Summer, week 5

Monday: Today was our first Monday in a few weeks with nothing to have to do in the morning!  Raegan came over and played today, and we hung out all morning.  That afternoon, Taylor and Sydney had their first karate class. which they loved!  I signed them up for a month of classes, because I wasn't so sure how they'd like it.  They got to kick, play games, do fun little exercises, and they got their white belt and uniform at the end of class.  Stephen flew to OKC tonight, so we had some leftovers from last night's party and called it a night!

I was so sleepy in the afternoon, and I put on truck You Tube videos while I dozed and Parker sat in my lap and watched.  Score!

Sweet sisters.  No matter how much they get on each other's nerves, I know they are really best friends!

Tuesday: The kiddos and I ran an errand this morning- I decided we needed to get some kind of cheap pool to cool off.  It is SOOOO hot.... so, we got one!   Our friends came over this afternoon to play in the little pool, the sprinkler, and at the water tables.  After 3 hours, two popsicles, and lots of sun, they went back home and we jumped in the shower.  I'm all about a shower after a long day outside, sweating sunscreen.  Stephen came home, we made dinner, and the kiddos fell asleep fast tonight!

Easter Egg number scavenger hunt.

Parker and Natalie.

Cool Nathan.

Wednesday:  Raegan came over again today, and we went to an early movie with our friends.  A local movie theater has $1 movies on Wednesday morning.  We went and saw How to Train Your Dragon 2.  As predicted, Parker was a bit distracted... but he actually did better than I thought he would!  We walked to Dunkin Donuts afterwards for a treat, then came home, ate lunch, and Parker took a much-needed nap.  I ran to the grocery store (my kids are eating me out of house and home!!) and then I took Sydney and Taylor to karate while Raegan and Parker stayed home with Stephen.  Later, we all went to church dinner/small group!  A fun day!

Parker's first movie!

Thursday: I promised the kids we would chill at home today.  Who do you think is the happiest about that?  (hint: me!)  We did the nature scavenger hunt in the morning, and then collected some rocks to paint.  We painted them outside, which the kids loved.  That is, until they started painting each other, and then really when I told them it was time to go inside.  Taylor and Parker were not so happy then.  After a quick paint removal in the tub, we ate lunch, did rest hour, did some learning time, crafts... finally, I decided to drop our library books off, so we left the house and made a park stop on the way home.  Back at home, I made dinner, the kids were getting on each others' last nerves... you know, craziness that I wouldn't change for anything. :)

Rock painting.

I'm teaching Sydney how to make old-school friendship bracelets!

Playdough time.

Friday:  The kids had a swim lesson this morning, one of the make-ups from last week when the instructor was sick.  Taylor has talked about NOT wanting to go there every single day.  She actually swam on her own at the last lesson, and the instructor released her grip so Taylor could do that, and she FLIPPED out!  We were trying to tell her that no, she did what she was supposed to do!  But she wasn't having any of it.  That girl refused to get in the water.  It wasn't until I told her about our afternoon adventure, and that she wouldn't be able to go if she didn't get in, that she finally got wet.  Parker started off well but was crying for the whole second half of the lesson.  sigh!  Anyways, we went on our merry way, grabbed some CFA for lunch (that calmed the tears) and went home to rest.  That afternoon, we went to the library because Elsa was coming to visit! (the aforementioned afternoon adventure)  She read to the kids, sang, danced, and then took pictures.  The extra cool thing was that Sydney's friends from daycare had taken a field trip there, so she was able to see them!  That night, I met my two best friends down at the Krog Street Market in Inman Park.  It was slammed, so we ended up eating dinner at Tin Lizzy's and grabbed some ice cream at Jake's.  Great night!

morning 'toons.

Taylor found a friend from daycare.

Elsa's in the building!

Parker's "girlfriend".

Preggo Erica!  Baby is due on my b-day :)

Saturday: This morning, we went to our town's 4th of July parade.  We got several free frozen lemonade coupons from CFA, so Stephen suggested we go there afterwards.  I won't turn down free ice cream, so we headed there.  The rest of the day... I CLEANED!  It took me 7 HOURS.  I did a bunch of deep cleaning stuff (again), which our house needed.  The cleaning ladies did a great job of making the house look clean, but the pull-the-furniture-out-and-vacuum-and-mop kind of cleaning wasn't done.  I was exhausted but at least it's done.  We ended our day watching Friends reruns!

Sunday: This morning, we went to church, came home, ate lunch.  While Stephen worked in the yard and the girls played, I took Parker and went grocery shopping.  We all played outside when we got home and hung out with the neighbors.  Sydney went to a friend's birthday party this evening- it was at a pool, and Stephen took her.  She had a blast!  Parker, Taylor, and I hung out together here.

Fourth of July parade

On Saturday, we headed to the local Fourth of July parade!  It was overcast with a little bit of a breeze, so we couldn't have asked for better weather.  The kids played in the town center before the parade.  There was a bouncy house and a bouncy slide, and there weren't many kids there yet, so they had free reign.  There was a parrot exhibit where you could hold the parrots, and my animal-shy kids actually held them!  We found a good spot kind of in the middle of the parade where we had a good view and the kids could catch the things they were throwing out.  It was great- Parker got to see every single mobile thing he loves- motorcycles, firetrucks, police cars, tractors, big trucks, and more!  The girls loved getting the things people were throwing at them.  After the parade, they played more on the bouncy houses and did "Dunk the Mayor" (Sydney gave it a go). It was fun!

Nothing beats fresh veggies.

Elsa!