Madelyn got back from camp, and just as the pictures seemed, she had an awesome time! We all missed her so much, and she missed everyone too. But she has such a great, fun, rewarding experience that it is soooo worth it! She's already ready to go back next year, and for longer!

So while she was there she did some incredible stuff... there was swimming every day, a huge rope swing, a gigantic slip n slide that was part of the July 4th carnival, cooking (she learned how to make pita over a fire, and chocolate balls), lots of good food, lots of great friends, and tons of adventures. She was so busy having fun, that she didn't even read her mail!!! Yes - after we all worried and fretted about making sure she got tons of mail - emails, letters, card, packages, etc. - she didn't even read any of it. I was laughing so hard, when as I was unpacking her, I came across of her mail in a huge pile, practically untouched. Anything that was mailed to her (cards, letters) WASN'T EVEN OPENED!!! She opened packages and took all the goodies out, but really didn't even know who sent her what because she didn't open the notes that went with them!! I'm telling you that kid cracks me up!

After a few leisurely days back at home with Daddy and Rarah, Madelyn is now with her mom and stepdad for a few weeks. We were so sad for her to go, and so was she, but she is also so excited to spend some time with her other side of the family too.

So I guess it's back to the real world for me... no more vacations for a little bit, and Monday I am back at work for the first full week I'll be working in over a month. What a bummer!!!

T minus 24 hours!

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. This time tomorrow, we'll be pulling through the gates at GFC to pick up the princess and my big girls too!!! It's very bitter sweet... I am so ready to see Madelyn and hear all about her camp adventures, the friends she made, and the fun things they did. I am so ready to give her a big hug and kiss and squeeze her tight. But I am also sad that her first summer at sleep-away camp is already over too. It went by really fast, and really slow at the same time. I just hope she can remember all of it so she can tell us EVERYTHING! I wish I could go back to camp...

I have to give another shout out to the friends that were at camp while Madelyn was there. They made it bearable for us back home. The daily doses and updated on how much fun she was having was both a relief and a joy to each day. It's been super difficult these past few days with no one there to send me texts, emails, and pictures! Next year, we'll have to coordinate their staffing time so that they aren't all there at the same time! Hello - priorities!!!

This morning was a little difficult. My routine for the past 9 days has been:
1. arrive at work
2. skim for important emails, skip all the others and come back to later
3. get on GFC site, look for pictures
4. email Madelyn

No #4. today. So sad. I didn't really know what to do - it felt so weird to not email her. So I started to email her anyway, but then I thought - well that's just ridiculous, she won't even get it!

Last night I made a big Welcome Home poster for Madelyn, and tonight I'm going to get some balloons to hang with it for when she gets home. I remember my mom used to always pick me up from the bus drop off (I took the bus home with all of my friends) with balloons, signs and presents. It was like it was my birthday! Spoiled, I know... but I guess the tradition must continue.

Well, I guess I better get some work done since today is my Friday!

And by the way... if I hear one more thing about Michael Jackson, I am going to scream. Enough already - let's talk about some real news!!!!!

Camp ROCKS

Well, 4 complete days of camp have come and gone, and my spies have given daily reports that Madelyn is all smiles and having an awesome time at camp. It's such a relief. It's harder than I thought with her being there (for me - not her!). It's not that I don't get to see her - I'm used to that - but I find myself constantly worrying about her. Is she having fun, is she getting along with her new friends, does she have enough clothes, enough panties, is she getting enough to eat, enough rest, enough water, is she homesick, blah, blah, blah - you get the picture. It's been a HUGE relief to have some friends there staffing this week (what a great coincidence that they are there the same week as Mads - that was a great surprise), and to hear little updates on how she's doing. Not just that she's doing well, but I've gotten specifics on some of the things they are doing, and some things she said...

For example: I asked Aimee to tell her that at the rate she was going, she better make sure she sends her clothes to laundry. (On day 2, I'd seen pics of her in 4 different outfits!! And when we packed her I packed her 11 outfits for 10 days and told her she didn't have to do laundry if she didn't want to). So now I've been panicking, think OMG - she's not going to send her clothes to get washed because "Rarah said I didn't have to", and then she's going to get to day 6 or 7 and not have any clean clothes! So I was going to go buy a few more outfits and get them in the mail real quick. And then I thought - no, she'll figure it out. She's a big girl, and at the end of the day if she has to wear some dirty clothes it's not the end of the world. Now you all know 1. this is a kid who wants to change if she gets the slightest amount of dirt or stain on her shirt, and 2. the thought of her having to wear dirty clothes both grosses me out and makes me feel just awful! So anyway, I asked Aimee to tell her to be sure to send laundry. I get a message from Barrett the next day, along with my "daily dose" that Madelyn is doing great and having fun, she says... "She said she thought she would be ok with her clothes, but will need to wash her underwear". I just laughed. That's my kiddo!

So in all of the pictures we've seen, Madelyn seems to be having the time of her life. PHEW! I really thought she would, but you just never know. She's so independent, strong willed, and fun, and so I really did think camp would be nothing but wonderful for her. It's just so nice that this experience is transpiring as we'd hoped. Again, a huge thanks to our friends who helped make this decision. It wasn't easy, let me tell you. But Trey and I discussed it a ton, and talked to several people with more experience in this area, and ultimately, I am so glad we made the decision to send her to Greene.

Madelyn's having a BLAST at camp!

I'm back at work today and it has been incredibly hard to concentrate and get anything done. Here are few of the thoughts that have run through my head today...

• 7:00 am - I hope Madelyn had a good night last night
• 7:05 am - Wonder what they will do today
• 7:10 am - I can't wait to get to work and see if they posted pictures
• 7:12 am - Okay stop thinking about camp, and get ready for work. Yuck - have to go back to work
• 7:20 am - No - you can't check pictures yet. You have to get to work first. That's the deal
• 8:05 am - This traffic sucks... I wish I was at camp instead of heading to work
• 8:50 am - Okay, at work - have a lot to get done today
• 8:51 am - Okay, first I'll see if there are pictures posted, then I'll get work done
• 8:55 am - What? No pictures?? Yeez... what a bummer
• 8:59 am - Maybe if I email her, THEN I can focus on getting some work done
• 9:10 am - Still no pictures
• 9:12 am - Still no pictures
• 9:20 am - Still no pictures
• 9:30 am - Still no pictures
• 9:40 am - Okay, this is ridiculous! I thought they posted pictures during the night
• 9:50 am - Hello - get some work done
• 10:00 am - I hope Madelyn ate a good breakfast. Wonder what they are doing now. Wonder what she's wearing and if she dirt on it and has changed clothes yet.
• 10:15 am - Still no pictures
• 10:20 am - Still no pictures
• 10:21 am - text from April "Pictures are loaded!" - What, I just checked...
• 10:25 am - There she is!! Yay, she's having a great time I can tell
• 10:30 - Okay, maybe now I can focus on work

Imagine all of this repeating throughout the day. With a few hours of actual work thrown in there, but not much. It's been so hard to get anything productive done!!

Then I got a call from Barrett and Aimee, who are at camp this week. They went by to see Madelyn and check on her, and were calling with a report. It put the biggest smile on my face to hear that she is loving camp and having a blast!! Madelyn thought it was so cool that they know me, and when Aimee asked her what she should tell me was her favorite part of camp so far, she said, "EVERYTHING! My bunk is wonderful!". She also said to tell me that she got just a little homesick for a minute, but she got over it fast. How cute is that! When Barrett told her that we went to camp together when we were her age, she just couldn't believe it!

So then, a few minutes ago I got a message from Oren, who is also at Greene this week. He checked on Mads and said she was having a blast and it was so great to see her running around mad with all of her new friends.

WOW. We are so lucky to have such awesome friends, and great spies!! I'm so grateful for them and the knowledge that our princess is having so much fun!

Our baby is growing up!

Well, we got Madelyn all dropped off and settled in at Greene Family Camp this morning. It was a wildly successful event.


Getting ready to leave the house this morning... GFC bound!


But before we left, April had a little surprise for Madelyn... a new bunkbed charm for her charm bracelet! Madelyn loved it so much, she asked April to get it put on her bracelet and mail it to camp!!

We made it in great time - thankfully since she was so excited and ready to be there.

On our way to camp... are we there yet?!

Pulling into camp... the excitement was boiling over!

We got her through check-in and to her bunk in quick time, and we even got to say hello to Loui - the camp director who has been around since before I was at Greene, and was very helpful in our decision making for Madelyn to go to camp. She was unpacked and all settled, and within minutes, fast friends! Dena, who we met last weekend at the pool party, is in Madelyn's bunk and we are so happy about that - they immediately hit it off last weekend, and today were instantly by each other's side.

At her cabin - all ready to meet her bunkmates!

Getting all settled in - she could have cared less where I put her stuff - she just wanted to get her camp experience started!

So after we got her bed made, clothes unpacked and cubbies filled, we headed to Kibbutz to see Dani and Jackie. At first I was worried because there was no one around, but as we were getting ready to head back down to main camp, they came walking up. Dani ran straight to Madelyn - she was so happy to see her and so excited that she is finally at camp. Jackie wasn't far behind and we got to chat for a minute and get a few pics in before we got kicked off of Kibbutz.

So excited to see her big cousins!

It all brought back incredible memories of my days at Greene. I'm so thrilled that Madelyn gets to experience this. I just know that it will be such a rewarding, growing, phenomenal time for her.

So as the day has progressed, it hasn't been easy. Nerves are on overdrive, and we're all so anxious about Madelyn being away. It was especially hard for Trey come 6:30, as I know it was for Jennifer too. This is the first time to not talk to Madelyn for a day, let alone 10! We all know that Madelyn is going to do great, have a wonderful time, and learn so much. But the question is... will we survive?!?! I know that we will, but in the meantime, Trey and I are learning how to be sooo happy, and sooo sad at the same time. All the way home I was worried that I forgot to pack something, or tell her something. I know she's fine, but I can't help it.

I hope that Madelyn found the surprises I left under her pillow from Daddy and Rarah, and one from Bubbe. I know she'll have tons of mail every day - there is already 7 emails waiting to be printed for tomorrow's mail call. I just hope she has enough time to read them all. I can't wait to hear from her, but I also hope she doesn't get too worried or consumed with trying to write everyone. Just one letter to let us know she's doing as well as we know she will, and that's all I need.

So that's all for now. Enjoy the pics of camp dropoff!

One last pic... as we were leaving (she couldn't get rid of us fast enough!), Madelyn was already hanging with her new friends!

Follow me to GFC...

T minus 6 hours...

Tomorrow morning Madelyn is headed to Greene Family Camp for her first summer sleep-away camp experience. I am SUPER excited, and really nervous too. I've gone through her packing list 3 or 4 times tonight, counted her outfits, panties, socks, checked for sunblock, waterbottle, stationary with labels and stamps, toothbrush, hairbrush, and bedding galore. I recounted her outfits and panties - for fear that she'll run out. And just as I always did when I went to camp, she has more than enough to get her through (of course I went over the suggested quantities just a little).

Madelyn is incredibly excited, and I am so glad that she is still looking so forward to it. I just know she'll have such an awesome time and I think this will be an amazing experience for her - both for the fun, and for the learning experiences too.

Well, it's really late, and I'm exhausted so I'll post on how the drop off goes. Don't forget to write her - email me if you need the email login or address info.

Wow - these last few days have been busy...

We had an awesome Father's Day weekend! Grammy and Grandad came to Dallas for a visit, and they brought with them Bijou (Grammy's maltese puppy), and Flora (Grandad's newest find... a fawn - baby deer - that they are bottle feeding). It was tons of fun. We relaxed around the house, went bowling, grilled steaks for dinner, and just enjoyed everyone being together. Unfortunately, back to Blanco they went Sunday morning...

Sunday evening Trey, Madelyn, and I went to a pool party for all of the GFC Campers from Dallas that are Madelyn's age and going to camp for the first time together. Trey and I got an email from one of the parents that they were organized a little pool party to get all the kids together before camp so they would make some friends and know some other kids before they got there. I was so excited at this that I cried. Yes, I know... really, cried?! But it was one of my biggest fears that Madelyn wouldn't know any other kids, and this just made that one step so much better. She hit it off right away with one of the other girls, and of course the boys. I'm so hoping that they'll be in the same cabin (the girl only of course!) and that this experience will give her some friends in Dallas that she can get together with and spend time with when she is here.

So here we are on Wednesday - hump day. Madelyn and I have had 2 days of vacation so far, and they have been F-U-N! On Monday we had some chores to take care of - the A/C people came out for summer time checkup, and we had our quarterly pest control maintenance completed too. Both appts. were scheduled for 9:00 am and both were here and working by then! Madelyn woke up lazily - watched a movie while I did some cleaning, and then we had lunch at home. Ashley came over for lunch and then we took Madelyn to the roller rink for some roller skating. She tried out roller blades for the first time and she did great! There were lots of falls (she has a huge bruise on her elbow - yikes!), but she was really awesome. She'd just get right back up and tell us "I'm fine, I'm fine", with a roll of the eyes that said - back off, you're embarrassing me! After roller skating, we headed to Target to attempt to get the rest of the camp list taken care of. Notice I said attempt. We weren't very successful, and my patience was just about out, so we called it quits on that for the day. Ash headed home and April and I took Madelyn for some fro yo... for those of you not cool enough - that is frozen yogurt. There is this great place that opened not too far from the house. You fill your own cup (there are about 10 flavors to chose from) and then you put on your own toppings. There candy toppings and fruit. The catch is, you pay by the ounce. We've been frequenting this place, and let me tell you, as hard as I try I don't have it down to a science yet. It costs me almost $5 every time we go, and I keep trying to keep it down, but before you know it, you've filled to the top! DANGEROUS!!!! So then we went home, and cooked dinner, and chilled a little with daddy.

Yesterday we went to the gym in the morning, followed by lunch at Freebirds with April, and then off to do more camp shopping. This time we hit Khol's, and JACKPOT! We got almost everything that remained on the list. YIPPEE!!! I was so excited and it was relatively cheap too. So from there we headed to Leenie's for some pool time. Madelyn was so great helping me get sunblock on my back. We swam for a bit, played a few games in the pool, and then headed home. Last night we got Madelyn's stuff for camp all labeled, and mostly packed up. It's getting close, and she is so excited! Yesterday, Rarah got into a little trouble too. We got a letter from Jackie at camp (it was written to Trey, Madelyn and I), and ooops... I shred it before Trey got to read it! YIKES. He was so NOT happy with me. I was cleaning up, and wasn't even thinking. I tried to regurgitate what it said to him... camp is fun, it's really hot, blah blah blah... It didn't work! He wasn't having any of it. So I had to send an emergency email to Jackie last night for help to redeem me!

This morning I had an orthodontist appt for a second opinion on the process I'll need for my braces. I got mostly the same prognosis - 2 years and $6000!!! But this dr. said I'll need teeth pulled to make room and the other one didn't say anything about that! So now I don't know what to do. I left a message for the first dr. to see if he thinks I need teeth pulled and just didn't say, or what. I guess depending on what he says, I'll go for a 3rd opinion - a tie breaker maybe???!!!!! Oy vey! All I can say is, to anyone out there with young kids, when they start to fight you on getting braces when they are young, you send them to me and I'll set them straight. This is for the birds.

Well, today we are off to have lunch with daddy and go to the Children's Museum and IMAX. Tonight we're picking up Madelyn's cousin, Hollie, for a sleepover and day of fun with us tomorrow! Hopefully it will provide a much needed break for her mom and dad (they just had twins!), and give Madelyn and Hollie some good play time. Oh yeah, and a little break time for me too!!!!

So that's it for now. More to come soon.