Unfair

Doodle had an undeservedly lucky/charmed day on Saturday. First she won four tickets to a Baltimore Orioles game through our library's summer reading program. Doodle has read two books this summer while Tootle has read 16, but Doodle's entry won. Fortunately Tootle will get to enjoy the game too. Later Doodle got the Beanie Baby that she wanted at McDonalds even though she didn't even order a Happy Meal; I did. Tootle dutifully ordered a Happy Meal and got an inferior toy. Sometimes life just isn't fair, especially when you're the little sister.

Mistakes

Tonight's bedtime conversation with Doodle made me chuckle.

Doodle: Wouldn't it be great if we could erase all the mistakes that we've made in life?

Me: What mistakes have you made?

Doodle: Buying too many stuffed animals, especially Web*kinz. I packed some of them up; maybe they'll be worth something some day. (I didn't burst her bubble.)

An amused me, probing a bit more: Have you made any other mistakes?

Doodle: Not finding out more about cooking camp before going. (Both girls are at cooking camp this week; Doodle has a few issues with how the camp is being run. Tootle seems to be happy to cook and eat her way through the day.)

After a moment of silence, Doodle asked me what mistakes I would erase. I replied that I would have to think about the question before answering it because a change could have unforeseen consequences and result in changes to things that I love about my life. We agreed that correcting her "mistakes" would not alter the state of the world:)

Bunnies at Dusk

Discovered on our lawn; I wonder if they know about the pet bunny next door.

HP Again

But this time, I'm referring to the computer. On our way home from Hershey, we stopped to see my mom's twin sister. All four of her grandsons were hanging out at her house for the day. What did Doodle and her teenage cousins do? Fired up the laptops, of course...Six kids, three laptops, and a dog who didn't know whose lap to jump on to. Later the kids decided to get some exercise and played dodge ball.

HP Happy

Continuing a tradition from my childhood, the girls and I try to go to Hersheypark for a day right after school ends in June. This year Doodle's sinus problems and my business travel stalled the trip until last weekend. I fretted about going in July's heat, but we had perfect weather for 1.5 days of fun. We stayed at the Hershey Lodge, taking advantage of free amusement park tickets for the kids, a shuttle bus to the park, an extra hour in the park, and the resort's miniature golf course. Tootle went on her first wooden rollercoaster ride, the trusty old Comet, and then went two more times. We rode all of our favorite rides--those that spin, plunge, swing, or do any combination of the above--at least twice and in some cases six times.
The trip wasn't without incident. On a water ride where a torrent of water hits you after you plunge down a water flume, the water was so forecful that Doodle got a nose bleed. Within 15 minutes, she was ready for a more tame ride down a lazy river. We love HP, as Doodle decided to call it. Why do tweens have to shorten everything to text message length (she doesn't even have a cell phone yet)?

Wordless Wednesday

Notes

I only travel for business 1-2 times a year, with one of the trips always falling in the summer for 5-6 days. The girls began a tradition 2-3 years ago where they write me a note or card for each day that I'm gone; I pack them in my carry on bag and open one from each girl every morning right after my shower. This year's cards, enjoyed last week when I was in Boston, were particularly fun. Doodle's were motivational, urging me to be happy and wave my hands with the Red S0x fans. Her cards were created by Emma's Cards Inc. and had a smiley face logo. Tootle pulled at my heart strings, telling me each day that she missed me. On Monday she wrote: "I hope you are haveing a good time. I can't wait till you come home." On this trip I work 14 hour days and have to be on 24-7 so overall it's not a good time, but I appreciated Tootle's sentiments. Both girls also taped money into their cards one day; silly kids.

I also get e-mails from both girls when I'm traveling. Last week when I didn't respond to one of Tootle's quickly enough, I got another one demanding to know why I hadn't answered her.

I leave a grab bag of small presents for the girls to open when I'm gone. This year's gifts included books, Japanese erasers (all the rage in our area this summer), and hair do dads.