Yay to more responsibility.
Boo to kids getting older!
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Wordless Wednesday
Really, Ben can't be old enough to be using a daily agenda, tabs, and keeping a notebook.
Yay to more responsibility.
Boo to kids getting older!
Yay to more responsibility.
Boo to kids getting older!
1st Day of School
Checking in after what has been a busy few final weeks of the summer. Both boys are now back in full time school and daycare and I am back to the grind of new students and a new school year. At some point I hope to recap summer. If is had a theme, it would be "oh, the places you will go." Of the 8 weeks between end of school on the 14th and return on August 15th we (or I) was gone 4 weeks of the summer.
A good summer, wait a GREAT summer given for the first time ever I didn't teach online or write test items on contract. Frankly, I don't see how I would have had time!
Monday night after a long 15 hour day with 11 hours at school and the other 4 existing on multiple cups of coffee we finished dinner and opted for 1st day photos. Ben and Ian had of course been watching American Ninja Warrior, and were recreating the "devil steps" which they insisted they had to do shirtless.
Hence, this is our official back to school picture for 2014.
As well as this action shot of them jumping off the porch. This is how I remember summer 2014, as a series of stunts and one-upping each other in dares.
I convinced them to put on a shirt to take one picture with mom (who I barely recognize due to the bags under my eyes and the 10 years older I look than any picture taken during the summer.)
They told me we should pose shirtless, myself included. Nope.
I will settle for a sandwich kiss.
A good summer, wait a GREAT summer given for the first time ever I didn't teach online or write test items on contract. Frankly, I don't see how I would have had time!
Monday night after a long 15 hour day with 11 hours at school and the other 4 existing on multiple cups of coffee we finished dinner and opted for 1st day photos. Ben and Ian had of course been watching American Ninja Warrior, and were recreating the "devil steps" which they insisted they had to do shirtless.
Hence, this is our official back to school picture for 2014.
As well as this action shot of them jumping off the porch. This is how I remember summer 2014, as a series of stunts and one-upping each other in dares.
I convinced them to put on a shirt to take one picture with mom (who I barely recognize due to the bags under my eyes and the 10 years older I look than any picture taken during the summer.)
They told me we should pose shirtless, myself included. Nope.
I will settle for a sandwich kiss.
Friday, August 15, 2014
2014 Florida Roadtrip Recap
Back from our annual Florida roadtrip, this time with some new places to visit.
We left last Thursday after Ben finished up his last session at BMX camp, getting to Uncle Brian's after dinner. We were all tired, but we couldn't hit up bed without Brian read his favorite children's book to the boys. My mom gave Ben a huge collection of Little Golden Books for his first birthday with inscriptions in each. Brian always loved Grover, so naturally she included, "The Monster at the End of the Book."
Thursday our plans to hit up the Greenville Zoo and Cleveland Park, but due to the rain we went to the children's museum and to Mellow Mushroom for lunch. That evening, after all the rain had passed, we took a long walk through my old neighborhood and stopped by 202 Camille Street, where my grandparents lived for nearly twenty-five years. While it has changed drastically inside, I can picture every room the way it was in the 1980s and 90s.
My high school friend Mark and his sweet family now live in the house. I mentioned to him that my grandparents, Mary-Hall and Ben Jobe, would be pleased to know that love lives on in their home. Thanks Massey family for letting us stop by on a Friday night and crash the party.
Saturday we made the long day drive of about ten hours with as few stops as possible. We did stop in Atlanta where my sorority sister Amy K. and her husband now live. Due to her husband's career in the US Air Force, this is the first time since we graduated from college that she has lived on the East coast. Naturally, we had to catch up over lunch while our four boys played nearby.
Saturday night through Wednesday we spent in Destin, Florida at Bill's uncle's beach condo. We normally stay with Bill's aunt Mary, but as she had a stroke in March (and is now recovering), we opted not to stay with her. I don't know who wouldn't want a four and eight year old jumping repeatedly in the pool screaming all day in their house. We several relaxing sun drenched days spent on the beach having brother vs brother float battles in the surf.
We also spent too many hours lounging around watching movies, playing games, building Legos inside.
Ben and Ian loved spending time with their Grandmommy Pam, Uncle Jamie and Aunt Katie. We spent our final night at Baytown Wharf playing games, eating ice cream and being a family.
While we were there we had a torrential late afternoon storm. We were having dinner with Bill's aunt Mary and Uncle Don at bay side restaurant on the water. We watched the storm come over the horizon and then after, we saw an amazing rainbow once it passed The boys and I walked down to the water to take a closer look. I snapped a few pictures before the rainbow dissipated.
It was not without mentioning that the third anniversary of my mom's death found us while visiting Brian. While we were out walking I couldn't help but feel she was with us on the night of August 8th
When Ben asked why the rainbow disappeared I briefly thought about giving him the scientific rationale. Instead since he had been asking lots of questions about God and death lately, I said that Mema must of reached down and taken the rainbow back to Heaven with her and that she would return it after another rainy storm to let us know she was ok and still with us. A child's answer was all I could give.
It was a good, much needed trip to get away for us all before our school year begins next week.
Thursday our plans to hit up the Greenville Zoo and Cleveland Park, but due to the rain we went to the children's museum and to Mellow Mushroom for lunch. That evening, after all the rain had passed, we took a long walk through my old neighborhood and stopped by 202 Camille Street, where my grandparents lived for nearly twenty-five years. While it has changed drastically inside, I can picture every room the way it was in the 1980s and 90s.
My high school friend Mark and his sweet family now live in the house. I mentioned to him that my grandparents, Mary-Hall and Ben Jobe, would be pleased to know that love lives on in their home. Thanks Massey family for letting us stop by on a Friday night and crash the party.
Saturday we made the long day drive of about ten hours with as few stops as possible. We did stop in Atlanta where my sorority sister Amy K. and her husband now live. Due to her husband's career in the US Air Force, this is the first time since we graduated from college that she has lived on the East coast. Naturally, we had to catch up over lunch while our four boys played nearby.
Saturday night through Wednesday we spent in Destin, Florida at Bill's uncle's beach condo. We normally stay with Bill's aunt Mary, but as she had a stroke in March (and is now recovering), we opted not to stay with her. I don't know who wouldn't want a four and eight year old jumping repeatedly in the pool screaming all day in their house. We several relaxing sun drenched days spent on the beach having brother vs brother float battles in the surf.
We also spent too many hours lounging around watching movies, playing games, building Legos inside.
Ben and Ian loved spending time with their Grandmommy Pam, Uncle Jamie and Aunt Katie. We spent our final night at Baytown Wharf playing games, eating ice cream and being a family.
While we were there we had a torrential late afternoon storm. We were having dinner with Bill's aunt Mary and Uncle Don at bay side restaurant on the water. We watched the storm come over the horizon and then after, we saw an amazing rainbow once it passed The boys and I walked down to the water to take a closer look. I snapped a few pictures before the rainbow dissipated.
It was not without mentioning that the third anniversary of my mom's death found us while visiting Brian. While we were out walking I couldn't help but feel she was with us on the night of August 8th
When Ben asked why the rainbow disappeared I briefly thought about giving him the scientific rationale. Instead since he had been asking lots of questions about God and death lately, I said that Mema must of reached down and taken the rainbow back to Heaven with her and that she would return it after another rainy storm to let us know she was ok and still with us. A child's answer was all I could give.
It was a good, much needed trip to get away for us all before our school year begins next week.
Monday, August 4, 2014
Weekend
We have had another rainy, cool summer minus a few hot summer days. I sure hope this does not mean we are going to have another winter of snow and ice! This past weekend we had a normal weekend, relaxed getting back to normal after my travel and before we leave Thursday for a week in Florida.
Friday we joined up with some friends for an afternoon out of the rain and into the rainforest at a special exhibit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. This was a special exhibit that included a maze with T/F questions each leading to info about the life in a rainforest. Along the way was a giant spider net and zipline for kids. We then went over to the State Farmers Market Restaurant for biscuits and hushpuppies and veggies plates (me) and pancakes for the boys. If local and you have not checked out, it's a must along with a trip down the hill to the farmer stalls for some take home goodness.
Saturday since it was still raining we spent most of the day at home, watching movies, playing games, and I managed to get a haul of freeze ahead cooking finished up. Yum that I now have squash and sweet onion and green beans cooked with country ham to go with my growing fall freezer haul.
Saturday, Ben spent the night with a friend Saturday night while Ian and I watched the Lego movie for the 100th time. Bill and I also started working on cleaning out and prepping to see nursery furniture as well as some other items the boys have outgrown.
Sunday was another lazy rainy day until mid afternoon when the sun finally camp out. We joined up with our newly back from vacation neighbors to walk dogs and hit up the playground while Bill put together some of Ian's new furniture. By the time we return from Florida, his new big boy bedroom will be up.
This week is a return to BMX camp for Ben and VBS with a friend in the morning for Ian. Mom will be blitzing through her to do list as as soon as we return from Florida it is time for school.
Friday we joined up with some friends for an afternoon out of the rain and into the rainforest at a special exhibit at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. This was a special exhibit that included a maze with T/F questions each leading to info about the life in a rainforest. Along the way was a giant spider net and zipline for kids. We then went over to the State Farmers Market Restaurant for biscuits and hushpuppies and veggies plates (me) and pancakes for the boys. If local and you have not checked out, it's a must along with a trip down the hill to the farmer stalls for some take home goodness.
Saturday since it was still raining we spent most of the day at home, watching movies, playing games, and I managed to get a haul of freeze ahead cooking finished up. Yum that I now have squash and sweet onion and green beans cooked with country ham to go with my growing fall freezer haul.
Saturday, Ben spent the night with a friend Saturday night while Ian and I watched the Lego movie for the 100th time. Bill and I also started working on cleaning out and prepping to see nursery furniture as well as some other items the boys have outgrown.
Sunday was another lazy rainy day until mid afternoon when the sun finally camp out. We joined up with our newly back from vacation neighbors to walk dogs and hit up the playground while Bill put together some of Ian's new furniture. By the time we return from Florida, his new big boy bedroom will be up.
This week is a return to BMX camp for Ben and VBS with a friend in the morning for Ian. Mom will be blitzing through her to do list as as soon as we return from Florida it is time for school.
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