Ulster coming to an end

The Ulster kids are all at Dollywood today, amusement park with lots of roller coasters.  They are all excited and it will be fun to hear if they were rained out, scared silly and got sunburns?  They have had a full month and it really has gone by so fast.  They leave on Thursday and I imagine there will be tears from both sides.

Gabriel has already said he wants to participate next year. 

I have joked that I will just put in a flea bomb into Anna's room, once the girls leave.  It really is atrocious in there and the bathroom is even worse.  I will make Anna do most of it. 

What's up here...

The Ulster kids went on a retreat last night and won't be back until 5pm today.  Then there is a birthday party for one of the boys in the group.  Tomorrow we are headed to a Presbyterian church, in line with the reconciling and unifying spirit of Ulster. Not sure what is planned for the afternoon, but if it's nice, maybe the pool?

Marian has earned enough money this year (babysitting a neighbor's younger kid, with my in house supervision) to buy another American Girl doll.  One of Gabriel's friends was here when she ordered it and commented that he didn't see the big deal in the American Girl doll thing.  I told him he obviously didn't have a sister (true, he only has 2 brothers). 

Only 2 more weeks of Ulster and 4 more weeks until school starts!

Smoky Mountains

Went to Cosby State Park in the Great Smoky National Park this weekend.  One of the nicest parks, there were hardly any people there.  We livened up the place, with the Irish girls shrieking at any bug or spider in sight.  (They don't like spiders or bugs!!)  We had great weather and it was much cooler there (about 80's) and we heard it was very hot in Knoxville/Oak Ridge area (100's).  We ate lots of s'mores and played Monopoly, Uno and Sounds like a Plan a ton.

Lots of excitement planned for this week with Ulster and I will continue to be the carpool queen!

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day!!

We are headed to a pool party and then fireworks.  The Irish girls tell us that fireworks are big in Ireland, but on Halloween (!) 

We have had a break in the heat and only expected in the 90's this week.  We are headed camping and it should be in the 80's there, with all the trees for natural air conditioning. :)

Ulster

That is our word for the month of July.  The Northern Irish teens have arrived and Ulster is very much underway!!  The whole month is taken up by their activities.  The girls here at the house (we have 2) are bonding well with Anna.  It seems like one continuous sleepover, hair, nails, clothing conversations abound. 

Things done so far: Scavenger hunt, picnic, pool party, church at St. Mary's, and general getting to know you events.  Tonight is our first family dinner and a visit from the counselors (to see how everything is going).

They are really interested in going to Taco Bell (!) and we may see a movie tomorrow night. 

Marian likes having 2 new older sisters and Gabriel is not complaining too much :)