August 2023

This summer we didn’t take a trip anywhere and instead kept it kind of local. The girls spend a week in Charlottesville with my parents and then Dave and I came down to join them for a few days. On our way back to PA we stopped over in DC for two days to do some of the touristy stuff that we haven’t done in a while.

In Virginia we visited with Aleen and watched some polo at King Family Vineyard. We also toured Monticello, and we met up with the Davis’ at Pro Renata in Crozet. I love when we can get Sophie and Lexi together.

In DC we hit two museum, the Spy Museum and the Museum of the American Indian. We walked along the lawn and saw the Washington Monument, various memorials, and then veered off to see the White House. We also had some very excellent dinners, which was a good reward for all of the walking.

Overall the girls were pretty good, although I wouldn’t say it was their most favorite vacation. But I’m happy they can still be good sports for us.

This summer Sophie decided to try out a sleepaway camp. A lot of her friends go for the full summer and she finally decided that she wanted to give it a try. She picked Camp Kweebec, which is only about an hour away. She knew several girls who went there. We decided that the half summer option, which is 4 weeks, was the better option for the first time. She definitely had some ups and downs over the month – most of the kids have been going for years, so camp friend groups were well in place – but after a tough start she had a good time.

We dropped her at a bus pick up so all the kids can arrive together. It was an emotional good-bye, but her bus seatmate from a friend from school, so that helped.

Waiting to board the bus to Camp Kweebec

She didn’t have her phone for the entire month so the only communication we had was via snail mail, which was weird for all of us. The camp also had an app where they posted pictures daily, so we could at least see what the kids were doing.

After a month away, she finally came home on July 23rd and spent the next three weeks as a counselor in training at Miquon Day Camp, which she loves. She hasn’t decide what she’ll do next year, but she knows that she can be a paid counsel next year, so the scales might tip in that direction. We’ll see.

Meanwhile, Lauren spent the first two weeks at sailing camp in Rock Hall with Bella. After that, we came back to PA and she did a month at Friend Central Middle School, where they had a day camp that she loved. There was swimming, sports, crafts and general hanging out with other kids all day, which is just up her ally. She also had two friends that went with her.

It’s been a long, filled summer and we’ve still got a few weeks to go! Camps end on Friday and the girls will be headed for a week down in Va. with my family.