After the 4th recovery

We have another wonderful summer week under our belts. They are slowly slipping by. There were 2 main events this past week, group camping from Sunday-Tuesday and celebrating the 4th with family members who stayed with us from Tuesday-Thursday. I have awakened this morning with a slight non-alcoholic hangover feeling. You would not believe the laundry pile I have. I am hoping I can get dressed this morning.

Camping was a lot of fun. The kids and I joined 2 other families from our homeschool co-op and had a 14 person group camp experience. It was primitive, with one vault toilet and one pump for water. (you couldn't even turn a spigot, it was a real pump). Half way through our adventure it rained for several hours. The kids were just great and found ways to make it fun. We went on a great boating trip up and down the Mississippi. Buddy and his friends spent much of the time fishing off of the beach near our site. One poor Northern (I think) was caught and released. I don't believe in catch and release- either you eat the thing or don't fish at all. What a joke- the fish is pulled out of the water for many minutes, the hook is ripped out of its mouth or gills and then put back to go live a happy life. Yeah, right. Sorry.....
The children (all 8 of them) entertained us with stories, jokes, and drama. We played a new game called "Mafia" -which was a blast!! It is a great game for around the campfire at night- and easy for the adults who don't want to get out of their chairs. (like me!) Martha was especially keen on the drama and stories and Mafia games. We also visited an Ecodome. This is a home that is built to be totally "Green". It has composting toilets, solar/wind power, etc. Steve and I have always dreamed of living in a Geo-dome and it made me even wish for it more! I am sure all the local building codes make it virtually impossible to try something lilke this.

Our 4th celebrations with our relatives was also very nice. We spent the 4th at a nearby lake. We swam, ate good food, and enjoyed the gathering of good friends with good conversation. Buddy got a whopping headache and a couple others weren't feeling well, so we were unable to stay for fireworks, but it was still very nice. Yesterday, our group went to another unique county park for a swim. We wore ourselves out hauling floaties, towels, and coolers-but wouldn't have done it any differently. I think Buddy and myself are a shade darker after all that sun.

Steve has been listening to Dennis Prager (a very interesting talk show host). We have been having a great time discussing (it is not fighting...but, rather, an energetic exchange of ideas) some of the topics. We can download the programs onto our MP3 players, enabling us to cut out all the commercials, etc. He talked with the author about the book "Rethinking Thin". It was very interesting- one point of the discussion was that not everyone can reach that perfect thinness- and that genetics and physiology prevent it from happening. It was great. Prager also discusses religious issues. If you want to expand your thinking, listen to someone that is very intelligent and reasonable- but challenging, then this would be for you!!

Those are the highlights of the week. We are so thankful for all our friends and family who made it a week of summer bliss. This upcoming week we are back to baseball updates, a Harry Potter review, and hopefully some tackling of the monstrous pile of clothes in my basement. Hope you all have a good weekend!