Summer Bingo had a consistent presence throughout our summer.
It was intended to give the boys some focus when they were lacking it
It was intended to help alleviate boredom.
It included fun things, academic things and chore-like things that the boys could choose to do. When they completed five in a row they were rewarded with a ticket. Tickets could be turned in for special ice cream treats, a movie rental, a video game rental, or other novelties.
Bishop was particularly enthused about it and has already asked to do it next year.
Being in Cub Scouts allowed for some new summer experiences for Bishop.
He attended Day Camp.
And he attended Resident Camp where he survived copperheads and a storm.
He had a blast!!!
And because the camps theme was a luau, I congratulated him on his accomplishment with a candy lei.
Obviously, he enjoyed it!
Maceo attended Summer Institute at our local community theatre and performed in "Once on This Island." It was an unbelievably great show and definitely warranted a candy lei delivered to his dressing room before the opening performance.
Maceo auditioned for an acting troupe at our local community theatre. Below is his headshot that we submitted with his application and essay. He was selected and will spend a year training in drama, dance and vocals and will perform throughout the community.
The grand finale for the summer was a road trip to the west coast.
While en route we visited family in New Mexico.
It was such a blessing to get to stay with my grandfather and to visit with my mom, sister, and her children. The cousins definitely had a good time together!
The purpose of our cross-country trek was to see Keegan's final performances and to be with her as she graduated from her acting program. Congratulations, Keegan!
On the returning trip, we visited more family in Nevada and did a bit of sight-seeing. It was the first time that Maceo and Bishop had been to the town of their birth since moving from there ten years ago. They greatly enjoyed themselves.
Keegan returned home with us so that she could visit with family and friends and so that she could enjoy some Sonic...
...and some Andy's Frozen Custard. (Just some of the little things that she misses while away from home.)
We had a family gathering in order to celebrate my birthday belatedly (so that Keegan could make my birthday cake) and to allow Keegan to visit with cousins.
We finished up the summer with an evening of gourmet s'mores...
(My s'more bar included regular marshmallows, jumbo marshmallows, coconut marshmallows, chocolate marshmallows, graham crackers, cinnamon graham crackers and granola thins, hershey's chocolate bars, reese's peanut butter cups, and three types of Wonka bars. Experimentation was encouraged. My personal favorite was a regular marshmallow and a reese's between one graham cracker and one granola thin. Yum!!!)
...and croquet.
Now Keegan has returned to California to pursue her dreams and, as for the rest of us, we say goodbye to summer and say hello to fall and another school year.
Bishop says hello to the fifth grade...
...and Maceo to the sixth grade.
Although we have enjoyed the summer...
...and the respite that it gave us from the humdrum routine of life,
...we look forward to the year to come
...and the many adventures that are sure to come with it!
Around the campfire that evening, Bishop and the other boys entertained us with stories and dramatizations. And I had an opportunity to contribute my "expertise" to the camp out - I supplied the s'more fixings: giant marshmallows and chocolate marshmallows, graham crackers and granola thins, chocolate bars and reese's, and more. They were a huge hit.
