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.

Camp Foster here they come...

The kids are off at 8 am tomorrow to head to Camp Foster. Gran and Pop Pop take any potty trained grandchild that's available for one week each summer. They have loads of fun swimming in the pool, doing crafts and just being grandchildren with limited rules. The kids are super excited this year because there is an overnight camping trip planned. Grandparents rock!

Matt and I are looking forward to a week of getting together with friends, painting the kids rooms and just enjoying a week of not worrying about where the kids are or who's gonna keep them.

I'm sure there will be lots to share after they get back. If not before.

VBS favorites

I'm going to let the kids share their favorite VBS moment so far this week. Here goes...

Ethan: I like craft, music, recreaton and snack.

Snack: The cookies

Music: Singing

Craft: The Flower, The Cup Holder And Sand Dollers

Recreaton: Playing in The Sand

Serah: i like the song from last night. wiki wiki
i like playing in the sand.

I'll try to get pictures soon.

Hope your week is loads of fun too. Shelly

Friday night ballgame

I took Ethan and Serah to the ballgame tonight... what a blast. I don't know if it was just luck or because Matt wasn't with us but the Express hit 3 homers and ended up winning the game... this is the first time we stayed for a game they won. We had popcorn and cracker jacks, drinks and a Chick-Fil-A chicken tender (it was Chick-Fil-A night and they were passing out a free one at the gate). Ethan made lots of new "friends" and Serah sat near me with her hands over her ears. Since Friday night is fireworks night, at the top of the 9th I took the kids out to the van so Serah didn't have to hear the fireworks and Ethan and I sat on the top of the van to enjoy them... and enjoy them we did... it ended up being a sweet time for just the two of us. We talked about fireworks and how much we enjoy them and... how do they work? (" I don't know Ethan, lets learn about them later at home"), can there be more than 2 colors? (" I don't know Ethan, watch and see if there are any with more than 2 colors"), and how long can they do them? ("I don't know Ethan, why don't you just sit back and watch and find out")... I think your starting to catch on... the boy loves to talk... we got home close to 11 and I think the kids will sleep good tonight... mommy too!

Just a normal day in our house

So the other day I cut Ethan's hair... just to have fun with him I gave him a Mohawk first. Needless to say he wasn't too into it... but I did get a few pictures to post.

Not to leave Serah out of this post... here is the best Serahism yet... I'm sitting at the computer working on VBS stuff and I hear behind me... "Serah you are a genius"... yup you guessed it, Serah was the speaker. Gotta love that girl.