Emily joined my Summer Enrichment group this summer. She participated in all the technical projects and some of the readers' theatre work. She also went with us on our last two field trips: Nelson Atkins and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. I took both Sam and Emily back to see all of both museums on Friday. I was surprised by how attentive both kids were. We had a really great time. Both of them are very curious and interested in new things. I truly enjoy my summers with them. I hope next year we get more time together. As it looks right now, we will get about 25 days together before I go back for a retreat at the end of July. I am keeping myself open to the needs of the many new teachers at NW this year, but at the same time I do not want to forget that my babies are going to a new school, a public school for the first time. They will be my priority this year. They were my first assignment from God, and I can't forget that. It would seem that would be impossible to forget, but when you have 80+ kids counting on you, it is easy to make excuses for reassigning priorities. As the father says in Cheaper By the Dozen, if I fail raising my kids, nothing else will matter much.
