The girls are in Pennsylvania with Grandpa Ron and Grandma Dina for Camp Ron Dee Vous. They are having a great time! We drove them up to Pennsylvania yesterday and met R&D halfway. The handoff went very smoothly and we drove back home with N in the car. He slept most of the way and didn't cry much at all.

Here are some dispatches we've gotten from the girls and from Ron and Dina:

Day 1:

Dear Mom and Dad,

We had an amazing 1# day here at Ron-Dee-Vous. I am writing this myself. As soon as we got here I jumped into the lake. Then we had dinner at Water Wheel. Then we had ice cream at Dairy Bar. We're going to eat ice cream at a different store everytime. At day number 5# we're going to decide which ice cream place we like the best. I'm miss you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. GIVE ME MATH PROBLEMS PLEASE!

From, M

And a P.S. from Grandma and Grandpa:

Just to let you know that the girls have been fabulous from the moment we picked them up.  They managed the long ride with an endless repertoire of songs, cheers (Yea Holton and Levine), and math problems.  As soon as we all arrived at Ron-Dee-Vous they walked in the front door and straight out the back door to the lake.  They insisted on putting on their swim suits immediately so I (Grand ma) had the pleasure of getting into the lake for the first time this summer:-) ! It was surprisingly warm and refreshing — and the girls swam immediately to the floating dock from which they jumped into the water innumerable times!  The weather turned out great even though it was gray and cloudy in the morning.  After the swim they showered and dressed for dinner with no help needed.  After a quick dinner we made it to the ice cream store a minute before it closed — thank goodness! Lots planned for tomorrow.

Day 2

Hi Mom and Dad,

I miss you so much.  We had so much fun these past days.

I made a candle at the building museum.  It was really cool.  I'll show it to you when we come back.

I liked today's ice cream better than yesterday's.  It was mint chip.

We're watching the closing ceremonies of the Olympics.

I took a lot of naps in the car.

How is the Captain?  I really miss him.

A

P.S. from Grandma and Grandpa

The Village Museum was a long car trip.  But the collection of 1800 buildings was very complete: one-room school house, log cabin residence, pharmacy, weaving shop, candle making shop, printer's shop, broom making shop, 200-year old fire engines, etc.  In addition, the kids were able to play games from that period which they really enjoyed like rolling a barrel stake with a stick, beanbag tosses, stilt walking, Jacobs Ladder sticks, and many, many others.  After that we had a brief lunch and drove to Bellvale Creamery.  It is operated by a dairy farm at the top of a steep hill in Warwick, NY with a fantastic view of rolling valleys and farms. In the middle of nowhere, it had a huge line of customers because they make their own special ice creams.  Grandpa had something with the name like Dark Dirt, but it was great.  Drove home, and while Grandma made dinner (with A'S's help) M, A (for awhile) and Grandpa played Potonkin.  Grandpa didn't do very well.  M and he are tied and will compete for the championship tomorrow. Closing the day with the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics.

Grandma and Grandpa

Sounds like a great time!

Meanwhile, Daddy and I had a quiet day here with the Captain. Here is his Sunday photo: