**We swam. Despite sometimes blinding rain, we managed to spend a fair amount of time splashing in the pool. Franco only mistook his lungs for gills about ten times and only turned blue once, so that totally worked out. He also enjoyed telling the dogs to "jump in" and being thrown into the air like the newest member of Cirque du Soleil. We are as proud as any parents in said situations.
**Lots of people came to see us...and by "us" I mean "Franco." House guests make us all very happy. Franco shared tons of experiences with friends and family, which is priceless, really. Even our local buds joined pool time when the flood waters decreased enough for boat travel to and fro. That made for some lovely memories. (The parties, not the downpours.)
**We took the camper to the Outer Banks and discovered that we really love it out there, in the outer banks. Because of some fairly serious medical problems, we had to take Gracie with us. (She is doing so much better now, for which we are grateful. I completely chalk it up to the salty ocean air.) We, unfortunately, could not take Emma because that would have made for some cramped quarters. She stayed home to be spoiled by the pet sitter, so everyone mostly won.
While at the beach, Franco really came into his own. He started to talk so much! And what spurred such language development? Well, his dad's constant and incessant declarations that we do not own a golf cart. And how we should totally have one. And how if we did have one, we could do so many more things. And how next year, come hell or high-water, we are going to have one. (And if you know Scotty P. - well, you are probably surprised we don't already have one!)
This led poor, anxiety-prone Franco to point out every golf cart (which, if you have ever been to a campground, is a full-time job) and also bemoan our cart-less life on the skids. In his early sentence structure, he could not really say "no" so he just shook his head sadly while repeating "cart." As in, "No Cart." Once, we saw a parked cart, and he pointed and plainly said, "Daddy. No Cart." What a terrible existence for the kid.
The other parts of that vacation were awesome too. But afterward, for weeks on end, poor Franco walked around shaking his head, muttering "cart" randomly about the house. Then, in his first full sentence, he said, "Daddy. Needs to buy a cart." I am fairly certain his memory works properly, if nothing else.
**Franco discovered movies. (He is welcome.) Despite the usual children's fare to which he was properly introduced, he goes in for live-action, dog-themed flicks. His far-and-away favorite is "Because of Winn-Dixie." (Simply called "Dickies.") I think it's the combination of dogs and Dave Matthews - who can resist that? He loves "Beethoven" and "Benji" and some Disney tale about dogs playing football and "Matilda" - which has nothing to do with dogs, I realize. We don't understand that one, but whatever. Let the kid be who he is! It's interesting to see how much he does enjoy this fare and I can't say that I blame him. Those are some fun ways to spend a few hours! He and I share this passion, and I hope it continues.
And that is enough for now. I guess the summer was mighty eventful! We shall continue, I promise...cart or no cart.
