barrett: 98 months old

Barrett has been camp-happy this summer - I think I was trying to make it up to both him and Britton about every single thing ever being cancelled last summer.  He's been to "Mission to Mars" camp, tennis camp, and adventure camp which was entirely outdoors.  I think he's camped out, which is fine, because he's hanging out with Memaw and PawPaw for the rest of the summer.  This was Barrett's first season on swim team, and he learned the strokes really easily.  His best is the backstroke!  He's hooked on the swim meets (might have something to do with the snow cone truck) which is great, because both kids are doing swim team every year.  It's such great exercise, plus they learn to compete, set goals, and celebrate achievements!

Likes:  Super Mario Brothers, playing tennis with his new racquet, discovering new bike trails with me

Dislikes:  having his braces tightened 

143 months old

It recently occurred to us that Britton's 12th birthday is in a month!!  I feel like this summer is flying by (maybe just because last summer didn't?) and it snuck up on me.  She doesn't want to do a big party, and instead we're going to plan a fun day out, dinner, then cake at home, with family and her best friend.  It's been an intense summer of fun - Britton spent two weeks at sleepaway camp, then came back to softball camp.  I also enrolled her in a theatre camp, which she wanted nothing to do with after the first day.  Well, not every camp can be a winner, so I'm happy that the first two worked out so well!  Britton was excited to make it back home for the last swim meet of the season.

This year, Britton and I applied for and were accepted into the National Charity League (NCL), a philanthropy organization for women and their daughters.  We will be in NCL from 7th grade until high school graduation, and have to volunteer a certain number of hours per year, and attend monthly meetings.  My friend told me that it's a good idea to try and get a jump on your hours over the summer, when schedules are a bit less hectic than the school year.  We've volunteered at a charity resale shop, restocking the clothing racks, and also went to the animal shelter to read to the cats.  Britton and her best friend also made the animal shelter some fleece blankets, dog toys, and bandannas, last weekend.  

Likes:  reading to the cats, racing Barrett in the pool, sleeping in

Dislikes:  theatre camp that requires her to write a script and original song