My daughter, Reanna, makes a luscious summer peach.
Climb two branches up the family tree to my older son, Lance, and you'll find a summer squash. At least HE did, yesterday, when he fell off his horse at SUMMER CAMP.
But I'm getting ahead of my story here. First, let me tell you about summer in the Sereno household, which began with...
Troy's Kindergarten Graduation
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I find it hard to believe I'm now writing about my younger son's graduation from kindergarten. Wasn't it just yesterday when I wrote about Lance's HULA NUMBER during his kindergarten graduation? And now he's busy flying off horses somewhere in Yosemite National Park. But again, I digress.
Troy has always been my baby. His whole class had been practicing hard for their graduation program, and I was curious to see their grand finale. Needless to say, being the Mom that I was, I started crying during their very first number, "What a Wonderful World", which the class sang and signed. By the time they got to the Power Point presentation of the kids' pictures with my favorite Christian music in the background, the floodgates were opened and there was no stopping the torrent of tears. But I knew I wasn't the only emotional parent in the audience. I couldn't help it, of course. I was so proud of my baby.
Oh, and I must say his Barong Tagalog stole the show!
Shortly after graduation, we received the boys' report cards in the mail. Both of them did so well, they received a prize for their stellar performance.
That marked the official end of the school year. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Summer was here! For months I'd been looking forward to those long, lazy, langorous days. Ahh...sweet indolence.
NOT!
Indeed, since summer began, I've been accosted with requests of walks to the park, swimming, bike riding and trips to covered bridges. My beautiful babies, all fair and beatific looking last winter, have put on the season's colors!
From this...
...to this!
Like my husband always says: "Just add water..."
Even as I type this, my Lance is continuing to brown under the broad expanse of Yosemite's skies. He is now 7, the youngest age that can go to Adventurer's Camp.
Now, Lorenzo and I would have probably balked at sending him away from us for the first time, but since we had just gone to Camp Wawona for FAMILY CAMP last Easter, we felt comfortable that he would be in good hands.
Indeed, the atmosphere at Camp Wawona is so wholesome. The camp is run by the Central California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, and it has been around since even before Yosemite was declared a National Park. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there last Spring. The cabins were comfortable, the food was awesomely good, and the scenery was matchless.
Now Lance gets another turn to experience Yosemite's many pleasures and treasures. I miss my son. We dropped him off at Camp Wawona last Sunday and the house hasn't been the same since. I marvel at how much he's grown. My former preemie, who came into this world six weeks early at 5 lbs. 3 oz., is now a big boy with so much independence in him. He was totally ready for this summer camp experience.
In fine camp tradition, I baked him his favorite Zucchini Nut Bread and sent it to him through the Post Office. Lance first discovered Zucchini Nut Bread at Starbuck's, where we used to go as a family, Lorenzo and I foregoing our usual Caramel Macchiatos for the more wholesome Strawberries and Cream. I knew it would be the perfect thing to send, standing up to more Postal Service abuse than the traditional cookies or fudge. As an added bonus, I also sent him a sheet of the new STAR WARS stamps for him to start a new stamp collection with. And finally, attached to the hand-written card Troy and I made for him was a couple of postcard stamps, in case he wanted to write us back.
I guess the package got to my son just at the right time, after dinner and just before he was taken to the hospital for X-rays. It seems that my son fell off when his horse suddenly bolted at the end of their horseback-riding session. Lorenzo spoke with him yesterday, and he seemed okay, but today he had some bit of bruising and tenderness in his left elbow and hip so the medical staff thought it best to have him checked.
I spoke to Lance before they left, and he told me he would share his Zucchini Nut Bread with his cabinmates and Matt, their couselor. He also told me there were two Daves and two Austins in his cabin, which he found quite amusing. I forgot to ask him if he kept the bunk right by the bathroom, which we chose for him when he went to Line Call on his first day, just before dinner. It was hard for us to leave him then, and his Daddy and I found so many excuses to linger at the cafeteria while they were eating. I guess we were both reluctant to let our son go so far away from us for such a long time.
And now the week is almost over. Lance asked us to pick him up as early as possible. He said he was having a lot of fun, but he also didn't like being away from us too much. It warmed my heart to hear this. He also requested to speak with his brother and sister, who were with me in...
Vacation Bible School
This year, our church did "AVALANCHE RANCH", which promised to be "a wild ride through God's Word". From Monday to Friday this week, our Fellowship Hall was brightened by the sound of children singing songs, participating in Bible stories, and making clever crafts. It's a great way to bring children closer to the Lord.
I was also happy that Vacation Bible School happened just when Lance went to summer camp, because it made his absence a bit more bearable for his brother and sister. Troy, in particular, has suffered through the separation, coming to me in tears on a couple of occasions, saying "I miss Lancey...". He consoled himself by lying on his Kuya's bed. It was enough to break any mother's heart.
But everyday this week, my children's spirits would brighten in anticipation of VBS. Come early evening, loneliness would be temporarily forgotten as they joined other children singing in front, praying, memorizing Bible verses, ignoring dinner and wolfing down dessert. Troy even made me proud by refusing help in writing down Bible verses, carefully doing it himself.
Troy and Reanna had such a wonderful time at VBS, I'm almost sorry it's come to an end. But this just brings us one day closer to seeing Lance again, so I guess I don't mind. Besides, with the number of churches around us, I'm sure there will be other Vacation Bible Schools my kids can attend this summer.
The best part of it all? Their Kuya Lance will be with them next time around!
We miss you, Lance! We're so happy you're coming back soon.
Love, Mom
