The definition of dog days means “a period marked my lethargy, inactivity.” But our late July and August have been anything but.

Vacation Bible School 

The kids attended VBS from 7/23-7/26. Everyday from 9 a.m. to noon, the boys had a blast exploring the VBS theme, Babylon: Daniel’s Courage In Captivity.

While they were busy making new friends, and participating in lessons, games, crafts, songs and dances, I took advantage of the free time to run errands, make necessary phone calls and appointments, start reading a new book, treat myself to robust coffee at Starbucks, and even visit Auntie Merdy and baby Rorie.

We bought a CD of all the celebration music learned during VBS and began listening to it nonstop when we got it later that week. The 3 Amigos were (and still are) really into it, belting out all the lyrics and dancing the moves that accompany each song. Very cute!

Houston’s first fishing experience catching freshwater trout in the mountains w/ cousins Terri & Patrick in late June. (Click to see all June pics.)

That Friday night, our church hosted a Hotdog Family Supper. This was, of course, less about food and more about observing the Biblical instructions learned, and the awesome efforts of the 500+ kids who participated in VBS and all the volunteers who made the successful week possible.

Stephen and I separated and took turns hanging with each boy’s class as they went from activity to activity, moving about our large church at quick pace. This took some maneuvering, considering that Gabriel and Zeke were in different tribes — a great experience for them, but a challenge for the parents of twins plus one.

That Sunday, all the VBS kids performed two of their songs on stage before both sermons. We couldn’t see Houston, who was in the back, but Gabe and Zeke were front row, unabashedly dancing and singing their hearts out in front of a congregation of a few thousand.

My hip & everyone’s hacking

In late July, I had a session with a new orthopedic specialist, Nikki. I had been experiencing more pain than normal since my last physical therapy with my former specialist a couple months ago. My mobility and strength had drastically improved after my first session with him, but then plummeted after the second.

Zeke goes all out Boba Fett during a Moms Club outing in early June.

Nikki did a battery of tests, but didn’t do any major manipulation of my body like the previous specialist had done. Instead, she took a more mathematic and pragmatic approach, measuring my abilities (or lack thereof) during particular stretches.

Well, my diagnosis is the same: stressed my left hip during my first childbirth > exacerbated it over the years > it never had a chance to recover, so my right side overcompensated and my left side became increasingly clenched > it spread from hip to lower back to right thigh and into a debilitating problem.

However, my treatment and recovery is different. Nikki assigned me three new, easy stretches that have to be done in twice-daily sessions. The routine will alleviate the pain, making it more intermittent. Thankfully, this has been the case over the past week.

But she was also confident that I would be CURED of my ailments within six weeks, as long as I stay diligent in my routine. I pray the good therapist is right. So far, so good. Thanks, Nikki!

Houston devours Jessie’s solar system cake & the twins munch ice cream, while grill-master Daddy takes a load off, during Houston’s 5th birthday party.

At their last appointment in the spring, the twins’ asthma specialist had advised that I start them back on their meds in August. The hope is that they’ll need to do the antihistamine pill and puffer for just one more season, which regrettably runs from late summer to late spring for their condition (cough-variant asthma).

Considering that Zeke’s dry, unproductive cough came back with a vengeance even earlier than expected and Gabe’s arrived right on time, I’m not quite as optimistic as the doc that they’ll grow out of CVA as soon as she had thought.

It’s an annoying, restless nighttime cough that has caused some major disruptions to our already fragile sleep cycle. But now that the meds have finally seeped into their little systems, our collective states of slumber — which have been in peril for about a week now — are a bit more gratifying with each passing night.

Unfortunately, I’ve had a yucky cough for a few days, as well, and Houston’s been complaining of a soar throat. I’m pretty sure it’s all seasonal-allergy related, but that still doesn’t make it any more pleasant when dealing with whining kids or even my own phlegm.

Houston & Asher — another version of “double trouble” — take turns jet-spraying guests @ the party. (Click to see all birthday pics.)

Swimming & hiking

On 8/3, Zeke finally got his one-on-one with Daddy from a diamond contest he won months ago. He chose to go swimming at the Y, and both Stephens (Beeler and Ezekiel) reportedly had a wonderful time.

The day before, the boys and I went swimming with Christie and her posse. The kids played well, freeing me up to enjoy some adult chitchat. And the dudes showed great confidence and improvement with their aquatic skills, namely kicking, attempting strokes, submerging themselves, and just being comfortable in the water.

On recent boys-only outings, Daddy took the crew hiking; to the NSC to see a mummy exhibit (although it was an extra fee, so they ended up not seeing the preserved bodies); shopping to spend Houston’s remaining birthday money; and twice to Chick-fil-A.

Homeschool prep

On 8/7, Stephen, Christie and I attended a Classical Conversations orientation at the home of our community director, Jen. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, just more an opportunity for everyone to get together and for us newbies to hear the encouraging words of a few seasoned homeschoolers.

Jen also mapped out what the weekly community tutorials will entail for students and some of the fun things planned for CC families this fall. Can’t believe summer’s nearly over and school is almost here!

Gabriel, as with most things, is very serious about his gun-fighting skills.

Peeve of the day

Every time I go to a store, I get asked during checkout to make a donation to help local kids buy school supplies. Isn’t that what my property taxes are for … to fund government education?

This altruistic-pushing practice is especially maddening during shopping trips when I’m crunching numbers, budgeting monies and deciding what to buy and what to hold off on for my own kids’ education. I mean, if you want to do it “for the children,” do it.

But putting the onus on consumers as some of us are coupon-cutting and trying to keep our heads above water during this economic malaise is just irritating. I believe in voluntary charity, but this is do-gooderism sleight of hand. Thanks, but no thanks.

And if you really want to help the kids, let the money follow the student, and let parents choose the schools that he or she attends, whether that be public or private. Furthermore, I’ll take a tax deduction for homeschooling expenses while you’re at it.