First Day of School

07.25.2012

{My 3rd and 4th Grader}

I was Strongly Encouraged NOT to:

Follow,

Hold Their Hand,

Kiss Their Wee Wittle Cheeks,

Take Pictures,

or 

Lovingly Holler Out,

"I LOVE You, Sweetie Cakes!"

My Heart Sighs,

Why do They Have to Grow Up?

07.22.2012

{Sunday Evening Hike}

Back to School Extravaganza

One of Our Traditions 

has become to Spend a Weekend Having Fun

Before the Big Return to School.

We Check into a Hotel,

in a Near-by Shopping Area a Mile or Two from Home,

and then 

We Spend a Good Portion 

of a Friday Afternoon and Saturday

Shopping for School Clothes, Shoes, Backpacks,

Eating Out, Eating Ice Cream, Eating Bad for You Yummies,

Going to a Movie, Eating more junk, Swimming at the Hotel,

and

Staying up Late Eating More Garbage 

and Watching a Movie in Bed.

We Love this Time.

[I think the Kids Like it almost as Much as Mom and Dad Do!]

You've Had a Birthday

Shout HOO-RAY!

We Celebrated C's 8th Birthday in Grand Sportin' Style!

When You're the Birthday-ee at our House,

You get Woken Up to Breakfast in Bed,

with the Whole Gang!

C 

Really, really, really, 

REALLY

wanted a Jersey of a certain Miami Heat Player

[First name starts with "LeBron" Last name "James"]

So, 

he was Rather Stoked to Unwrap that Baby!

For his Party, 

He wanted to Play Football and Basketball with his Besties,

so we Spent the Morning at the Park,

Playing Ball and Eating Pizza! 

{Happy Birthday, C!}

We Sure do Love YOU!

July 16, 2012

14 Years of Wedded Bliss! 

Happy Anniversary, Love.

{Holy Smokes! I Married a Good One!}

Guess Who Finally

Updated Her Blog!
I Have new Posts, all the way back to May,
so Feel Free to Have a Look Around!

Swimmers

In the Three Weeks that the Kids Get for Summer Break,

We Cram it Full of Swim Lessons! 

I Love that B has become Quite the Good Little Swimmer,

that C will Dive Deep, 

and that 

J, who is just Learning, is Willing to Try!

Country Road, Take Me Home

My Mom Always Plans a Big Fourth of July Celebration

 That We usually try to make the Trek back Home for.

Fortunately,

this Year We got to Spend a Weekend There,

for all the Fun!

First Thing the Kids did when we Crawled out of the Car:

Go to Grandpa's Garden!

When We went Running the Next Morning,

We had some Spectators!

And This was the View:

This is the Area,

where I grew up,

and We Always Love to

Head out of the Concrete Jungle

and

 Return to Here,

to Get Our Small Town,

Country Roots

Back On.

 My Mom,

also makes plans to keep everyone busy.

This Years Projects:

Duct Tape Crafts for the Kids,

And a Ladies' Craft for the Women:

There is always a round of Pinata Soccer,

and an Obstacle Course,

and New this Year?

A Zip Line

The Kids Probably Wore that Thing OUT!

Also New to the Scene,

an

Iron Chef Lunch Activity.

All the Adults were summoned to the Front Room,

Divided into teams of 4,

Given a Dinner Course

(Main, Side, Salad, Dessert)

Instructions,

Two Hours,

and Last but Not least,

the Secret Ingredient: Pineapple.

It was fun to see Everyone Divide and Conquer!

Also,

Just before Lunch,

My Mom did a Rousing Rendition

of a Cute Story

"Betty and the Bar"

for all the Grandkids!

She did Awesome!

It's always Wonderful to Go back Home,

and Eat Yummy Food,

Stay up Way too Late Visiting,

and be Surrounded by Family and the Country Life!

It Does Something Happy to Our Hearts!

Everyone Loves a Parade!

Especially

When You GET to be in it!

We Managed to be in 3 Parades

Over the July Fourth Celebration.

First Stop,

We got to Rock our Patriotic Selves 

in the R City Parade

as part of a 

"Patriotic Families" 

Entry.

Then,

We Bribed the Kids

....er, I mean Paid them,

to Work their Tail Ends Off,

in Two More Parades-

Throwing out Candy!

After,

a Long, Hot Day,

We Definitely Enjoyed Getting Our Fireworks on!