Haircut

I just donated my hair. The new do is okay but not as short as I wanted.

Random Thought Thursday

1. A co-worker brought in puppy chow today and we've all been commenting on the fact that it's like crack - we can't stop eating it.
2. Our family is currently obsessed with the game, Ticket to Ride.
3. Last night, the Polack, Seeger and I went on a bike ride down the B-Line trail. We usually ride around our house so this was a nice change - we didn't have to huff up any hills.
4. My Stella and Dot jewelry turned my finger green. Boo.
5. The Polack and I are headed to Milwaukee for our anniversary trip. He's been guessing all week and I've been providing clues. He finally figured it out.
6. One clue was I told him was that there are no major league sports teams. Someone pointed out that I was incorrect. (I honestly thought the Brewers were minor league. Oops.)
7. I came across this post of 10 things to do in Bloomington this summer. Sadly, I've only done two on the list.
8. School starts in ELEVEN DAYS. I can't believe the summer is over.
9. I love wedge heels.
10. I miss Nicklas and I can't wait to hear how his week at camp went. I'll be posting photos next week so you can see some of the things he did at the great Camp Tecumseh.

Seeger at Camp Tecumseh

Over the weekend, we headed to Lafayette to pick up Seeger and drop off Nicklas at Camp Tecumseh. Although this is the first year Seeger could have participated in resident camp, he decided he'd rather stay with his cousins and attend day camp with them. One of many things I love about Camp Tecumseh is that they post photos of campers all the time. Every morning I arrive at work, fill up my cup of water, check facebook, and then I get on the Camp Tecumseh Parent Connection website to look for photos. Here are some they posted throughout the week.

Seeger on the first day. He's in the middle of the next two photos, in the blue shirt:

 I'm not sure what they're doing here but it's a good shot of him in the middle.

In this photo, they're playing Gaga. Nicklas loves playing Gaga and this year, so did Seeger. At the end of the week, he was named the Gaga Guru.

In this photo, Seeger is in the middle left center. I love his serious praying!

Log walking in his flip flops. I should have suggested that he wear his tennis shoes every day.

He's in the bottom left of this photo at the pool. This year he received a blue band for swimming which means he can swim wherever he wants in the pool. He is so proud of that band; he's still wearing it!

In this photo, he's also in the bottom left, next to the blurry head.

LOVE LOVE this photo! I wish I knew who his counselor was.

Here is Seeger with his cousin Ben. They are two peas in a pod.

The group is walking somewhere but I'm not sure what Seeger is doing in this upper middle of the photo. Hopefully he's not getting in to trouble.

He looks tired in this photo (right and center).

The last day of camp is World Carnival. Campers participate in the carnival type activities.

He's at the back of the line, waiting so patiently.

Swimming time! He's hanging on the back of the counselor. 

Now it's Ben's turn to hang on!

This is a photo of Ben (in the white shirt), getting ready for the Black Hole. Seeger didn't do it because it was going to be too dark.

Looks like Ben enjoyed it!

I didn't see many photos of Anna, possibly because she's in the older group. But here she is (in the green shirt) hanging out in the Fort.

We were told that Seeger bawled his eyes out on the last day. He loves Camp Tecumseh and he can't wait to go back next year. He's debating on whether he'll do day camp again or if he's ready for resident camp. I told him he has a few months to decide.

Nicklas should be enjoying his third day of camp right now. I've been sending him notes every day and I know he's having a great time. I'd love to give a special thank you to my mom. She pays for camp for both boys as a Christmas present and provides memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. Thanks momma!

Red Mango!

My Bucket List

Here is my list of 50 things to do before I turn 50. I can't believe I'm talking about turning 50, especially when I'm not yet 40 but there is so much I want to do. Plus 50 by 50 sounds catchy. (Note that I've accomplished a few things already.)

1.       Sell a quilt

2.       Make my own applesauce

3.       Knit or crochet something

4.       Continue my education

5.       Grow a garden

6.       Join a board of directors

7.       Take a cruise

8.       Make my own salsa

9.       Visit Italy - again

10.   Take my family white water rafting

11.   Make my own jam

12.   Invest in the stock market

13.   Go camping - again

14.   Make an article of clothing

15.   Make a cook book of my grandmother’s recipes

16.   Buy a motorcycle for the Polack

17.   Build something out of wood

18.   See Niagara Falls

19.   Cross to the Canadian border

20.   Sit in seats on the floor of Assembly Hall for an IU basketball game

21.   Finish the basement

22.   Become a CASA

23.   Apply my own gel nails

24.   Live in Europe

25.   Learn how to jar/can something

26.   Present at a national conference

27.   Bike to work and back

28.   Bungee jump or sky dive

29.   Stay at the Bellagio

30.   Go deep sea fishing

31.   Ride in a hot air balloon

32.   Go the top of the Eiffel Tower

33.   Volunteer with my family

34.   Fly in a helicopter

35.   Meet a movie star

36.   Become a foster parent

37.   Join a book club

38.   Visit Bali

39.   Attend the Kentucky Oaks

40.   Ride a horse on the beach

41.   Travel to Ireland

42.   Get Lasik

43.   Sink four perfect corn holes

44.   Visit San Francisco

45.   Win a poker tournament

46.   Become Director of Donor Relations for university

47.   Hand piece an entire quilt

48.   Chop all my hair off – super short!

49.   Buy a pair of black high heeled peep toe shoes

50.   Go with IU to the Rose Bowl

Random Thought Thursday

Well look-ie here... I'm actually posting RTT on a Thursday. How novel.

Just walking to my car, driving 10 minutes down the road, and walking in to a meeting left me dripping in sweat. I wore a sleeveless dress today but the lining is STICKING to me.

The cousins came to stay with us for a few days and we had so much fun with them. There were lots of laughter and antics (and some farting too – I’m not used to so much farting) and jokes.

With two upcoming weddings, we bought suits for the boys yesterday. It wasn’t cheap and we still have to get shoes and shirts and ties. But it will be worth it once I see them all dressed up. They sure are two cuties.

Project Runway starts tonight!

That just made me think of America’s Next Top Model. It usually premiers around the same time. Okay, I just checked and ANTM doesn’t start until the end of August.

Seeger will be away at summer camp next week and Nicklas is staying with his grandparents. I will miss them but I know I’ll have lots of alone time fun with the Polack.

Our favorite radio station hosts the Third Degree contest every day. They play three songs and you have to use their connection to each other. The first caller to guess the connection wins. We always know the connection but we call and call and call and never get through. Yesterday, the Polack had me calling as soon as the third song started. We didn’t even know the connection yet. The line kept ringing and ringing and then my idol, Laura Duncan, answered. We got through! Luckily the Polack figured out the second connection just in time. We won two tickets to Lyle Lovett and the boys got a kick out of hearing me on the radio.

Lafayette or Bloomington this weekend? I can’t decide.

I have been reading so much lately and my pile of library books keeps getting bigger and bigger. I’m going to have to stop making requests so that I can catch up. I just started Birthmarked and so far it’s really, really good.

I used Marcia Brady’s line “something suddenly came up” the other day and it let me to check out some other famous Brady quotes that I love:

“Baby talk, baby talk, it’s a wonder you can walk!”

“I’m not a snitcher; I just tell it like it is.”

“Pork chops and applesauce.”

“Well, all day long at school I hear how great Marcia is at this or how wonderful Marcia did that! Marcia Marcia Marcia!”

Did you know that you can see the exterior of the Brady Bunch home on Google maps? Type in 11222 Dilling St., Studio City, California and click on the photo on the left. That’s the actual home that was featured in exterior shots. It’s so mid-century modern looking. I love it!

Vacation Recap

After being out of the office for 10 days, I've been playing catch up all week. I finally felt better about my progress on projects after yesterday which means I have some time to breath. And blog!

We had decided a while back that vacation this summer was going to be low key. We did the cruise last year and Florida for spring break so summer vacation this year was a 10 days at Lake George. We started vacation by attending the Indianapolis Indiana vs. Toledo Mudhens game. It was HOT. The whole vacation was HOT. But despite the heat, we had fun with our friends.

The next day, we headed to the Lake. Dinner with the Ranshaw's was at a Mexican restaurant in Coldwater that is located in a converted railroad car.

Our first evening at the Lake. Gorgeous sky!

Most of the family came the weekend before the Fourth to celebrate the couples wedding shower for Emily and Graham and Jake and Kathryn.

We also spent time with baby Quinn!

One day, the Polack and I took the boys to the Auburn-Garrett Drive-In to see Brave and the Avengers.

There were several boat rides and lots of relaxing.

The Polack and I did some shopping at the Outlet Mall. We also had lunch a Bubba's where we saw Cody Zeller's name on the call.

One day, my friends Amy and Heather visited with their families.

 
Seeger enjoying hanging out with Noah. They're just a few months apart in age.

Amy and Heather and Heather's daughter, Emma. Emma was the only girl but she didn't seem to mind too much.

Amy's husband, Nick, and their oldest, Gage. I can't believe Gage will be in 8th grade!!

I met Amy in Mr. Hummer's fourth grade class. Heather and Amy became friends in fifth grade and we all started hanging out. We were the Pointer Sisters for Mrs. Bratton's lip syncing contest.

The boys also got to do some tubing while on at the Lake.

Gotta love those sunsets. 

One night, the Polack and Nicklas and Papa went to the Detroit Tigers game while the rest of us took a boat ride. We say this crazy boat. It's the front of an airplane.

There was also a morning where the Polack and Nicklas decided to swim across the Lake. Here is the view from the dock, just before we left to take the pontoon to the other side.

 Nicklas and the Polack jumped in to swim and I followed them in the pontoon in case either became too tired.

The both make the trek successfully. I was also successful - in parking the pontoon which is something I've never attempted.

The fireworks and boat parade took place on July 7. We didn't participate in the parade but I volunteered to be a judge. The theme was comics and cartoons.

After the boat parade, we took a ride around the Lake with my dad and his wife and the Polack's parents who were visiting.

Then it was fireworks time. I love the fireworks at the Lake because everyone gets in their boats and head out to the middle of the Lake to anchor and watch the show.

The fireworks signaled an end to vacation. The next day we packed up and headed home. We stopped by Fort Wayne to have dinner with my mom at Casa's, our favorite restaurant.

We had a wonderful time at the Lake. I was worried I might get bored and I even brought my sewing stuff  just in case. But I never plugged in my machine. We were too busy taking boat rides, spending time with family and swimming. It was such a hot week that swimming was the one activity we could do to cool off. For the most part anyway because the Lake temp reached 88 degrees at one point. I hope it's a bit cooler the next time we visit.