Brick Loot

Knowing how much Elizabeth loves Legos, Mike and Sandra sent her something called Brick Loot for her birthday.  Brick Loot is a company created by a 9 year old boy that loves Lego.  Each month, a different Brick Loot box is filled with 4-8 items that were hand picked by Lego lovers - different themes, etc.  Elizabeth received her shipment in late August and built it in one afternoon during the week before school started. Very cool!!

Kids Mile

Because she decided not to play soccer in the fall, Elizabeth is going to run cross country for her school.  Over the last month or so, we've been running about a mile or so, three or four mornings a week.  During the weeks of camp, she actually got up at 6 am every morning so we could go for a run before she needed to get ready and leave for camp (now that's dedication!).  Last Sunday morning, she ran the Kids' Mile at the Old Wethersfield 5K/10K race.  Although we'd done a timed mile on our own, I wanted her to run without me so that she could get the feel for pacing herself.  I always wanted her to see how kids go out hard and then run out of steam - or vice versa.  She did a great job - ran her own race even when the pack went out hard and fast, and ended up beating the other 20-25 kids in the race to finish first.  We are so proud of her for sticking with running and we hope that she truly grows to love it.

Starting to pass kids during the second lap.

Love this photo!

Happy girl!

Ingersoll

As they do each summer, the girls spent at least one session at Camp Ingersoll.  Elizabeth was in the Fort Building specialty camp for two sessions (four weeks), while Emily was in Mega Fort Building for one session (she spent the other two weeks at two different soccer camps, getting ready for the season).  They had a great time - loved their counselors, got to work with tools, made new friends and reconnected with old friends.  Ingersoll is such a huge part of their summers and I'm so glad that they have the chance to experience it.

Emily on a swing built by Mega Fort Building.

Her walking stick....

Every camper getting hi-fived by the counselors at the close of family night.

Locks of Love

Emily's hair had reached waist-long and was becoming increasingly unmanageable, so she decided to make a big cut and donate her beautiful hair to Locks of Love.  Lisa cut off more than 11 inches, Emily has a gorgeous new style and one or more children will someday get a wig made from her hair.  Win Win!  We are so proud of her!

Before the cut, she wore her hair in braids like these almost every day.

Red eyes - let's be honest, she shed some tears over the loss of her hair - and who wouldn't.  But she knew it was for a good cause.

The before and after.

July Odds and Ends

Some photos that didn't make it:

The TAP camp went to see South Pacific at a local theater and I let Elizabeth take her iPod with her - she and Laila enjoyed taking selfies on the bus.

Elizabeth spent the first half of the summer playing lacrosse with CT Cardinals, which she really enjoyed.  She will play on their tournament team this fall.

We heard a woodpecker banging on one of our bird houses early one Sunday morning.

Summer nights at the pool.

Celebrating Eleven

Elizabeth was sick on her actual birthday, so we had a "do over" the next day - complete with waffles for breakfast and swordfish, her favorite, for dinner.  She opened several presents during vacation, so the only gifts she had were from us.

Her actual birthday was the morning we left the beach, so Emily and Daddy headed down for our walk early and wrote Happy Birthday Elizabeth in the sand for.

She was so surprised and so happy!

Her first piece from Athleta.  Not likely to be her last.

Amazon gift card from Uncle Mike and Auntie Kelly.

Vacation Odds and Ends

A few random photos from vacation that didn't fit with any of the other posts:

We visited (although did not offically tour) both Phillips Exeter Academy and St. Paul's School.  Philips Exeter got a strong thumbs down, but St. Paul's was impressive and is now on her list.

Our animal lover.

Our first poutine!

Waiting for her turn in the shower.

Hot chocolate at the Golden Egg.

In the Water

The water was cold, but still warm enough for the girls to go in every day.  Elizabeth loved boogie boarding, as usually, and Emily enjoyed it as well, until a wave unceremoniously dumped her and she got a mouthful of water.

This photo is Elizabeth's personality to a T.