Spotlight Camp

Every season, I get a little overwhelmed when deciding what to sign the kids up for and what to pass on. I had originally signed Brooke up for a "Safety City" camp that was to take place a couple of weeks ago, but then found out about a summer camp that Spotlight was sponsoring that same week. Wanting to take her opinion into account, I gave Brooke the option and she enthusiastically chose the theater camp. I was hesitant to send her only because the camp was from 9-3 and she's my baby. But then I was honest with myself and realized that she hasn't been napping for years and certainly has a flair for the theatrical. So, off to Spotlight camp it was.

The week really couldn't have gone much better for her. She loved the themed days (Crazy Hair day - one benefit to her having such fine, short hair; Color Day; Princess and Pirate Day) and loved taking her lunch and buying a snack there. Kali also signed up to go, but was sick the last two days. When Brooke was still excited to go without Kali, I knew she was having a great time.

In the meantime, these two (and I!) had to figure out how to make things work without Brooke around. Let's be honest - she can be bossy and opinionated and certainly runs things where Miles is concerned. Usually by lunchtime, Miles was asking if we could go pick her up yet. We still had a lot of fun and it was a good little taste of how things will be when she goes to first grade. It also made me very grateful that I don't have to send her to full day kindergarten.

On the last day, the camp put on a little performance where each kid got a couple of lines and a solo.

Brooke's team did a mini-performance and the older kids had a longer show. She was SUPER excited and seemed to be having a great time. I was so proud of her and happy for her.

My friend Joy brought her kids, Tye and Olivia. Tye brought her a flower (oops, should have thought of that). Olivia does the real Spotlight shows. Maybe someday they'll be in one together...

Aunt Jamie and Grandpa Brian were also there to cheer her on.

Matt was at Will's bachelor party, so he couldn't make it and Miles wasn't interested in sitting for a picture after he'd been sitting for half an hour watching a play. And as usual, Paige wasn't impressed.

It was such a great day and I'm so happy that we found Spotlight. Here are Brooke's biggest lines and her solo. Enjoy!

The Rest of June

Matt sat with the kids watching a storm come through the other night. It seems like we've had storms around here nearly every day lately. Brooke doesn't like them and Miles is terrified of them. Which makes it great when they happen at bed time. When Matt's gone. My solution was to let the two of them sleep together in Brooke's bed with the bathroom light on. It took a few warnings, but I eventually came up to find this. So sweet.

Speaking of sleep, sorry to beat a dead horse, but I feel like I'm still in mourning over losing Miles' nap. On the third day of VBS, he finally gave in and fell asleep one afternoon while watching a movie.

And speaking of VBS, the kids sang a couple of their songs at church on Sunday. They weren't nearly as loud as they are singing them in the car, but they still did great.

Dinner with friends while their daddies competed in Four Corners Man of the Year.

Paige and Hudson Bauer playing.

Brooke started Lil' Chippers again last week. The day before, I asked if she was excited about it and she said, "A little excited and a little bit not-excited." Luckily, she found Annabelle right away and seemed to have a good time.

Thanks to Grammie Deb for the pictures and for taking her out there!

I don't like how old she looks in this picture.

It's hard to believe summer's one-third of the way over. Looking forward to two more great months!

Six Flags ("Great America")

I think I mentioned this in a previous post, but at the end of last summer, our St. Louis family all bought season passes to Six Flags because they were offering a crazy good deal. We figured it was a fun outing for the cousins, plus we'd have the option to go to the Six Flags near us, as well.

*Quick sidenote: I've never understood why everyone up here call Six Flags "Great America" and it always inexplicably bugged me a little. We don't call the Six Flags in St. Louis "Mid-America" (its full title used to be "Six Flags Over Mid-America"). After doing a little research, I discovered that it used to be an amusement park called "Great America" owned by Marriott until Six Flags bought it in 1984. Now I'm not as annoyed by people calling it that, although my kids will not be raised that way. And you're welcome for that nugget of Midwest amusement park trivia.*

Anyway, Matt took Wednesday off so we could go out as a family and enjoy the park. Brooke was incredibly excited to ride her first upside-down roller coaster. They rode "The Demon" four times.

While they were doing that, Miles, Paige and I headed to the two-story (!) carousel.

Next was Miles' first real roller-coaster, which also meant it was Brooke's first time riding solo. It was a big day for the Alley family.

I also took one for the team and rode the Scrambler-esque ride. It was worth it to hear them giggle for a minute straight.

Matt and I took turns riding the giant rocking boat ride with the big kids. Again, giggles the whole time.

I tried to take a picture as we were riding and got yelled at right away. Breaking rules makes me so nervous and getting caught makes me feel even worse. Matt and I are obviously not cut from the same cloth in that regard.

After a semi-edible, overpriced lunch, we determined that Paige was not going to nap in her stroller so we headed to the kiddie ride areas where she was able to do almost all the rides, and Brooke and Miles still had a blast, too.

Paige seemed to enjoy herself, but did a good job keeping her poker face. In her defense, she gets hot more easily than someone smack in the middle of menopause and it was not a cool day. Plus, she usually naps at 9 and 1 and hadn't slept at all that day. We were lucky she held it together as well as she did.

We finished the day with half-melted ice cream bars and a ride on the log flume. Matt talked me into taking this.

It was a really fun day and I think we all had a great time (despite Paige's recurring expression)!

Father's Day

On Father's Day, we had pretty nice weather (for a change). We got up for early service, then headed out to Medinah for Matt to golf with his dad and brother while I took the kids to the pool. I've done that twice this summer and have come to the conclusion that at this stage of life, photos will not be taken while I'm making sure that three humans have their heads above water. Suffice it to say that we had fun, especially when the rest of the non-dads in the family joined us.

After Paige napped (it makes me sad that I can no longer say "naps" when referring to that time of day), we got a little dressed up and headed to Matt's parents' for dinner, Mike's belated birthday celebration, and let's be honest - the end of the U.S. Open. We had a little photo opp with the grandkids before they got crabby/dirty. Paige opted for one stinkeye pose and one semi-smile.

My kids LOVE Baby Bri (How could you not? She really is too cute.). It's fun to see the babies interacting more.

We tend to be on a bit of an earlier dinner schedule than the rest of the family, so my kids were ready and eager for dinner to be served.

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Uncle Mike and had a dessert smorgasbord.

Then my kids bugged Will and Jamie we all hung out for the end of the U.S. Open.

The kids started to go a little crazy by the end of the night, but it was really fun to be with everyone again for a couple of great celebrations.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, but specifically to my husband, dad and father-in-law, who are all such awesome examples of fatherly love.