Our Island Family Life

Probably the last trip I will have in a long time. I wouldn't call it a vacation since traveling for a week with  a large group of children is the farthest thing from relaxing as you can get. I really wanted a leash for Sofie. Although she listens well and stayed by my side for the most part, it was just so crowded. I was a nervous wreak. Apparently, every school group for 100 miles thought it was a good idea to visit almost all the same places as our school group did. I don't think in all the years I have been visiting the Museum of Science or the Aquarium have I seen so many people. We also went to Plimouth Plantation, Mayflower 2,   Quincy Market, walked the Freedom Trail and about half a dozen other things. This wasn't just our school either. It was our TLC Outer Islands group of other one room school house island schools. It was a lot of fun though and Sofie had a great time. Cade was beyond jealous to not be able to go. I had to agree it would have been nice for him to go. The other island schools go to 8th grade and Cade has friends from these schools he would have loved to have seen. This fall the schools will be coming out to our island for our yearly get together so he will have to wait until then. There were some really funny moments. We went to play lazer tag and I wasn't sure Sofie would be big enough to play. We went for it anyway and she got put on the team opposite from me and I was again nervous but I just took a deep breath and let go. There was three rounds to the game. One of her teachers was on Sofie's team and she said that the first round Sofie hung back and "guarded" the tower and basicly got used to the dark and glowing lights and her how to fire her lazer gun. Second round though Sofie became a commando. She took off after another of her teachers who was on my team when he tried to get her tower. He ran and she ran him down firing the whole time and actually hitting the target on his back. Who knew she had the skill? In the third round she teamed with two older kids and they attacked the tower I was guarding and she lured me out all cute like then attacked me. I ran and we circled an obstacle but she stopped and I would up running around and right into her and she fired and got me. Strategy. Planned strategy. I was shocked. She showed me no mercy and giggled the whole time. Another funny thing was how she interacted with all the older kids. It's something I have never really seen anywhere than with island schools. The smaller kids are never shy or intimidated with the older kids and ask for help freely. The older kids never turn the little ones away either. They could always just sniff at the youngers and ignore them but they never do and include them in everything. On our last night we had a pool party and Sofie kept diving in the pool which was a first for her and she was very proud. I had told her how brave she was and she was thrilled. All the kids did a dive at the same time at the very end and as they all got out she went over to one of the 8th grade boys and patted his hand and told him how brave he was to dive in. He just laughed and smiled at her and thanked her for noticing. It was very sweet. Here are some pics of the trip...:)