Sleepover Camp and Enchanted Castle

     Caroline decided she was ready for sleepover camp this year and found a friend to go with her.  We dropped her off at Camp Manitoqua this morning.  She scored the top of a 3 level bunk and is rooming with her friend Claudia.  To her, this whole adventure is no big deal and she is ready to take on the week!  

*As I write this, a huge storm is rolling through but a friend close to the camp says they do not have much wind, only rain at this point.

So with Caroline at Camp Manitoqua and Mitchell at ESY (extended school year) and then camp with Tri-County SRA, I thought the other kids and I should do something they both enjoy - video gaming & exciting rides!

Steven has been asking to return to Enchanted Castle ever since we went there for a mother/son outing 2 years ago.  And a bonus came my way when I looked up the phone number online an a Groupon offer popped up - BAMMO!

Grace says this is one of her Best Day Ever days.

 Grace looks like a giant spinning in this teapot for really little kids.

Steven located his favorite game Animal Kaiser and met a kid who looked just like him playing the same game - weird.

 Grace acted 15, not 5, as she rhode the Catapult with arms up and everything.  That is her on the right.

And the play area had taken a few steroids since we were there last and Grace had a blast.  She ended her day shooting giant spiders in Jungle Safari.

First Day of Summer Vacation

Summer is officially here at the Ivey house.  We slept in until 7:45 - woohoo!  The kids clearly have not adjusted to vacation weekday mode.  It is 11:30am and I have just finished my 1st pot of coffee and contemplating making another.

So far we have eaten breakfast, played on PC and Grandma has come over so I can shower.

Mitchell built a fort.

I have watched Baby Genius Nursery Rhymes and Childrens Favorite Songs videos 4x, paid a bill and signed up the girls for VBS.

Mitchell has also played with water balloons - quickly going through the 1000 that arrived the other day, ran through the sprinkler and his current fitness training.

 The other kids - plus one - have retired to the basement and Minecraft.

In 1 hr the sitter arrives so I can travel to Naperville to the 1st of our last three NeuroFeedback appointments.  Mitchell starts ESY (extended school year) on Wednesday and then Summer Camp begins Friday.  Everyone in our family should be as productive with their time as he is.

Happy Summer Vacation - it is not as scary this year as it has been in the past, everyone is growing up nicely.  Considering I have been able to take pictures, upload and blog, the Summer break is starting out well.  We will have to see what everything looks like mid-August.  Maybe I should do before and after selfies.

What's with the ear?

Just realized I haven't written since the summer.  Youzer the time really flies.  Some thoughts are short enough for a quick Facebook post but most of the time I have quite a bit to say but no time to type it up.  I will try to focus more on my blogging than Facebook.  It ends up on my page anyways!

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A few days ago Mitchell started pulling on his ears a little more than normal.  He was banging his head at school and at home and crying.  One time even holding the side of his head saying "pain".  Huge steps obviously in the speech department but then he turns around quickly and we do not find the source of his frustration and pain.

About an hour ago he was trying to stick my finger in his ear and giggling once again with no other indication of the true problem.   Steve suggests we get the flashlight and really look into his ears.  Left ear looks alright but the right ear has what looks like popcorn in it!  We eat popcorn all the time but I cannot pinpoint when we had it last.

Steve is at the urgent care with him right now.  Just texted to say it was crumpled paper, not popcorn, and the ear is slightly infected so giving him antibiotics.  AND he did awesome with the Dr.  Always so exciting here.

Reminded me of the time Steven decided at the age of  6 or so that it was a good idea to pick up a piece of packaging styrofoam and jam it in his ear.  When we asked why he said "I don't know just felt like it."  Something with my boys and their ears.