We had a busy, crazy, stressful, exhausting, frustrating, fun summer. We had playdates, day trips, a fun beach vacation, and many many quiet (sort of quiet) moments at home.
And you know what? It was the little moments that were probably my favorite. The spontaneous picnics outside. The trips to Burger King because Carver loves to play on the playground there. The crafts and projects at the house, the endless hours of playing with trains, reading books, and destroying the house.
Every day brought moments of every emotion under the sun. Pleasure in simple things, frustration at behavior issues, exhaustion of single-parenthood, boredom, stress, and guilt that I wasn't doing "enough." But, we survived. And made a lot of fun memories too.
Oh how I love themed days!
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| Festive breakfast: homemade waffles, with blueberries, strawberries and a little dusting of powdered sugar. |
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| Lunch: peanut butter star sandwiches, strawberries, goldfish, yogurt covered raisins, and blue star marshmallows. |
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| A healthy snack. |
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| We did the obligatory holiday baking. |
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| And painted fireworks! This was much more successful than our attempt at flag painting.... |
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| He didn't get it... |
We love play dates! Several times we went to Laurel Park in Gainesville so the boys could play in the splash park there. This time Eli and his Mama joined us!
We had a little visitor. Picture this: sitting on my couch holding Carson, see something out of the corner of my eye, I look out the window and see a BEAR walking across my yard...
We played outside as much as possible but the RAIN was relentless this summer. We bolted outside every time we saw a ray a sunshine to play with our ghetto plastic pool and the hose. The boys loved it! Occasionally we ate picnic style-- this was Carson's favorite activity, eating.
I found a box of ready made projects and crafts at Wal-mart for about $10. Hours of entertainment.
Oddly enough, the Burger King in town has a great play area. We head over for dinner occasionally when I am alone and need OUT OF THE HOUSE with my two crazies. Side note: they have a pretty decent salad there with chicken, cranberries, apples and blue cheese (or minus the blue cheese if you are me and think it tastes like vomit).
Carver joined me for a 2 hour hair appointment. He sat quietly playing on the iPad for the entire appointment. I didn't know whether to be proud of him or ashamed of myself for letting him play with the iPad that long.
Gem mining with Julia! This is a perfect activity for kids. Digging in the dirt, playing in water, finding "treasures"-- he loved it.
We are blessed with the most incredible sunsets here. A visual reminder, every single night, of the glory of the Lord. It feeds my soul.
More water play time.
The Dillard House. When asked if Carver wanted me to pick him up to see the horses he said, "No, I just want to see the poop." Boys, they are like a foreign species.
Carver got to go with Mom, Jules and me to Kani House for Hibachi. It was hilarious. He was very...focused.
A little outing to the Mall of Georgia. We rode the carousel, played on the playground, and I squeezed into a tiny train with Carver when he decided he couldn't ride by himself.
And we played in the rain-- a lot. It was a wet summer but what is more fun than umbrellas and mud puddles and spontaneous dancing in the rain?
Stay tuned for more summer fun, coming soon :)
P.S. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that my sweet Mama was along for most of this. With Daniel out of the house all summer she is what sustains me and the boys. Having her and Daniel's parents around to help lighten the load saves my sanity. I am so very very thankful for my Mom. She keeps me relatively calm, runs interference and calls me on it when I am being impatient with the boys. And she sees the "realness" of my day to day so she gets me and my life right now.
