it's still summer right?

There is so much going on this summer it feels like the rest of the year... what happened to lazy days by the pool and sleepovers, riding bikes around the neighborhood and begging your folks for ice cream money? When did I become the grown up with a house to paint and parties to plan, lesson plans to work on and cats to take to the vet? Did my parents have all these things to do during the summer? Am I taking on too much? Am I making sure my kids summers are the kind memories are made of? I know that a lot of what we are doing this summer will be fun memories for the kids I guess I just didn't realize how much work my parents put into making those memories for us. Thanks mom and dad! I'm finding you just might have had to put more work into the summer than I ever realized.

So far this summer we've swum at the pool, gone to movies, started a vegetable garden, watched a dozen baseball games, seen the bats fly from under the I35/McNeil bridge and then had blizzards from DQ, enjoyed VBS (well the kids did, I was part of planning the whole thing) and the kids had Camp Foster.

Left to do... Soup Kitchen with the youth group, 7-11 on Wednesday nights, Beach Week with the Cook Clan, get ready for school next year and still get to the pool as often as possible.

What fun things did you do this summer? What do you still plan to do?

Oh and you do realize I only listed the things the kids actually took (will take) part in... my list is way longer than that. :o)

Hope your summer is going swimmingly!

Home again, home again, jiggitty jig

The kids are back from Camp Foster, tan, tired and totally spoiled... but that's they way it should be after a week with grandparents and cousins right? okay, so they aren't totally spoiled but I know for a fact they didn't have much responsibility while there... in fact when faced with putting clothes away this afternoon I got much grumbling and "but why's". They had a great time and I know they are ready to spend a week with their Cook cousins in August... we get to join them on this trip and I'm really looking forward to a week at the beach with the family.

I got most of my painting done, the kids love their rooms and Ethan gave me the biggest hug and told me he loves his room... we've talked about a few more things we want to do in there and he is excited. Serah told me she really likes her room color and the red wall but she's not too sure she likes Ethan's... "it's okay". That girl holds no punches... but she says it without any guile so you know it's just her thoughts and no hidden agenda so to speak. Mom C. say's Aunt Bethany was just like that... you know I don't know a better person Serah could take after.

Now back to our regular lives... yeah like we have normal quiet regular lives around here.

The up side to getting older...

Wisdom!... too bad that wisdom didn't remind me of the down side of getting older... it's a lot harder to paint one little room than it used to be. Serah's room is done and drying and I'm exhausted... so much for getting both kids rooms done today. Looks like I'm in for a long day tomorrow. But it's so going to be worth it when they see their rooms, Serah's pink like she's wanted for a "long" time (can't you just hear her saying that) and Ethan's I hope will make a comic book author proud when I get done with it... you'll just have to come over and see it. Hope this week is seeing you all having fun. Till I have more energy.