Settimana Sette

A week without one of the kids is always strange. When Robyn went to Clear Creek, it felt like someone was missing. (Obviously.) This week was June's turn to go to Girls' Camp. (I have mixed feelings about next year because they get to go together...fun. But two kids will be missing at once...boo.) I dropped off June bright and early Monday morning. She found friends right away. (Even Hannah was there somewhere since she is in our stake.)

Recognize Jenna? She went to camp with Robyn. This has been a fun year for her.

Load that stuff on the bus and off you go. Have a blast my Junie bug.

The rest of us leftovers had to come up with some amusement for the week. Luckily, we already had some great stuff planned. First up...Sponge Target Toss. Robyn was kind enough to draw some targets for us. Lots of options.

I figured I had to get in on this action. (Better to change into a swimsuit now than have all my clothes soaked. Kids like to come after adults when water is involved.)

Now to the throwing. Nice form Ivory.

Not sure who threw this one, but that is almost the center of the target. Great aim!

It was nice and hot and I will freely admit that we didn't aim at the target on the ground for long. We switched to moving targets — ones that run and scream. Some people just dumped water on themselves.

Monkey see, monkey do. Ahh, refreshing.

The porch was a NO WATER ZONE. I put my camera up there and thoroughly threatened the kids. They did a very good job keeping the water away. Pearl realized this would be a good safe zone for her beauty rest.

Daisy was gone at a movie with friends, but she arrived in time for some of the festivities. I have never seen a child change into a swimsuit so quickly. She was like lightning.

Eva, a neighbor, came up to play with us. She was great at refilling buckets and zeroing in on me whenever she managed to snag a sponge. She finally dumped a whole bucket on me and when I told her how nice it felt, she opted for her own bucket. (I wasn't lying...it felt really good.)

Robyn used her spray bottle to write letters on the sidewalk. I asked, "What does ER stand for?"

"Duh mom, Emergency Room. But it could also mean Eva and Robyn."

I see.

Tuesday is usually just library day, but we met up with Jenaca to see her before her family moves to Oregon later this summer. We let the kids play at Classic Skate for an hour. (Luckily, we still had some coupons.) Robyn had a bit of a run in with the floor. She was unhappy about the altercation, understandably.

But it was so fun to see Jenaca and her crew. Hudson is the new recruit. He is well taken care of by his big sisters.

Then of course there was Daisy's birthday. All hail Queen Cakes.

Thursday, we made homemade ice cream. There is really no end to the different types you can make, but since June was out of the picture, we all agreed on Mint Chocolate Chip. (We were doing her a favor really.) The best part about homemade ice cream is how easy it is. I guess it depends on what kind of machine you have, but ours is very nice. Mix together some milk, sugar, and cream. Don't forget a little peppermint extract. Now pour it into the ice cream maker.

Let it mix for 25 minutes, and add some chunked chocolate during the last five minutes.

It will be soft serve consistency at first, but you can put it in the freezer for a couple hours to let it ripen. (Weird word that I'm assuming means letting it harden up a little more.)

Finished product: Fantastic. (Especially if you like mint.)

My kids loved it.

Maybe some loved it a little too much.

Friday, June came home!! She was smiling, but I was trying to decide if she got a wicked bruise or was just really dirty.

Turns out it was makeup. A friend was doing makeup bruises on the ride home. We listened to June tell stories about her adventures. I think we all missed her.

We all watched The Penguins of Madagascar in the afternoon. (I really liked it. Super funny. Maybe my favorite show so far this summer.)

The week wasn't quite finished. Daisy had her party on Saturday. As kids arrived, we played the number game (also called the dice game). We have been using it for years and it never gets old. Something about the chance that they might call your number when the music stops makes it suspenseful. We just played on the front lawn so kids could join as they showed up.

Daisy wanted to go swimming for her birthday. Yes, it is a little daunting to take a lot of little girls swimming, but I figured I could manage. We went to the Rec Center because I am familiar with it and I could limit the kids to one area.

I had already mapped out my plan of attack. I decided not to get in the water because I could watch all the heads easier from the shore. Too bad when I checked in they told me that I had to get in the water. Wait...I had called multiple times and NO ONE had mentioned this. I know younger children have to be accompanied by an adult, but I never heard IN the water. The lady at the desk snipped that they don't list off ALL the rules when people call.

Fine, if I have to be in the water, I will put my feet in.

As we entered the pool area, it was nice because hardly anyone was there. That is great for the kids, but not so great for the mom who stands out like a sore thumb as she herds in a hoard of children. I was immediately accosted by a lifeguard.

"We have a rule that you have to be in the water with the children."

I explained that I knew the rule (now), but did not bring a suit. He said I could rent a suit from the desk or some parents roll up their pant legs and stand in the water. I told him I was already planning on that.

I proceeded to roll up not very rollable capris and stand in the water. I took my camera (to complete the ridiculousness) and watched the kids, counting heads and snapping photos. They are pretty cute little fish.

They all seemed to be having a great time.

About this time, another life guard comes over.

"Madam, I'm going to have to ask you to be in the water with the kids."

Begin explanation again about not bringing a suit. This guy was not to be swayed and he kept calling me madam which really irked me.

"You can rent a suit at the front. The children with you need to be supervised in the water."

I refrained from pointing out that it was easier to supervise from the shore. However I did mention a slight problem,

"If I go to the front to rent a suit, who is going to supervise the kids?"

"I will Madam."

(AHHH, stop calling me Madam. And if you are going to supervise them, as you get PAID to do, why don't you continue doing so for the next 30 minutes while we are here??)

(Deep breath.) "Okay, I will go get a suit."

And I did. I left the building and drove home to get my suit. Since I live very close, I was back in the pool in less than ten minutes. (I clocked it.)

I played with the kids for the next half an hour and probably didn't supervise as well as before, but I was following orders. Sheesh.

Getting kids out of the pool took a little longer than expected, so we raced home (obeying the speed limit of course...I wasn't taking any more chances) and went right to the business of cake and ice cream. Or should I say, ice cream cupcakes.

Daisy was super excited to open gifts, finally. She loved everything.

Amazingly I remembered to get a group shot. Daisy has such fun friends. This is a fun age.

Top row: Sadie, Daisy, Annie, June, Alina, Lizzie
Bottom Row: Pearl, Ivory, Rachel, Katelynn

 And bonus...no one drowned. Most likely because I was in the water protecting them.

I jest. (But not much.)

It was a really fun week. I'll have June do a guest post and give you the goods on Girls Camp.

p.s. Robyn was at Mo-Mo's birthday party so is not in the picture.