Two Weeks Ago Today...

My house was clean as I headed out the door to pick up Summer from her last day of school. I was super excited - remember? And yes, even though all never goes as planned, we have had lots of fun and made lots of memories. So far we have...

• painted our driveway many beautiful colors of chalk paint
• played at two different parks
• ate a whole box of pop-sicles
• went to a baseball game
• visited a small church carnival up the road - complete with pony rides, bouncy houses, games and prizes
• been to church more times than I count - between regular church services, bible studies and VBS meetings
• spent a whole day at Grandma and Grandpa's - a theme park in itself
• went to Chick-fil-a on kid's night - I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard! That might have to be a post all its own...
• celebrated Nicole's graduation!
• drove downtown to see a Winnie the Pooh play
• made our own jello cups including whip cream and sprinkles!
• grown a homemade Chia Pet - and Summer gave hers a haircut - are you surprised?
• had a slumber party...this was rather brave of us. We pulled out the bed in the playroom and let Summer and Connor "sleep" in there. I think all was finally quiet around 11:30pm!
• we have had friends over to play
• and have went to friends houses to play
• Cut my hair off! Summer did NOT do it, tho she asked to (pictures coming soon...)

Needless to say, after all that my house was no longer clean! When my sweet sister-in-law (ahem, Karen) called yesterday to reschedule our plans we had made for today, I looked around and declared it a "Cleaning Day!" I gave the kids fair warning as they went to bed last night. In the morning we were waking up and cleaning!! I had little lists all ready for them and we got busy first thing. I am not finished (are you ever finished cleaning?) but I must say, I feel much better with my freshly dusted rooms and shiny floor.

It didn't happen without temptation, however. 8:15 this morning my phone rings and a dear friend invites me to the pool for the day. Tempting...oh, so tempting. I told her the truth, as sad as that was. My house was in shambles and after Shawn asked me last night if I was ever going to sweep again, I promised him I would clean TODAY.

So I did and it feels good! Maybe not as good as the pool, but good enough.

Summer Sharing

Ok...so...ummm...yea...not so much happening on the blog lately. Trust me when I say, it has not been for lack of things to write about, nor lack of activity. Just a lack of time and motivation. To be honest, this is probably what will happen every time Bible studies start...just fair warning. But while I attempt to find my bloggy niche again, I have decided to put y'all to work. So in celebration of summer (the season, not my little girl) I would like to give you (yes, YOU!) the opportunity to talk back (aka comment) and share some of your favorite things.

The first order of business is high on my priority list currently. Keeping the kids B-U-S-Y. Days go so much better when we have a plan...doesn't have to be anything big...just a craft, or bake time, or...you fill in the blank. What is your favorite way to pass a long, summer afternoon? Please, do tell!!

Happy Father's Day!!

First things first, I am so excited! I found the perfect T-shirt for Shawn and the kids gave it to him for Father's Day! Not only is it perfect because he is very "adorkable" but it has his picture on it!! He was proud enough to wear it to church this morning despite the Hawaiian shirt contest they had going on for the dads. He was so cute in it and received many comments about how his shirt looked just like him!

We have had a great (however ordinary) day celebrating Shawn! After church we let him pick where to eat - anywhere he wanted. I was fully prepared to be eating wings, but he chose our weekly after-church hangout. We ran into friends and were able to eat together (totally not planned) and ended lunch with a run through pouring down rain (totally not planned). Not a big deal, but so fun. We came home and celebrated some more by all participating in Shawn's favorite thing - relaxing!!

As I type, he walked by me and called out to the kids, "Who wants to wrestle?!" He is currently being attacked by all three and there is screaming, giggling and banging coming from the playroom. I prefer not to know anymore than that. Our dinner plans are the same as any Sunday evening - popcorn and America's Funniest Videos. It has been a pretty typical Sunday but sometimes those are the most enjoyable.

As my Daddy always says, "You don't have to be a father to have a Happy Father's Day!" So hope ALL of you (father or not) had a great day as well!

Jacksonville Suns

Last weekend, Brian and Karen gathered the family together for a great night of fun watching (or NOT watching - as I ended up doing) the Jacksonville Suns baseball game from way up in a sky box. So much fun! There was a TON...and I mean a TON of food. Hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, meatballs, cheese sticks, mac- n- cheese, beans, slaw, fruit and veggies and I am sure I am forgetting things. And a cake in celebration of Jesse's birthday. And ice cream...Blue Bell Ice Cream - so yummy. Yea, I hung out inside with the food and chatted most of the time. Not to the food...but people as they came in and out to get the food...just to clarify. :)


The kids had been counting down the sleeps all week long and were absolutely beside themselves by the time we got there. They are still talking about it. Thank you, Brian and Karen!!!

Some pics from the night...

I have no idea, what this means
Oh, so there really was a game going on? :)
Jesse, Kayla and Summer
Look at Chloe! She was loving it! Debbie looks pretty excited too!
However, that is what she was looking at! The Pancake Man? I don't know...I didn't ask.
I can't count how many times Summer asked during the week if she could get a "big finger" at the baseball game. It didn't take her long to sweet talk Uncle Greg...they disappeared and came back with "big fingers" for all the kids.

The fingers say they are #1, but the girls decided they would rather be #7...so all night they screamed down to the players, "We are #7! We are #7!" Nevertheless, I was told the Suns won the game...despite their little cheerleaders.Trav, Nicole, Jesse and Crystal (Can you get seats better than that?!)
Dad, Brain and Connor. I guess they were being too loud for Connor's taste. Maybe Connor now knows how I feel on most days...yea, I doubt it.
Aunt Karen and Connor are buddies Kayla and her "smile". So cute.

I Have to Share...

My niece, whom I referenced here, finally gave birth to her sweet baby girl Tuesday morning. That is a praise in and of itself, but the way she came...oh my word! She was so gracious and shared the details with us here. Go read it. Really! It is an amazing story that brings both tears and laughter. I can't imagine...but I praise God with her that all is well!

Summer Is Here!

Reasons I am excited about summer vacation:

• lazy mornings lounging in pj's and watching the Disney channel together
• getting up with everyone else, instead of getting everyone else up
• not such a rushed bedtime routine, not having to worry about Summer being in bed by 8 or her being a bear in the morning
• lack of schedule in general - not that i would want to constantly live like that, but a break from routine is refreshing
• not have to wake my sleeping baby girl from nap to go pick up my big girl from school
• more family time
• more time for friends
• all day trips to Grandma and Grandpa's
• park days
• pool days
• ice cream for dinner days
• VBS
• staying up late finishing a good novel
• playing outside all morning and watching a movie during the heat of the day
• quick, easy, summer-time meals
• and two kids in school come August :)

I pick up Summer at noon today and summer vacation begins! Our first order of business is a promised trip to Target for a new outside toy in celebration of school being out! We will come home and Chloe can nap as long as she wants and the other two can play. I have been dreaming of this day for weeks now! On the dinner menu are BBQ sandwiches (from left over chicken), pasta salad and baked beans. The whole thing is music to my ears! I will let you know if it feels as lovely as it sounds... :)

UPDATE: It is 11:30 and I am headed out in a few to get my big girl from her last day of school. However, my sick, medicated baby girl decided to trade her 1:00 nap time for a 10:00 nap today. Yep, she is sound asleep and it looks like I am going to have to wake her. AND not sure if that long afternoon nap I had planned for her today is going to happen either. Oh, well, I am still determined to enjoy my day...even if Chloe did laugh at my plans.

"I Can't Even Fuss!"

I have two kids with double ear infections. Somehow Summer has managed to escape the sickness that has plagued the other two for a couple weeks now. A trip to the doctor and some meds will hopefully result in them feeling better very soon. Along with Connor's painful ears, he has lost his voice. He is pitiful and sweet all at the same time. I love getting all his sick cuddles.

This evening he was following me around as I started a load of laundry. "I want my voice back he squeaked." And then he started to whine, which was barely a whisper. He stopped and said, "Mommy, I can't even fuss!"

My poor little man. But I have no doubt he will be running through the house making a whole array of sound effects very soon!