Summer Fun

We had one of those summers where I feel like we did a lot...but it went by so fast that overall I don't feel like I was very productive.  I had big summer plans:  read tons of books to the boys, help them master drawing shapes and lower case letters, get our home projects tackled, set PRs in some local races, go out and hike trails with the kids....etc. etc.  But summer isn't about lists and must do's and checking the boxes.  It is about slowing down, soaking up those longer days, staying in pajamas when we can, playdates, park outings, swimming, playing.  And we did that.  I am so happy we slowed down, played, took it easy and enjoyed.  I kinda like not being crazy-run-all-over the place-can't keep up with my calenar-busy.  I am so glad the boys got to be home and play.  They love it.  And after seeing their world change dramatically with kindergarten this past week, I am so glad they played.  After school they are desperate to play with their toys.  First thing in the morning they are scrambling to play before school.  They know things are different.  They are on a schedule.  :(

Summers will have a whole new meaning for us now.  

Some photos of our summer.

The boys are either reading a book or playing a game on Geoff's phone.

Avery providing an excellent example of taking it easy.

She's been busy.  Laughing.

Learning.

Growing.

OK, now an even better example of taking it easy!  Ha!  She is a side sleeper but this her passed out right after a late night feeding.  Except for my battery-operated candle the room was dark.  I was using it as a book light.  She rolled over to her side just after I took this pic.

W fully out.

Watching big brothers play on the deck.

 
Jack is on the deck playing remote control cars.  Don't you love his little shark watch?  I bought it on clearance at the beginning of the summer thinking the boys would wear them in a few years.  He loves it and wears it all the time even though it is a little big.

  Phone pic of Avery staring down an elephant.
  Special treat trip to Burger King with Daddy.  I love this picture Geoff took!

 Avery eating her shoe on shopping trip (laying in van).

Wyatt climbing at the park with friends.

 Jack climbing at Disney.

We managed to complete a summer of swim lessons!  Every Tuesday and Thursday with Carl at the pool.  Wyatt decided he was done with swim lessons about two weeks before our schedule ended.  It took us some heavy convincing to get him to stick with it and he did.  Carl said they were solid level 1 swimmers and have completed some level 2 skills.  Making sure they don't forget everything they learned until the next time they swim is the challenge!

Jack and Wyatt on a golf outing with Geoff.  The golf courses here are so great about letting Geoff take the boys out.  He has gone to a couple of courses and they typically charge around $10 total for both to play plus the cart.  They normally golf for about an hour.  Another great pic from Geoff's phone.

Wyatt looks so happy riding his bike on the trail!  Our hilly neighborhood makes it a challenge to learn without training wheels.  They rode for the first time by themselves in our neighborhood last winter but they even started the bike themselves on this day.

 Yay boys!  Yay Geoff!  Somehow he managed to hold the dogs and get one of the boys started off and then the other.  The first part of our walk was a little rough.  We had a couple of take-off spills...but when they got it, (and Geoff let go of the dogs' leashes) we were rolling.

Jack's bike is already too small.  We knew it was small when he picked it out but that is the bike he wanted.    He can't go as fast as Wyatt but he can go uphills faster than Wyatt because his bike is lighter.  So it's kinda nice...it gives each of them an advantage in the racing department.  :)

 Avery drinking my smoothie.

We made it to a summer fair!  This is our third summer here and we have never made it to one of the local fairs.  When the cowboy asked Jack if we wanted to sign up for the Tractor Pulls Jack said "I'll think about it."  He came around.  

Geoff and the boys on the fun slide.  The name kills me.

I believe this one was called the "Gator"...and was the favorite ride of the day.

Wyatt with a ladybug.

A in her jumper...

I am so excited about fall~it is getting down to the 40's at night and 80's during the day. It is getting dark sooner.  Bring on FALL!  

Wonderful Glorious Normal Day

This is what our kitchen looked like when we ran out of the house this morning.  Geoff was taking the kids to school and I was going to a PT appointment.  Our mess consisted of our lunch box supplies for the boys, the breakfast dishes and food, and some groceries that hadn't been put away along with some other junk.  And this doesn't show the other half of the kitchen...the counters were covered.

But I am celebrating my messy kitchen and running-around - a "normal" day in honor of our friend and fellow F-15 pilot Ryan who is battling cancer in TX with everything he has right now for the second time.  His wife Aimee said he had been hit with "the shock and awe of chemotherapy" today.

She wrote the following post on FB and it sure puts the ordinary, everyday, mundane things into perspective.

"THANK YOU everybody for the prayers, texts, posts, and phone calls of support. I find it a little overwhelming to respond to them all but please know I LOVE hearing from all of you. I especially love hearing about the "normal" in your life, the things you consider boring but the stuff I fantasize about returning to one day like wondering when my husband's going to get home from Roll Call or calling my husband at work to pick up the boys after school or negotiating whether it is his turn or my turn to clean our bathroom."

Aimee has been great about posting updates and photos.  Ryan has leukemia and they found a match for him with cord blood!  I didn't even know in some hospitals you can donate cord blood.  Here is a photo of Ryan and Aimee on Transplant Day.  He was receiving a cord blood transplant in the morning and one in the afternoon.  She bought him a "Thing 2 shirt" for being patient #2 of the first phase of the clinical trial he is in.  Please join us in sending lots of prayers their way!!

2,000

Geoff surpassed the 2,000 mile-mark in the mighty eagle last week.  The same day as the boys first day of kindergarten.  I picked them up from school and we got out there as he was taxiing in.  The boys punched his new patch on.

 Congratulations Geoff/Daddy!!!

Fun

Here are two funny pictures I had to post as a post script to the previous post.  The boys were super excited to have a first day of school picture with Avery but she had other plans.  

          She was having nothing to do with me putting her down on the boys lap at that moment.  Then I realized that in all the excitement about school it was time to feed her!

She kept herself busy while the boys were away.  Climbing, exploring, eating cheerios on her tray and off her tray.

First Day

The boys had their first day of kindergarten last week!  We cannot believe it.  The boys were ready though.  By the time I got out of bed, Wyatt was completely dressed and wearing his backpack.  We have been talking about "big kid school" so much that I think they wanted to know what all the fuss was about.  Jack was all ready except for his shoes and socks.  Their first day was a full day but with only 1/3 of their class attending.   And it is a FULL day (8:15 - 2:45)!  Wyatt said "the school is much longer than Ms. Mary's school" when I picked him up.  And they told me that they learned what was "off limits" on the playground.  And that they played on the see-saw the entire time they were outside.
I knew they were excited about school when they willingly posed for all of my pictures.
My heart is bursting as I write this post.

   Jack

How did you get so big overnight?

How did you get so smart and bright?

Wyatt 

Yesterday you were asleep in my arms

Today you're growing off the charts

I'm so proud of you

Lyrics from "You & Me" by Frances England

Six days

Six weeks

Six months

Six years

Blink of an Eye

I am so going to miss them during the day.  I am praying for them to have a wonderful school year and a patient and loving teacher.  I pray that they stay safe and healthy at school, that they learn lots, that they make kind friends, and that they have fun!!