It's only just begun...

Day one of summer break.

Yesterday, I went to Tate's school party, ice cream in the pod, going through each classroom to do a fun thing. It was thundering outside, so they had to come up with indoor activities. It was fun! Afterwards, I picked up Smith and two friends from the Middle School, and we all went to Sweet Frog. I love this tradition with friends! We pooled it after that for a bit, before the next storm moved in.

During the storm, but with no thunder, the kids plus friends jumped on the trampoline and got SOAKED.

Today was a benefit 1mile run for Team Mathias - a boy we know who is battling osteosarcoma. Today is his 13th birthday. Tate and her friend ran the run, got balloon animals, shivered in the cool windy air.

Then at home, did this after some trampolining. Why??

Afterwards, Tate and I went to see some condos for my mother-in-law, who we hope will be moving here towards the end of July. Tate's highlight, for sure, was the golf cart we rode around in! She also loved the units, and I think is very excited for Grammy to live nearby.

Day one of break hasn't been so bad, but I tell you - these kids better start picking up after themselves. If today is any indication, none of the three of us are going to be too happy going forward. Lounging about but left dirty napkins on the table? Get in the kitchen. Now. Left your sweatshirt on the table? Now. Empty box of tissues? RECYCLE. Mama ain't going for this. I imagine my harping on them will turn this around rather quickly.

Crocheted XBox controllers and pretty purple cardigans

Smith just had his birthday, and I was a bit late on his "homemade" present, but it's done! I like to make something for the kids on their birthdays, whether it's an Octopus hat, or Minecraft coasters. Smith is obviously harder, as he is a boy and doesn't want hats and sweaters and scarves so much. So, I made him this:

David officially thinks I am a freak.

In other news, I've started this beautiful cardigan, and am so excited over my progress. I was nervous to begin it, but it's been a breeze so far! My first sweater. Hopefully this fits better than my first Fat Albert hats.

Summer break starts this Friday at 3:30 pm. Here is a shot of our last day of school last year. 

Can't wait for this year end. It's time, we need a break from all this schedule! 

Happy 13th!!

My sweet, loving, smart, funny boy is THIRTEEN! Time has flown, I tell you. It's hard for me to believe it's been 13 years since this boy was born.

Look at those LEGS! Oh my, the squish of this kid.

This weekend, we did our 2nd annual trip to Williamsburg so Smith and my brother could run the Run for the Dream 8k, then off to Busch Gardens. It was a great day, except I missed him coming into the stadium AGAIN. It seems to be my thing. Sorry, buddy.

He beat his time last year by 5 minutes - without training! So awesome, I am so proud! Running is not my thing, but I'm glad he enjoys it and gets something out of it. The park was fun! The kids did Apollo's Chariot 5 times. We did it with them 3 times. It was Tate's first year of being tall enough. David was really pukey - he had two Monster drinks and a soft pretzel before the rides, and almost lost it - even on the water raft ride! The kids were terrified of him getting sick, more than any fear of any ride! Very funny.

Smith's actual birthday was the day we drove home - we hit IHOP, then the road. Williamsburg has IHOP, National House of Pancakes, and Astronomical House of Pancakes. Definitely a sense of humor. We rounded out the day with XBox time for him, and Cold Stone for dessert. It was a good day. 

Thirteen.

Belated Mother's Day Post

I love that Tate can turn anything into a party or celebration. She is going on her 2nd grade field trip today, with her daddy, and she is beyond excited. She could hardly do her homework last night, and then she decided to make hers and his lunch for today (oh the patience that took - peanut butter and jelly mess, and seriously, 30 minutes later and a VERY full bag of "stuff").

Tonight I leave for Yellowstone. My mom and I are going together, to work on their rental place a bit, and to enjoy a lot. I am most excited about not being woken up at 5:30am to feed dogs, to having a full bed by myself (I will miss David, just not moving dogs at my feet), and about sitting and being with my mom with beautiful surroundings. Wine, knitting, picnics, so excited. I just may pack some pb&j sandwiches!! :-)

Mother's day was lovely - the kids and David made me pancakes. I had to go back to bed to receive them! Tate made a delicious fruit salad, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas. Like I said, she loves a celebration. I could hear them all in the kitchen talking, then all of a sudden, three people yelling at each other, then back to conversation - it was hilarious. They brought me flowers, cards, and each of them had made a poem.

Smith had a noon soccer game. 80 degree weather (my calves got some color!). Toward the end, our goalie kicked a ball, and one of our players was right in its path - very close to the kick, got hit with the ball and broke both his lower arm bones!! Poor guy. He and his mom spent the rest of the day in the ER. The boys had 5 more minutes to play after that, and at the end of the game, battered by the other team and shaken by their buddy's injury, they came off the field with a flower for each mom. Last year it was a bit more enthusiastic, but I believe we won that game last year!

I was typing out my list of stuff for David to have while I am away - things like who the kids are going home with, when to give the dogs their medicines, etc. I think I have some serious job security. It's hard putting all that is in my head down on paper, and coordinating who is going where and how it impacts the others. Moms are awesome.

Yellowstone

My mom and I headed to West Yellowstone, MT, to work on their rental unit, and to have some FUN. We had some flight issues, and traveling with my mom is always an adventure, but the good kind! Our connection was on time while our first flight was late, so we got to make eye contact with the pilot but not get a seat on our plane. So, we stayed in Minneapolis for the night. Delta couldn't get her luggage for us, so they gave us two mini overnight kits that were full of tiny things. We spent the next day at Wal Mart and Bed Bath and Beyond, getting things for us and the rental, then off to Yellowstone!

One of my favorite places ever, it was great being there in their off season. The weather could not have been more perfect, and my mom and I had a blast. 

Mother's Day Weekend

This weekend was just gorgeous. We even had a light sprinkling PERFECT rain on Saturday (perfect nap weather!). Two soccer games, breakfast in bed, beautiful flowers, lunch at Chipotle, lots and lots of family time. It was a great weekend.

I am one lucky mom. Parenting is hard. Really hard. But I find some things get easier, and more enjoyable, for sure. Tate and I can laugh at things together now that she didn't "get" before. Smith is always there helping with groceries and his 7th grade humor. I am fortunate to have these two as my own - they are just my style.

Domo wants to help cut the fruit

7th Graders are actually pretty cool!

Smith taking a selfie with Honest Abe

DC War Memorial Museum (??)

Didn't lose any of them!

MLK - disappointing memorial for such an amazing historical figure

I recently went on Smith's 7th grade field trip to see the monuments in DC. I was very pleasantly surprised about my group of 8 boys. First, Smith introduced me to all the boys in his group, we got on the bus, and we were off. When we got there, two of the boys in particular were intent on keeping track of the other 6 and me. They made my job much easier.

We started at the Lincoln Memorial, then to Vietnam, World War II, Korean War, had lunch in the DC Warm Memorial (who knew that one even existed??), Martin Luther King, Jr, and finally FDR. That one is my favorite - I have been to all of those except the MLK one before (which I didn't care for), and good thing because even though I had 2 helpers, I was still constantly counting 12345678, 12345678, making sure I had them all.

What a difference of the kids in 7th grade. The size differences in the boys is huge - Smith is on the smaller side, but with a lot of people in his size group. Then there are the 6'2" guys. And the girls! My goodness, many of them look like they are already in high school.

Great trip, glad that my son still is okay with me being around. I sure like that kid.