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May
30
I didn’t really forget about my blog for the past week. It was always in the back of my mind, I just couldn’t get to it. School ended, the kids were exhausted and excited at the same time, we’ve been on a marathon baseball game streak trying to get all the makeup games done and we made a fast trip out of town.
Did I mention lying on the couch eating bon-bons? Nooo, because thats only in my dreams!
Do you ever get to that point where your brain says Nope, I can’t do even one more thing right now? My brain said that this past week, so I just had to let it go. Actually I let a lot of things go, like vacuuming and cooking, but I don’t miss those things like I have missed this little ole blog.
June is a busy month for us, both my kids have birthdays and Scout camp and science camp, you get the picture. Summer started out with a bang, so much for the nice relaxing week I imagined. I’m not a big planner in the summer, we seem to keep busy enough without me trying to throw in extra activities. There are some things I want to do with my kids and hopefully we’ll get them done.
Here is a brief but already chaotic outline of our summer:
- Birthday party planning is already in full swing. Last year I waited until mid-June to even think about birthdays, and by then we were too far gone with ball games and camps. I kept saying “as soon as sports/scouts/camps are done we’ll have the birthday party” but summer came and went with no party. When I say “party” I actually mean that they can invite one or two friends over and we’ll do something like a movie or ball game and of course have cake. As long as there is cake it’s a party, right? Last year Nolan asked for an actual party, a paintball party. I still feel bad for putting it off all year so I’ve already started planning it. There will be a party this year.
- Camps. Nolan does Scout camp – his first week long overnight camp. Get me the tissues now. Tanner does band camp. I loved going to church camp and girl scout camp growing up so I’m glad my kids like camp. It’s just the packing and getting ready that is hard. And the laundry afterward. And the week that they are actually away from me. Tissues!
- Summer reading. They used to do the library reading program but we haven’t done that in a few years. I decided to have our own little reading program. When they were younger we’d set aside 30 minutes a day and we’d all read in the living room. We’re doing that again but I’m picking books for them to read. Last year I picked To Kill a Mockingbird for my son, which is going to be hard to top. Send me book suggestions please!
- Community service. My oldest will be helping at our Vacation Bible School this year. He usually helps at his youth group by going an hour early and helping the youth director. When youth group ended for the summer he told me he wanted to keep helping at the church. I’m going to make some calls to find something for Nolan to do, I’m hoping he can help at a local animal shelter. This community service is one of the things I’m really excited about doing with the boys.
- Service begins at home. My kids have chores they do regularly, but in the summer it’s like I get my own personal cleaning crew. They clean, they mow, they do laundry and now they want to cook. My goal is to let them cook this summer, and more than just baking – although that is my favorite kind of cooking.
That’s about as much planning as I do for the summer. We haven’t really started any of those things yet, so far the boys are just thrilled to be sleeping a little later and hanging out with friends. That does sound pretty perfect, doesn’t it? 
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May
20
First, a quick note about why this blog is so, well, light lately. It’s the last week of school, so we’ve got Awards Assemblies and student/teacher scrimmages and 5th grade graduation parties and yearbook signing parties. It’s packed full of busyness and fun, so that’s where I’m at. As for the evenings, we have to make up all the baseball games we missed to due to rain in the past three weeks, so its nightly games for awhile. I had to miss a game the other night and of course that is the night my son got to pitch. I won’t be missing any more games if I can help it!
Just when I think I’ve got my kids all figured out, they throw me a curveball. They do something that leaves me sitting there with my mouth hanging open, speechless. And you can ask them, I’m hardly ever speechless. Tomorrow is my youngest sons 5th grade awards assembly. I had to call another mom in the class to find out the specific time, because my son insisted they never told him that. He kind of acted like he didn’t want me to come, you know the whole “meet me in the parking lot” syndrome like his big brother. This is where the surprise comes in.
Right before bedtime, he came into my office and asked if I was for sure coming to his assembly. I told him I for sure would be there. He reminded me that it will end right around noon and then he asked if I might have time to take him to lunch afterwards. I used to eat lunch with my kids in the school cafeteria all the time, but its been about two years since they’ve wanted me to do that. I was sitting there with my mouth hanging open, speechless, and Nolan said “If you have time, I’d like to go to Chik Fil A for lunch. With you mom.”
Be still my heart. Lunch with my boy. Possibly the best lunch date ever. Of course I have time for that. He was really asking me if I’d have time, he wasn’t sure if I would be able to. He doesn’t know that I could have had a very important meeting right at lunchtime but I would cancel it in a heartbeat for him. He definitely doesn’t know how happy it made me that he asked me. What a lovely surprise.
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May
19
I wanted to announce the winners of my Blogiversary giveaway. In addition to the Superhero necklace I gave away two bonus prizes. Here are the winners:
- Grand prize starburst pendant ~ Katherine
- Bonus prize $25 Target gift card ~ Cindy
- Bonus prize $25 Target gift card ~ Jenn Bo
Congratulations to the winners and thank you everyone who entered! I’m planning to have another giveaway very soon, so keep watching for that.
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May
18
When my son was little, he was all about family time. Whenever we said we were going to do anything, like go to the zoo, visit grandma or even play a board game, my little guy would ask “The whole family?” and his face would light up if I said yes, the whole family.
This same child is now 13 – or as he keeps reminding me, 14 in June – and he’s singing a different tune. Tonight is his spring band concert, and he begged me please do NOT roam the halls to find him after the concert, but go out to the parking lot and he will find us. My husband says that if we are embarrassing our teenager and causing him great mortification, then we are succeeding as parents. I think its safe to say we are a success at this parenting thing!
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May
16
Before we begin with SOOC Saturday, I have just two words to describe why I’ve been missing from this blog all week ~ stomach flu. Enough said. Now for the picture.
This guy was in our yard this morning. I’ve seen him before so I think he has a hidey hole somewhere in the yard. I’ve just never caught him standing still long enough to snap a picture before.
He’s off to get some breakfast. I just wanted to show you this one so you can see the mudhole that is my yard, after more than two weeks of solid rain. Or as the newspaper said, Violent Storms. Who made Mother Nature angry??
For more SOOC shots, visit Slurping Life.
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May
11
I knew this was true, because when I’m working so many things get neglected. I spent the morning sorting and organizing clothes and toys that haven’t been played with or even thought about in years, and then made a run to Goodwill. Decluttering feels so good, I may have to do some more tomorrow!
I hope all you moms had a wonderful Mothers Day. My family is not one for big celebrations, but my kids cleaned my house and made me a card, which was greatly appreciated. My husband actually surprised me because we came home after church and he told the kids to go inside, that we were going to run a quick errand. Then he took me to lunch! Just us adults! Can you tell we never very rarely do that kind of thing ~ usually only on our anniversary. The guys had it planned because while the two of us were at lunch the kids were cleaning, so I came home to a clean house. I can’t see how the day could have been any better.
Last night we got out old videos from when the boys were little. Some had been buried away and I had never seen them before, so I loved it. Where did those little boys go? More importantly, where did that young mama go, the one with no lines on her face or gray hair – I want her back!
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May
8
1
I was so excited to go to the Tulsa MNO last night, but the planets did not align correctly and I couldn’t be there. I had everything worked out, precariously balanced so that I could go, but then two Scout activities were rescheduled for last night plus a Parent Meeting for incoming 6th graders. Even with the excellent juggling skills that all moms have, I could not find a way to get my husband to all three events. I’m sure they had a great time and I’m going to be checking all their blogs for MNO posts. I will definitely be there next time.
2
Did you catch that I said I had to go to a Parent Meeting for incoming 6th graders? My baby is going into 6th grade. Who allowed this to happen? Why did no one ask me if it was ok for them to grow up so quickly?! I have a hard time believing I’m 40, but an even harder time believing my kids are almost 12 and 14. It’s just not right.
3
My last day at work is tomorrow. I’ve gotten over my doom and gloom from the other day and am actually looking forward some quiet days before school gets out. Not quiet as in nothing to do, but quiet as in plenty of time to clean the house and take my kids shopping to replace the clothes and shoes they’ve grown out of. Maybe I can sneak in some time to read a book too. I just can’t complain about that.
4
The other day a boy came to our door to see our oldest son. They’re in scouts together and just recently realized that we live in the next neighborhood over from them, so he walked over. My husband answered the door and asked the boy how he knew for sure which house was ours. The kid said his mom told him to look for the yard with all the weeds! Kids are so honest. It’s been so rainy here that we haven’t gotten any yard work done. Luckily my husband is like me and just thought it was hysterically funny.
5
Speaking of yard work, my husband and kids mow a couple of yards for people. They started out a couple of summers ago doing it just for elderly neighbors but then friends of friends started calling and their “client list” grew. My sons do most of the work and keep most of the money, Mike keeps a small portion to cover the gas. This is teaching them about saving and spending and keeping their commitments even when they don’t want to, and I just think it’s great. Anyway, they got a new customer this year and mowed for her a couple weeks ago. One day this week we finally had a dry day and Mike thought he better get hers mowed again. He ran over and did it real quick while the kids were at piano lessons, just to get it done before more rain hit. The lady wasn’t home so he mowed and then left her a voicemail. She called him back that same evening and told him she recently moved. As in, doesn’t live where we thought she lived anymore. As in, some lucky person came home to a freshly mowed lawn and they’ll have no clue who did it. It really is a good thing that my husband has a sense of humor, what can you do but laugh at that?
6
Some new families recently moved in our neighborhood and they have younger kids, boys around 7-9 years old. These are the cutest boys, they started a Hotel for Dogs club and stopped by one day to tell me that if our dog ever got out he could come to their Hotel for dogs and they would help him get home. Cuteness! They also come over almost every day and ask if Nolan can play with them. Nolan does go outside and hang out with them once in awhile, but I know it’s not his choice of things to do. I had to explain to him that since he’s the oldest those little guys will really look up to him, so he needs to be nice and go outside once in awhile. At almost 12, he does not want to hang out with little kids, or maybe he just doesn’t want anyone to know that he hangs out with younger kids. I think he’s ok with shooting baskets or playing ball with them but he refuses to join the Hotels for Dogs club
7
It’s just crazy how busy this time of year is. Year end field trips, concerts, scout activities, band practice, State piano concert, recitals. And that is just the past 2 weeks! I don’t know when or how the poor kids will have time to study for semester exams. It just seems to get worse every year. We are all looking forward to school being out in a few weeks. My kids go to Scout camp and Tanner will go to band camp but that’s the extent of our summer plans so far. I’d love to hear what kind of excitement you have planned for this summer, I can travel vicariously through everyone else.
For more 7 Quick Takes Friday visit Conversion Diary.
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May
6
Thank goodness yesterday is over. For no specific reason that I can think of, I was just in a cranky mood. I’m sure part of it is because we’ve had 6 days of non stop rain torrential flooding and black skies. I’ve been hopeful and optimistic about my job hunt situation but yesterday all hope and optimism came to a screeching halt, also for no real reason. Just a dark mood.
I have cut way back on the amount of pop I drink but yesterday I just really needed a diet Pepsi. I stopped at a convenience store and got my drink, but when I went up to pay and handed the clerk my money, he said never mind, he got it. Huh! I know my jaw dropped and I said What? He repeated that he had it and to have a good day. I walked out of there smiling, thinking I must look very sad and pathetic for the store clerk to do that. I told my kids, what a nice thing to do.
It didnt diminish my good feeling when my husband laughed and said he stopped at the same store on his way home and the clerk didnt make him pay for his drink either. Maybe its something they do once in awhile, but yesterday I really appreciated that small gesture, even if it had absolutely nothing to do with me. I need to remember that small gestures do matter and try to do them more often myself. Yesterday I let myself get all wrapped up in stress and anxiety, and that store clerk had no idea how happy his 89 cent gesture made me. And today is a new and better day.
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May
4
We’ve been underwater since Friday.
This is normally a grassy field across from my sons school. Not today.
Thankfully no rain today but we’re supposed to get more tomorrow. Which is good, because there is one spot in my backyard that isn’t quite a mud hole yet, so we need to get that taken care of.
No more April showers, please?!
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My boys
Where did those little guys go?Cuteness overload
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