half before her non-sweet tooth kicked in and she said she had had enough.

Another first tonight was a trip down to the soccer fields to watch Papa play soccer.  His game didn't start until bedtime, so it was a treat to stay up late.  The hot temperature and sunny skies tempted me.....it was too nice out to just put the kids to bed.  They had a blast.  There were half a dozen other kids there that we knew so they all ran around together, having races and playing soccer.  Bean got taken under the wing of some older boys who were happy to play soccer with him and Schmoo raced around with a couple of her buddies.  As I sat in my camping chair, watching them and Papa play soccer, I felt great.....this is what being a kid in the summer is all about.  Too bad the minute we hit the car they both melted down.

Oh well, tomorrow will be another couple of firsts - a visit with friends from out of town (an old high school friend that I haven't seen in probably 15 years), a trip to the spray park and Schmoo's last day of school!