Summer- Week 3

How have we already completed week 3 of summer?

I have to say that this summer has been crazy, busy, non-stop already.  But, I'm pleased to say that after this coming week, I think things will be dying down a bit.  And I'm sure that when things get relaxed and comfortable and organized, school will be back in session!

But anyways, we had a good 3rd week of summer.

Monday was my first kid free day of summer!!!  I took all three kiddos to daycare.  I had to go to the Board of Education to officially sign my contract and get fingerprinted, and then I went by the middle school to talk to the principal and fill him in that I was officially official now.  I ended up staying there for almost 2 hours, just talking to people.  You know how that goes, and how time flies by.  So, I didn't get all that much done, but I'm glad I was able to get things straight with my job for next year. 

Tuesday, Stephen left town, and I kept all three kiddos with me.  This was a pretty fun day.  We did the slip n' slide, played outside, made beaded necklaces, I painted our garage entry door to the house, practiced shoe-tying, and we made pizza for dinner.  The girls attempted a sleepover but were having waaaay too much fun together.  I had to play the bad guy and they had to be separated at about 9:30 PM. 

Our new blue door!

Wednesday, I kept Parker at home with me, and took the girls to daycare.  I got a babysitter to come for a couple of hours to keep Parker so I could work out and run a couple of errands (S was still out of town).  But, it was a nice, chill day with my little man.  I picked the girls up, got them bathed and dressed, and we went to church for dinner and then "grow group".  (Our church does these instead of Sunday School classes.)  I was leading tonight's group, and it went really well.  I got to meet some people I had never met before, and we had some great discussions!

Thursday, I took P to daycare and kept the girls.  I had been looking online earlier in the week to sign Sydney up for swimming lessons.  Last year, she took them at a nearby country club.  While I think the lessons helped her get more comfortable with the water... that was really about it.  I was hoping she'd at least learn how to doggie paddle in case she was ever in trouble, but no.  Unfortunately, that's really the only place around here I knew of.  But, I did a google search and found a lady who does them at her house!  And she's about 2 miles away! (as opposed to the 15 minute drive last year)  And, she had great reviews.  Additionally, Taylor could go, too (the other place required the child to be at least 3).  So, I signed both girls up, and they got to start today.  They did much more already in one day than the country club did in 2 weeks.  I'm very hopeful that both girls, but Sydney especially, will learn more skills.  Sydney did get water up her nose once and panicked, and now doesn't want to "learn to swim", but I'm hoping that she will be more positive when Monday rolls around.  The instructor was very patient and good- she is 8 months pregnant, so I applaud her for having that kind of energy!  Anyways, the rest of the day, the girls played, and I painted some things, and got stuff ready for our garage sale next week.  Stephen came home today, so everyone was excited to see him! 

Playing a number scavenger hunt game that I made.  They had to find the numbers 1-20 in order.  I hid them around the yard.  Definitely recommended for any parents of kids 3+ to do!  They loved it.

Sydney's class.

Taylor's turn!

Friday, I kept all three home with me.  We had a playdate with Raegan and her mom and cousins at Chuch E. Cheese's.  Fun!  We then went home and played for the rest of the day.  I left around 2 to get a mammogram done (just preventative- my mom had breast cancer at 38, so I'm supposed to get them annually) and went to the grocery store.  Stephen works from home on Fridays and kept all the kiddos while I did that.  We went to Chili's for dinner, played outside for a bit, and settled in for the night!

Can you tell they're related?

Saturday, we woke up reeeeaaaallly early to head down to South GA to go to Stephen's family reunion.  We've just been so busy lately that we decided to make a day trip of it, instead of a typical weekend trip.  We knew it would be a lot of driving, but we tried to keep the kiddos entertained.  Between driving and stops, we were traveling for 11 hours total! 

The reunion was fun- lots of southern home cooking, the girls got the swim in the pool, and we got to see all his family.  We got home around 10:30 PM and we were exhausted, as you can probably imagine. 

Here's to week 4.  This summer is flying by already!



Lake Junaluska- Final Chapter

Friday:

Bill, Jenn, and Olivia headed out this morning. :( After goodbyes were said, the house was awfully quiet! (Ok, who am I kidding? My kids make up for any lost noise).  For the life of me, I can't remember what we did all morning!  Geesh, that is sad!

The whole reason we went to LJ in the first place is for a wedding.  Meg and I worked together at CMS for years, and became fast friends.  Our bond really grew when we were roommates on the Washington DC trip in 2007.  I remember lying in bed at nights, laughing and laughing until 2 AM.  So, over the years, our families have gotten to know each other.  Meg and Manny have two adorable daughters, Blair and Aubrie.  They are a lot like Sydney and Taylor, just about 18 years difference.  Blair was getting married, and asked for both S & T to be the flower girls. 

So, Friday evening, we had the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.  I have to admit, I was so nervous about the girls and their flower girl responsibilities.  Not so much Sydney- she's done this before, and she's almost 5.  But, my silly, off-the-wall 2.5 year old... you just never know what you're going to get with her!  The rehearsal proved such... she held Sydney's hand down the aisle only to sprint the last 10 feet of it.  Then, she wouldn't stand still.  Stephen and I schemed our plan for Saturday.

The rehearsal dinner was a blast! It was at a nice restaurant in downtown Waynesville, and we all had a great time.  Sydney and Taylor were mingling with all of the bridesmaids, especially Aubrie.  And Blair, of course.  It was hard to pry them away around 9:30 when it was time to leave.

Saturday:

The big day!!!  Mom, dad, and I hit up a flea market first thing in the morning.  Sydney went with the grandparental units to a museum, Stephen went to the gym, and Taylor, Parker, and I went to the playground and on a walk.

The rest of the day was just hanging out until about 1:45.  The girls and I headed to a salon to get their hair done.  I couldn't believe how much older they looked, especially Taylor!!!  They sat there like champs, thank goodness.

We headed home and got ready for the wedding.  The girls had to be there by 3:45.  The chapel was at LJ, so we didn't have a very long trek to make.  Pictures were taken, and we were trying to keep the girls entertained... and happy... until 6 PM!  Right before the bridal party went down the aisle, Taylor started losing it.  I'm not above bribing, people.  I'm trying to make this little bag of fruit gummies last to keep her happy.  I was breaking them apart into tenths just to keep something in her mouth and belly.  Luckily, after all of our preparation, talks, and food, they made it down the aisle... perfectly!!  Taylor sat with us during the ceremony while Sydney stood.  We had a bag of goldfish for Taylor to munch on during the ceremony (please don't judge me) and she walked back down the aisle at the end... goldfish and all.  It was GREAT!  Whew.  I could now relax.

The reception was a BLAST.  Seriously, the most fun wedding I've been to in a while.  It was at a picturesque country club in Waynesville.  Taylor only lasted about an hour before announcing that she wanted to go "night night", so Stephen ran her home.  Sydney danced the night away with us until 11 PM!

Some of my former (and soon-to-be again) coworkers!

What a week!  Sunday, we just packed up, ate breakfast on the way, and headed home.  It was an AWESOME trip, and I've decided that I could possibly move there one day.  Ok, if not that, at least visit it again.  Hopefully soon.

Lake Junaluska- Part 2

Wednesday:
We decided to do a day trip today.  We headed about 20 minutes away to Cherokee, NC, which is a big Indian reservation (with a lot of touristy/air brushed items everywhere- random combination).  We started off with a picnic at a local park.

We then headed to the Oconaluftee Indian Village.  Of course, it started to pour right when we got there.  Once the rain died down, our tour group began.  It was pretty neat- a tour guide showed us all kinds of historic Indian things, and we got to walk into replicas of how they lived way back when.  They also did a tribal dance show at the end.  Very interesting!

Watching the dancers.

We got to join in, too.

Once home, the girls stayed in the Indian mindset and danced around with their headdresses on.  

Thursday:

The girls (Sydney, Taylor, and Olivia) did a half-day daycamp at LJ on Thursday from 8-noon.  They got to play, do arts and crafts, do bible activities, etc.  Parker stayed with me and Stephen.  My mom, dad, Bill, and Jenn went to Asheville, and Stephen, Parker, and I ventured to downtown Waynesville to walk around a bit.  This is the cutest little downtown, and the view behind it is incredible! 

That night, me, Stephen, and the kiddos went to eat dinner at our friends' cabin in Waynesville.  The stay didn't last too long... they had dogs (the girls are deathly afraid of dogs) and even after they so kindly put them up, the girls were in a funk.  Plus, we forgot Parker's bottle.  So, we hung out for a bit and then headed back to the house.