For the third year in a row Callie went to a sleep away camp called Cathedral Domain. And this year she was proud of the fact that her week at the Domain was going to make it four weeks in a row without sleeping in her own bed because of our trip to Florida and her time in Montreat. To add one more great element to it all, Callie signed up with her friend Janie. And although Janie was going to be her partner in crime, there were also going to be multiple other friends from her school at the camp. She had another great experience and can't wait to go back.
While Callie spent the 4th of July at camp, the rest of the family got to march in Lexington's parade. It was a very hot day, but we were happy to march in support of our friend Liz who was running for a seat on City Council. Since John was one of only two men who joined the march he was quickly tagged as a banner carrier.
Liz's daughter Amelia was all decked out as a firework for the parade, so we did what we could to make sure Reese was just as festive. There was no denying that she was walking in a 4th of July parade. You can't see it in the picture but her shirt was as patriotic as they come.
The beginning of July also brought some fun international visitors to town. Sharon and Chris's Scottish grandchildren flew in and stayed for the month, which meant we got a lot of time with Dylan and Meryl. The kids had a great time running around outside looking for crickets and Callie and Reese loved doting on Meryl. We just loved the Scottish accents on the wee ones.
It's been a few years since Callie danced in Ballet Under the Stars, but we still make a point of seeing at least one performance each summer. It helps that Katherine Bracken continues to be a part of the show. We get our tickets and get a great seat on her parents' blanket where Marybeth provides all sorts of goodies for one and all. She never disappoints.
This summer we got a special treat when the Abraham girls stayed with us while their parents went away for a weekend to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. We hit the local pool and also had a great time going bowling. Ella and Claire are great sources of fun and have no problem letting loose with our girls.
Because we had missed out on celebrating Claire's birthday months before, we decided to use their visit as an opportunity to take her out for a little celebration. The bowling was part of it, but the song and ice cream at El Toro really sealed the experience. We surprised Claire with the celebration at the restaurant, and the look on her face was priceless. It is easy to surprise someone when you celebrate their birthday three months late.
Because Ella and Claire were staying with us the weekend before school started we made sure that they were fully prepared for the first day. In the Bowes household this means making signs, and so all four of them got ready for the big day. It's quite a range when you are going from 2nd grade to sophomore in high school.
Of course nothing quite signals the end of summer like Picnic with the Pops with the Chrismans. This was our tenth year and we continue to do it in style. It was a tribute to the Rolling Stones, and though it didn't match the previous year with Michael Jackson, it was a whole lot of fun. We had two tables of great folks and tasty food. We will see if next year brings an expansion to three tables.
And as summer was starting to end, soccer was starting to ramp up. The four girls pictured here were all going to be playing together on a team for LFC. It was a crazy build up to this moment, but they were excited for the opportunity to play, even if it meant playing on a team of girls who were one age group older. Regardless of what age bracket they play in, their friendship, goofiness, and overall great attitudes allowed them to see it as a tremendous learning experience. And the carpools to practice alone were a ton of fun.
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