Oh Summer.....

We haven't disappeared, but it has been a very interesting week or two....

 A week and a half ago, we went to see our cute friend Nadia perform in a dance recital.  She was adorable and it was great to catch up with her family over pizza at our much-missed Central Market....

So then it was the last week of school - a lot of chaos for this mama!  And then I did something very dumb....  It was the staff number for the talent show - the flash mob to "We're all in this Together" - and as I started it off, I leaped off the stage... and fell.  My ankle hurt, but I just kept dancing and kept teaching the rest of the day.  I had a special visitor in my room for the afternoon (it was a short day) and the adrenaline was flowing...  And then all the kids left and I slowly realized I was in a lot of pain.  I went to the doc and sure enough, I'd broken my ankle.  My mom rescues me at the doctor - I couldn't drive home, and they fitted me with what we now refer to as "the storm-twooper boot".  

 It's pretty impressive, though I can't walk real well in it.  I was thankful for two days left of school as it was really hard to keep up with my kids!  Soon enough Friday came.  I was a youtube sensation (VR Talent Show Flash Mob) - you can watch the fall and it is hilarious!  The dance turned out awesome - I just wish I hadn't been so stupid!  Ethan's comment was, "I don't understand why you had to jump off.  Why didn't you just use the stairs?"
Saturday came and we prepared to have Grammy arrive.  The boys and I made a lego city and had fun just hanging out.  It's hard for me to sit around and take it easy. but I suppose I have no choice.

And then 6 o'clock came....

And there was a knock at the door,

The neighbor had come over to tell us that our front yard was gushing water...  Brian and Grammy were on the ferry, so my dad jumped in the car to head over and after deciding there was nothing any of us could do, I called 911.  (Which is what the water/utilities company's recording said to do).  I felt kind of ridiculous and pathetic sitting out waiting for the fire truck - broken ankle, two little kids in mismatched jammies....  But, maybe that helped, to have them feel sorry for me.  The firemen turned off the water and called the city guy that was on-call to check it out.  

 They really were nice.  Even let the boys crawl up into the truck.

 Dad arrived to help, and the city guy arrived to declare this our landlord's problem, as opposed to being his.  And then we realized we had no water for the night (at least).  Grammy and Brian arrived and we headed out to my parents' for an impromptu sleepover - dogs and all!
Sunday was busy - lunch at the Boat Shed in the sun....

 And our friend Kaili's birthday party at the Bowling Alley.

 Where Lucas bowled 100....  Beating out all the little ones....

 It was fun to chat with friends and the boys had a blast bowling.  Such a neat family to be friends with!

We had a great dinner with my parents - used them for showers, and headed home to a house with no water...  The dogs thoroughly enjoyed getting bottled water for the night...
Monday was Grammy's day with Ethan, Lucas' last day at his school, and my day to clean up my classroom.  E and Grammy had a great time - coffee date with Uno, mini golf, McD's, and a shopping trip to Walmart.  Lucas had fun with his friends.  And I realized that my sinus infection was back and that I can't be on my feet for more than about an hour without being in a lot of pain.  Which makes cleaning up a classroom really tough.  I went back to the doc for more meds and then curled up on the couch for the afternoon/night.
Tuesday's big hit was going to Madagascar 3 with my friend Nancy and her boys (who are older and therefore increase our cool factor).  Lots of laughs and giggles out of the boys (and us).
Wednesday was Lucas' day with Grammy and he (of course) almost perfectly reenacted Ethan's day (except he swapped Blueberry Park to play catch for the coffee date).  He had a blast and even got a hole in one!  I headed back to school to work some more on my room and Ethan got to go on his first ever field trip!  Every one he's been supposed to go on this year got rained out, so this was finally the day!  They went hiking in a park somewhere and (the most exciting part) got to ride the city bus!
It's so hard being in this boot!  I'm used to going going going and I just can't.  It is making me so frustrated and the sinus infection certainly doesn't help.
But today the sun came out, the boys played baseball in the yard, the dogs played catch, and all was okay for awhile.

Until the meds wore off... but for a little while I was reminded that it was summer.  All will be well - I'll get through...  And I may even get a bit of summer there at the end.
And that's our life the last little bit.  Here's hoping the next little bit is a little less eventful!

It's been awhile!

This time of year is always insane.  I have end of the year grades, planning, organizing and a whole lot of cleaning to do.  Add to that running three major events at school and free time becomes an illusion.  Then, we can sprinkle in a nice sinus infection to help stir up the pot.  So yep, it's been a bit hectic around here.  However, two of those events are over - the Parent Meeting for kids for next year in my class, and the Book Showcase, which I'll talk about below.  And I worked from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening almost straight, but I got just about all my end of the year schoolwork stuff done!  So that just leaves the Talent Show.  It's a monstrosity, but I love it!

Back to what's really important - life with the family...  A couple weeks ago (and then again last night), the boys went to their first Bluejackets game.

 And had a blast.  Lucas got a ball from one of the players that first game and carried it around for a week straight.

 The rest of that week, and the next weekend are pretty fuzzy to me.  I thought I was just plain exhausted, but turns out I had a sinus infection.  It all makes sense now.
Last Monday was the Parent vs. Kids tball game.  In which the kids won.  Because in this league, the kids never actually get out.

 I like the perspective of this picture.  Teeny kids and big ol' adults....

 Lucas was heartbroken that he didn't get to play - huge crocodile tears and loud sobbing....  So luckily, he and a few others hijacked the field after practice and he got his chance to try it all out.  So hard to be three....

 Since we had Daddy home, we got to work finishing Ethan's book project for the Big Book Showcase.  He worked so hard to make sure it looked good.  I was really proud of him.

 Wednesday night was the tball party and certificates.  I saw all sorts of people I knew from school and the boys went nuts playing all over the playground.

 It's crazy to think that he started the season in a cast, and ended a strong, healthy boy!  With an impressive scar.Once all the hoopla turned into giving out certificates, Lucas was ready to go home.  He sure is becoming his own little person - no more sidelines for him!

 Thursday night was the big night at school - Our annual BBQ, with all sorts of events happening, including the Book Showcase I ran with some friends.  We invited the whole school to do some sort of book report and put them on display that night.  There was voting and some special awards given out.  One of those special awards from the children's librarian at our local library, went to Ethan - very special!  Especially because she's the one that introduced him to the book!

 Lucas, once again, could not handle the hoopla and needed his own picture.

 Friday we were all exhausted and Brian was sick, but we persevered and life went on.  I started working like a mad woman on grades and Brian took the kids to the Summer Reading Kick-Off Party at our library.  And oh was that cool!

Lucas would not take a picture with the Star Wars guys.  I reminded him they weren't real and his response was, "I know, they just came right out of the book."  Um... yeah. 

After that we had a lunch at our favorite neighborhood spot with Uma and Upa and just had fun laughing and comparing end of the year stories.  

And then it was back to the computer for me....  The boys spent the evening at the Bluejackets game which left me a nice quiet house to work in.  Man can I get a lot done when there aren't kids here!  I am actually feeling somewhat sane going into this week, though I'm not sure that'll last.  I keep thinking of to-do list items...  

I think I can... I think I can.....  Next time you hear from me, I will have a first grader and a Pre-K kid!  And I'll be free as a bird!  For a bit anyway :)

A Weekend of "Rest"

So I know I should have "gotten some rest" this weekend, as I wasn't feeling very well on Friday and we had a crazy, crazy week...  But I just don't do "rest" very well.  Especially when my to-do list is very very long....  Which this time of year?  Always long....

First thing Saturday, we had a family Tree walk event for the program I teach for.  The boys especially enjoyed seeing the bear scat.  E"The bigger the bear, the bigger the scat mom."  L"That's some big poop Mom."  Can you see the concern in Lucas' eyes?

 Ethan was the perfect student, taking in everything the presenter told him.  He was fascinated by all the information.  Lucas was fascinated by the slugs.  "Another creature mom!!!"

 After we got lost for about the fourth time, trying to get home, the boys passed out in the car and I figured I better just keep on driving.  There were some landscapers at our house with Brian, working on the massive hedge, and they weren't done, so I knew home wouldn't be as quiet as a nice long drive....
We made it to the Fairgrounds for the annual "Kid's Day" where several safety-minded organizations come out and give out freebies to the kids and let them climb all over the trucks and such.

The first truck we went into was the Fire Safety Trailer.  They made it like there was a real fire - smoke and detector going off and everything.  After that, Lucas would not remove his hands from his ears.  I had to lift him into things because he would not take his hands off.....

 The helicopter was a huge hit with both boys.  And the pilot was awesome-  showing them everything and explaining it all.  Though Lucas' only concern was getting to have the door shut.

 At the end of the event, they had some firefighters use the jaws of life to show a fake rescue and tear up a car.  Which led really well into our next, evening activity ( I told you there was no rest), the D Derby.
We were back for more, and this time was made even more fun because our friends were there too.

 There was a whole lot of screaming, laughing, eating, and cheering!

 It did not disappoint, though the wrecks were a little tamer this time.
And then this morning I woke up bright and early with a to-do list a mile wide.  On the top of the list was fixing up our garden at the Community P-Patch.  Upa and Uma came out and helped us build some beds - in hopes that will make it easier for us to handle.  We are really terrible gardeners....

In the end, it looked great and we planted all sorts of seeds.  I'm sure many of them will not grow, but I'm guessing we'll have enough radishes and carrots to feed the multitudes anyway...
And now it's on to the school to-dos...  Only three weeks left, I can hardly believe it!  There is an awful lot to be done in that three weeks!  I guess I better get some "rest".

What a Weekend at Camp Seymour!

I don't think I can do our weekend at family camp justice in words...  We had an absolute blast and will definitely be returning.  The staff was wonderful, food was delicious, activities were awesome, and we couldn't have asked for anything to be better!  I'm going to let the pictures speak, with minimal interference from me....  Or at least I'll try...

We got there and hiked out to our cabin...  

The boys loved being in the woods exploring...

Front porch sittin'....

First stop - canoes!

SUCH a happy boy to be out on a boat!

The cousins arrived and my gosh has Cooper grown!

Anytime (which wasn't often) that there weren't Official activities going on, the boys played at the "Courts" - hockey, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, and the new favorite - Gaga Ball (Israeli Dodgeball)

Arts and Crafts was fun and messy - made even more so by Cooper....

The boys made beaded bracelets, painted frames, and pictures...  And the staff cleaned up - yippee!

The pool was a big hit - and it was warmer than the air outside!

 These two sure were cute hikin' along.

Evening time brought campfire time and Ethan got to participate in a skit as a tree!.  He made a good tree.

The Reptile Room was a huge hit with the boys, as they got to hold a turtle....

a bearded dragon....

several snakes....

And they were so brave - I know many adults not willing to do this....

But not me, mind you...

The leopard gecko was a huge hit...

This is Ethan's begging face...  A new family pet mom?

The climbing wall was massive...  But they were up for the try....

It took Ethan a second to remember how to climb, but once he did....

Up he went.....

He made it up about halfway - but wasn't real interested in trying again...

Brian made it to the Y - and that was the goal...

Met some friendly starfish at the touch tanks...  I particularly enjoyed watching the barnacles eat under the microscope though...

Archery - boys favorite activity, maybe EVER

S'mores - yes please!

We did manage to fit in a quick board game back at the cabin before they all collapsed into bed...  Only I had already collapsed into bed, so I didn't play.

Every morning, they have a tradition at camp of running "German Stairs" which is a trail throughout camp (and not German or stairs, but you'll have to go to hear that story).

I liked watching the stretching....

Especially the spidey stretch...

Lucas and Cole got to ride in style - and poor Nick got stuck pushing them!

This guy and I spent lots of time giggling together...  He sure is cute.....

The food was so good - and the boys loved eating buffet style....

Lucas decided his favorite new sport is hockey.  And he's pretty darn cute doing it!

We took one last trip out on the boats - And Lucas was THRILLED to get his OWN PADDLE!

I thought it was funny how the front end of our canoes (where the boys sat) were fully out of the water....

The boys didn't want to go on the big climbing wall again, but they were thrilled to go on the smaller wall on the backside.  Lucas insisted on wearing the gear - for a minute anyway....

Ethan followed around a little girl he had grown fond of, and they had fun climbing and jumping all over...

We were all sad to go, but know we'll be back.

Lucas asks us EVERY SINGLE DAY if we can go to Family Camp today.  And then he cries when I tell him no.  I think he liked it:)