How I Spent My Summer Vacation-Grant's Edition

Here's is Grant's edition of "What I did on my summer vacation"! (in case you missed them: Emily's Edition and Olivia's Edition) If you ask, he'll probably say nothing. But that's simply not true! Grant was very busy all summer. He went to several day camps in town for various sports; soccer, lacrosse and tennis. He also played on a travel soccer team. I managed to snap a few photos of a game toward the end of the summer in the  Bristol/Bloomfield area. It's a bit of drive but the foliage is beautiful!

Running on the field

Dribbling the ball

Kick!

skilz

I love this picture!

The team-G in the back left corner

Summer was not just all play for Grant...he started working! Grant had TWO jobs this summer. He worked at the Park Program day camp that Olivia also worked at but he was more of a "park ranger"...working in the snack booth and general maintenance. He, like Olivia, also volunteered as a helper at the Vacation Bible School week long camp.

If you've been around Grant in the summer (or really any time of year!) then chances are you know that he loves ice cream. Specifically Perry's Piece of Cake ice cream.

Last summer he purchased so much Piece of Cake ice cream-usually in a "Brownie Barge" sundae-that the owners gave him the remaining 3 gallon tub at the end of the season. Since he was about 8 years old the owners of the local ice cream shop, Bee Tees, have been telling Grant he would have a job as soon as he turned 14. So, right after his 14th birthday he started work. Here he is on his first day at the ice cream shop!

First day of work!

I mentioned Grant's birthday in the previous paragraph...

At the end of July Grant turned 14. Mom and Dad gave him a big party last year for his 13th so this year was more low key. Part of his birthday was the lacrosse camp (see below). We also went out to a Japanese steakhouse for his birthday dinner. He brought along his buddy Zach. We had lots of fun catching rice balls (I have an amazing photo of Mom doing this but she expressly forbade me from posting it!), watching the chef's cooking tricks, and eating the stir fry. Here are a few pictures from Grant's birthday...

Grant and his friend since Pre-K, Zach

ready to eat!

trying to catch rice!

onion flames

Happy Birthday!

Grant-taller than me and maybe even Olivia by now!

Also in July, Grant attended a LAX camp at LeMoyne College in Syracuse. Three other guys from Newark went too. It was a week long overnight camp and Grant was excited to stay in a dorm room. He picked out new maroon and gray sheets and towels (Newark colors) and stocked up on some new lacrosse jerseys. He stayed in a room with Teddy and his other friends Zach and Eric, shared a room in the same suite. They woke up bright and early (I'm still not quite sure how he managed to do this!), ate breakfast, and headed out to the fields for drills. They played scrimmages and had skill training all day and into the evening. I think they had some free time at night...I'm guessing there was lots of devouring of snacks, soda, and obnoxious 14 year old boy humor. Mom and Dad went out to see the final tournament and to pick Grant up. He had a really great time and came back feeling more confident about the sport. He spent most of the rest of his free time this summer outside, throwing with neighbor friends or against his lacrosse pitch back.

at his bed

another picture of the room-please note that the sneakers (black, white and purple) must match the shorts and t-shirt...gotta keep it fresh.

Grant and Teddy-roomies!

The dudes from Newark-Ted, Grant, Zach, and Eric

I should add that Grant has a bunch of friends right in our neighborhood that he spends quite a bit of time with during the summer. We have a basketball court that was frequented day and night as well as a trampoline. The tree house still stands but I don't know how much "Fort Wars" they played this summer! It's nice to live close to the park as well. The boys were often riding bikes to the park, down to fast food, or around to each other's houses.

As I look out my window, it's still not snowing here in Rochester...and I am NOT complaining! The lack of snow makes me think that it is still autumn and makes me feel like I might actually catch up this blog up one of these days! Until my next report...

How I Spent My Summer Vacation-Olivia's Edition

If you missed my edition of Summer Vacation you can check it out here! Now on to Olivia's summer experience...

This past spring Olivia was selected as an Empire Girls State delegate from Newark. Girls State is a program that teaches young women about the legislative process via the means of a mock state legislation. All of the delegates from the various municipalities are placed in districts with girls from all over the state. Once in the district, they are further separated into counties. Girls can run for positions within their counties, districts, all the way up to governor of the state. Olivia was placed in the Keller county with about 30 other girls. She was elected Treasurer of her county. Girls are also placed on committees and tasked with a piece of legislation to take through committee and present to the floor-like a real bill would. Other than the legislative process the young women also learn about American traditions, such proper care of the American flag, the raising and lowering ceremonies, and the traditions behind the pledge of allegiance. Click here if you want to read more about Empire Girls State.

Olivia was one of about 400 young women who stayed on the SUNY Brockport campus for a week. She wasn't thrilled about the strict dress code (Girls State T-shirts with either navy, khaki, or black pants, long shorts, or long skirts) but she LOVED meeting girls from around the state. She made some great friends that she still keeps in touch with. One was also a dancer so they had quite a bit in common.

Olivia and her dancer friend Katie

Girls in her county on Red White and Blue Day

Girls at final ceremony

getting reading to work on legislation!

final ceremony/formal day

Liv had to miss a week of rehearsals for the community theatre production of Damn Yankees she was a part of. Damn Yankees featured kids from around the county freshman through recent high school grads. Olivia played the infamous employee of Mr. Appelgate (aka The Devil), the seductress Lola. Olivia vamped it up singing "Whatever Lola Wants" and dancing to "Two Lost Souls" in Fosse style ala Gwen Verdon. :) There were a bunch of kids from Newark but Olivia really had a great time meeting kids from Lyons, Marion, Clyde, and Sodus! She had so much fun with her leading man that their showmance turned into the real thing after the show closed! Matt is from Marion so they only get to spend time together on the weekends and sometimes once or twice during the week. They have quite a bit in common. Matt is very involved in his high school theatre program and is also the Student Council President, like Olivia! Since the summer Olivia has spent time with the nice group of friends she met doing the show. They've been bowling, out to see each other's shows, and heading to a Christmas party this weekend! I posted some video clips at the end of this blog if you're interested!

Publicity photo that made it into the newspapers

Lola and Mr. Applegate

She has a little brains, a little talent with an emphasis on the latter...

Hello Joe!

Whatever Lola wants...

Who's got the pain when they do the mambo...

Two lost souls on the highway of life...

Lola!

Give in!

Mambo dance (you may recognize Curtis from Fame or The Nutcracker!)

Lola and Joe!

Matt and Olivia

Applegate, Lola and the Washington Senators

Liv and Matt

Rehearsals were in the evening which left Olivia time during the morning and afternoon for some additional projects. She was busy with her summer reading for AP Literature and AP Psychology. Olivia thinks she may want to study elementary education in college, along with dance, so she decided to volunteer in a summer school classroom. She went into a Kindergarten/1st Grade classroom 3 mornings a week and helped students with their reading and writing. 

There is a summer day camp in our town called "Park Program". Chances are if you grew up in Newark you went to, volunteered at, or worked at Park Program. You probably have memories of playing kickball, SPUD, and Octopus Tag--or if you were me--performing "Born With a Mic in Our Hands" as Barbie and the Rockers in the annual talent show. Olivia and Grant both attended the Tots program (ages 4-7) and Kreative Kids (up to 5th grade). Olivia volunteered a few summers ago but was happy to have a paying gig as a "counselor" with the Tots program this summer. She came home with funny stories and had lots of little ones asking if she could "come over and play". To round out Olivia's summer experience she also volunteered as a Vacation Bible School teacher. Many of the kids were also from Park Program or from the dance studio so they were thrilled to see Olivia again!

We went on a family vacation last December so this summer we didn't do any family traveling. However, Mom, Dad, and Olivia made a few college visits; meeting with dance departments, taking campus tours, and interviewing with admissions. Applications are in, but no decisions will be made until the spring...stay tuned!

This summer was a fun start to Olivia's senior year...hopefully I'll update with fall activities soon! Watch for Grant's summer update next...

A little snippet of "A Little Brains"...

Lola meets Joe

"Whatever Lola Wants"

"Who's Got the Pain" and some dancing from "Two Lost Souls"