a summer update

Who said it was okay for it to already be July?! I just cannot believe how fast this year is moving.

I still have a few days of our vacation to blog about, but I wanted to just blog today without any criteria. 

We really enjoyed and really needed those 9 vacation days. Being with my family and seeing new places is one of my ultimate happy things. 

Did we have some bumps in the road? OH YES. We missed turns, we had whiny children, a family member or two had sick stomachs a day or two, we bribed children at times and the food was definitely not always 5 star or 4 star or 3 star! BUT, we made some awesome family memories and had lots of fun!

We left the day after the kids got out of school for summer, so the last few days of being home have really been our start of enjoying carefree summer.

I LOVE sleeping in and not making lunches. Well, actually, I don't mind making lunches. I hate washing the little containers every.single.day after school!

The kids are taking semi-private swimming lessons every Monday and Wednesday evening this month. They had their first lesson on Monday night and it went so well!

They have had swimming lessons every summer, but it has always been in a big group setting and they just have not learned very much.

C Girl is terrified of water and especially, putting her head under water. I was so proud of her that she went under during her 1st lesson!

That girl tests my patience in every way, but she knows what she likes and wants, and someday that is going to be a big benefit to her as a young woman.

After we got home late Sunday afternoon, I saw that a local church was having their big fireworks display that night. We went and it was so beautiful! I love the 4th of July holiday.

Tim put up the kids' pool on Monday while I ran a ton of errands. They are so excited to have it up. They have already been in it a ton of times!

We met our friends, April & Ryan and a friend of theirs at the splash park yesterday. It was so nice getting to see them- it had been awhile! The kids had a blast and us moms got scorched by the sun!

I have been trying to clean up around the house. I did clean before we left and it is clean for the most part except the floors. Of course, now that we are home, there are dishes everywhere! Oh, and I need to do laundry! No rest for mamas!

We are visiting my sister for a couple of days over the 4th. We are all so excited!

My brothers have been out of state for military training. One came home last week and the other will be gone until November :-( But, he does get to come home for the 4th. Of course, we will miss him since we will be out of state.

The kiddos' birthday party is in a month and a half and I have done almost nothing about it. That is SO unlike me. I really, really need to get busy! I totally think I'm in denial that I am about to have 8 and 9 year olds. 

I think that is all I have for now! Enjoy the 4th, friends!

A week of stuff

I haven't blogged much in the past week.  Every time that I would have some downtime, I would just not be in the mood.  

Last week, I felt really, really good!  I'm not sure what the deal is, but I'll take it!

Monday, last week, Tim and I went to the Rise and Shine at the kids' school.  B Boy was recognized for being an ambassador this semester and C Girlie was student of the week! Both kids have been student of the week already and I'm SO proud of them!

Tuesday, I had my weekly Bible study, I filled Tuesday folders in each of the kid's classrooms and voted (we have a school millage vote and school board vote right now).

Wednesday the kids have church and Tim & I get some much needed alone time to just talk and hang out for and hour and a half.

Thursday, we had our first district PTO meeting.  This is actually the first time I've ever been a secretary and had to take minutes, but it's pretty easy!  I had lunch with both kiddos after my meeting. I love that their lunches overlap and I get to see them both at the same time! It was also school picture day that day!

C Girlie has gymnastics after school on Thursdays.  She has been going about 7 weeks now and she really seems to love it.  She has some trouble learning a few of the things, but I'm so proud of how hard she is trying!

Tim had football duty that night, so he took both kids with him and I had 3 hours to myself! It was really nice!  I just hung out and made the menu for the next two weeks- I'm trying some new recipes and I'm excited about that. I also sat on the couch and read some of my book!

Friday, I went and helped read with some 1st graders. I'm excited about getting to go do this weekly.  Afterwards, I went to get groceries. I'm one of those people who loves getting groceries- weird, I know!  I also organized my pantry when I got home and unloaded.

Tim and I watched a movie Friday night, and then Saturday, we did a few things around the house and then just watched football all day!  Our Hogs are 3-0 now! I am nervous about the rest of our schedule though.  We play Rutgers this week and after that, it is big-time SEC opponents every week. Eeek!

Yesterday was church, home to have lunch, relax, make soup for dinner tonight, and then back to church for the evening. 

Last night was also the Miss America pageant.  I really prefer it over Miss USA.  My favorite part of this night is the Twitter commentary.  It is the absolute BEST.  I was laughing the entire time! 
C and B were so sad that they had to go to bed and miss the football game last night and the pageant.  It's hard to be 7 and 8.

Geez, it's hard for me to write that they are 7 and 8.  It just seems so old!

Today, I woke up to an unexpected dreary morning. It's not raining now, but it must have sometime during the night/morning.  We really need some rain around here.  I wish we could take some from Colorado.  Please be praying for them. My blogger friend, Jenn, lives in Colorado and wrote this post yesterday.  Just keep the whole state in your prayers.

I have a hair appointment today and I'm very much looking forward to it.  A cut and color always make me feel great!

I also have my appointment for the Cancer Prevention Study 3 this week.  If you want more info or still want to sign up, here is the blog post from a few weeks ago that Keisha wrote.  

I hope you have a wonderful week!!!