Spirits, Scary Cats, and Fireflies

Summer is in full swing here. Hannah completed her first camp Friday. She signed up for Kids College Art Camp, where the children spend a week exploring a story through the arts. This year, the story was “Sadako.” The camp culminates in a simple production at the college theatre. The kids are involved in making costumes, set decorations, and other crafts during the week and then act out the story on the final Friday. Hannah was a spirit. The kids all did a beautiful job. “Sadako” is the true story of a Japanese girl who dies of leukemia as a result of the bombing of Hiroshima. You can learn more about her at www.sadako.com.

Next up for Hannah is Vacation Bible School at our former Lutheran church. She'll stay with her grandparents for a week while attending VBS.

John is, of course, too young for a camp. He got a special treat yesterday, though. Karl’s godmother sent him the movie “Napoleon” for his birthday. He watched it yesterday afternoon, and it was his first, full-length film. He handled it well, though there was a scene involving an adorable puppy being accosted by a scary cat. He talks about the cat incessantly, and likes to make cat-fight sounds. Hopefully he’ll give that up soon. A full day of John sounding like he has fur balls was enough for all of us.

Friday night we were all treated to a truly spectacular firefly display. We have hoards of them here. We were on the back patio until nearly midnight, which is apparently when they really get going. Hannah, especially, got to enjoy them. She slept outside on the trampoline with the little girls next door. Their dad slept on the trampoline with them. When I kissed her good night before I went inside, she said she wanted to go to sleep counting fireflies. I wondered if I’d hear her come in the middle of the night, but she actually did stay out there until Saturday morning. When I woke up at 7:00, I looked outside and saw her and the other two girls jumping on the trampoline in their pajamas. The girls' father was apparently still trying to sleep: his prostrate body was being flung about like a sack of potatoes.

Next up for us is a week of birthday activities. On Tuesday, Hannah’s birthday, Grandmom and Opa will come down for dinner. The following Saturday, Hannah is hosting a birthday sleepover party for three friends. We’re going to have homemade pizzas and a make-your-own ice cream sundae bar.