Summer Runnin'...

Summer Runnin'

Had me a blast

Summer Runnin'

Happened so fast

I'd start my runs under the sun

sweatin' it out to be number one

Ohh, ah, on a suumer night...

So my summer runs are over.  No more hot, humid weather to sweat it out in.  At least while on a run.  Summer is my favorite season of the year; kids are home, weather is hot and lots of time to play.  One of my favorite things to do is run in the sun.  Not the hot afternoon sun beating hard on my face but the after dinner sun still up in the sky but less likely to fry.  :)

We had a nice routine going where Jim would come home from work, I'd have dinner ready, have a quick bite, let it settle and head out.  The humidity is still there, the sun still warm, the need for water still high.  Such a great little route with water fountains along the way and my favorite spot was getting water on a little corner, splash my face and hands and be on my way up the hill, face in the sun, refreshed from my water.

Don't you love working hard?  Pushing yourself just a little bit further?  Wearing a shirt that's covered in sweat?  Stinking?  Summer running memories is what keeps me going on the blah days.  The ones where you just don't really know what to do with yourself.  Summer will come around again.  Until then, I'll take the runs on the cool 70-80 degree days we've been having.

{Oh, and the kids are still up early and ready to go.  I thought that would've passed by now.  At least I don't have to shoo them out the door}

{just yet}

My dear one...

{first day of third grade}

A penny for those thoughts?

What do you think?

Well, let's see.

Kids up at 6:30am.

Dressed and eating breakfast by 7:00am.

(inlcuding backpacks)

School starts at 8:10am.

I'd say they were a bit eager.

What do you think?

{by the way on the first day of school parents can come into the building and walk kids to classrooms.  When it was time to leave Sara was grabbing onto the door frame.  She didn't want to leave.  Who's going to tell her she's got two more years before she can go to school with the big kids?}

Summer...it ain't for the faint of heart.

That is for sure.  For summer to run smoothly and be successful there is a lot of work involved.  I am sure this looks different to every family but for us it looks like;

*signing up for the summer reading program at the library and attending free programs that they offer
*going to VBS
*playing soccer
*taking swim lessons
*summer camp on campus
*weekly themes (we had success with bugs, frogs, rainbows, plugged in, and space)

and that's just the programming part of summer.  Those are the fun things.  (We typically do not do programs during the school year so for me it's a lot of fun to be involved in something during the summer even if it means a lot of driving)

The tougher things are the everyday things.

A trip to the grocery store usually sounds like this...

everybody out of the van. yes you have to come in.  everybody out of the van.
yes, you can sit in the cart.  no you cannot sit in the back.  because that is where the groceries go.
stop hanging on the cart.
watch out for other people. stay to the right.
can you stop dancing now? keep your body still.
stop hanging on the cart.
everyone move forward.
you need to stand by me.  come here.
wait until we get home.

:) ha!  those are all things I say at the grocery store!  That goes for our Target runs too.

I will not miss having to take all three on errands, but I will miss having all three at home with me.  They fight a lot but we've tried to use this summer as a way to teach them to share, take a breath and get perspective.  Not an easy task for any aged child but part of the life lessons we're trying to instill.

The reward comes when one of the kids acts on what you've been trying to teach and you rejoice, thinking, yes!, they did it! they did it! 

So tomorrow it's 'back to the daily grind' as they say.  Getting kids up early and out the door ain't for the faint of heart either.  Big sigh just thinking about it.  Oh well, though.

We've had a terrific summer and tomorrow we'll dive right into fall.

Fall!  I can't hardly believe that. 

Happy school year to you.

So many good ones...

So many fun birthday pictures were taken last week that I can't possibly post them all.  But I will say I'm seriously considering putting up a giant (or a few lined up) bulletin board in my living room to fill with pictures.  Right now it seems like a good idea and a fun way for the kids to see them all on a daily basis.  And it may fulfill my desire to live in my own picture museum.

mmmm....

I acutally got the idea when I saw someone's very large bulletin board on the curb for pickup.  Since the small but powerfull flood that came through last week many a neighbor has had belongings hoisted to the curb for pickup.  All things damaged by water in flooded basements.  And when I saw that bulletin board, well, it got me thinking. 

In the meantime, we've got two older kids in the house this week.  Back to back parties, lots of friends and way too much cake!  But lots of fun pictures to enjoy.

The day was hot; water was a must if I was going to keep these kids happy outside!

How many m&m's do YOU think are inside?

Who doesn't love to make their own sundae?

Fill sponge at one end of the yard, race to measuring cup, squeeze water into bowl...

and dash back to tag your teammate so he/she can go.  First team to 4 cups wins~

Our dining room wall that I put together in March including Ella Jane's birthday banner that I made for her party...

using bias tape from my great grandma.  I love that it is all handstitched.

Matthew's birthday banner using fabric from my childhood.  My mom has a fabulous collection!

 His and hers party favors~

Thanks to my friend Alice who let me use her sewing machine to make one of these lovelies!

There are jelly beans inside that raspberry jar for the girls to guess how many are inside.

All in all a busy few days but oh so fun to get ready for.  I love getting ready for a party.  Jim has one coming up soon and we usually don't do much since we've just come off the kids' birthdays but that may have to change this year.