I've been thinking that I need to share my thoughts on summer. While our summer was really great and it honestly flew by like never before, it wasn't all sunshine and roses everyday. Because, well, "Momertainer" gets tired, runs out of ideas, and would like to clean the disgusting bathrooms that have been neglected.
CROCS. I have a love-hate relationship with them. While they are the pinnacle of summertime shoes and meet our needs for ease of getting on and water friendliness, they are also filthy, sweaty, dirt traps. My children shed their crocs at the door and then leave a trail of sweaty, nasty footprints all over the place. So gross. I have hosed those things off numerous times this summer.
2 QUESTIONS. Heard daily from the mouth of Matthew: "What are we doing today?" and "What's for dinner?" Every. Single. Day. And often more than once.
SWIMSUIT. I lived in mine. I feel like I put it on everyday. I drove around town in my swimsuit. Sitting on a towel. Our house was littered with them. They would hang from every available rack, knob, hook, door, you name it. And so the bathroom always smelled like chlorine.
TOWELS. Constantly being washed.
HYGIENE. Not so great in the summertime. How many days has it been since you've come into contact with soap, Matthew? Myself included. Many, many make-up free days.
FROZEN YOGURT. You don't need an occasion. It's always a good time. And it always tastes SO amazingly good.
LATE BEDTIME. Good Lord. You know, it's certainly nice to not have strict bedtimes and to have the freedom to be out later to do things, but sweet Lord, can I at least get them to bed at 8 tonight because I am DONE! It wouldn't be so bad if they actually slept late, but that was not the case. Up at 6:30 at least and then allowed to come bounding out at 7.
GROCERY STORE. Once a week. I made painstaking efforts to make sure that I only had to take all 3 to the store one time a week. I planned out every detail of every meal for the week and shopped accordingly. They're not fussy at the store. Just opinionated and sometimes overly helpful. And, my 7 year old found it too taxing to walk through the whole store, so there I was pushing 3 boys and a cart full of $200 worth of groceries.
THE GYM. Was my saving grace. I was there MWF with all 3 of my boys. I dropped them off in the playscape room where they got to play with friends, watch tv, and eat a snack while I escaped into the wonderful world of cardio and weightlifting. Often followed by a shower. Those were some great mornings. :) Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without the Quarries and their amazing staff. LOVE them.
We had our fun, we did. We picnicked with some of our favorite people. And come to find out, Pam has mastered the art of ice cream making. She has pulled off some fantastic ice cream recipes this summer. YUM!
We played with friends. Underwear shooting match.
Superhero stick-up.
Lunch time loonies.
We made a trip up to Dallas to fetch Matthew who was a Brown for a week, staying with them and attending Lego camp with his good buddy, Josh. He had an amazing time and was reluctant to come home with us.
On our drive home from Dallas we stopped by Health Camp for some delightful shakes. Matt is so tall! Soon we will be seeing eye-to-eye. Yikes!
Mr. J loves to be outside. He doesn't care if he gets hot and sweaty and filthy. He quite enjoys a dump truck full of water too. Splishy-splash!
The kids entertained themselves quite well building forts.
Beers were shared.
Johnny loved the train track and all the books at Barnes and Noble.
We saw some funny movies. My favorite of the summer: Despicable Me 2. Hilarity.
We swam in so many different pools. Everywhere...north, south, and everywhere inbetween.
And then some days I was too lazy or unmotivated to go the trouble of blowing up the backyard pool for 30 min. worth of use and entertainment. So, I filled up a bucket for Will and he had a grand time. Upon exiting the bucket he took on the persona of a superhero you may have never heard of: he called himself SuperWetGuy. And I was stifling giggles.
Superman made many appearances.
JohnnyMan wore the cape and chased his brothers round and round the table. Cuteness.
The boys sat in ALL of the ride on toys at ToysRUs. Even the pink Escalade.
Johnathan discovered the delights of sitting on and playing on the couch. He now flops around on it daily.
And then there was one blissful day in August that I got to spend the entire day with some of my very dearest friends at Lake Austin Spa. Scrub, massage, spa lunch, pedicure and dinner out. A wonderful, perfect day.
One of the highlights for me was swimming laps in the barn pool. All by myself. I was in the pool all summer but with children all over me. So this was pure bliss.
Matt's school puts on a back to school skating party each year. Now, my son has never worn a pair of roller skates. He swore to me he wanted to do it. I of course wanted to give him the opportunity but was pretty sure I already knew the outcome. He hated it. You may notice the forced smile. I myself had not worn skates in I don't even remember when, and it was not easy. I know I looked like a complete fool. But, we got to see the class lists that were posted, catch up with friends, and see what buddies Matt had in his class.
And then school started. It did!!! Will started a week before Matt. It's his last year of preschool, I can hardly believe it. He is loving school. He's in a class with 10 other boys, and no girls. Those poor, poor teachers.
Matthew began 2nd grade full of confidence, and it's going great. He's got friends, great teachers, and competition on the recess playground is in full swing. It's going to be a fantastic year.
