School's Out For Summer

I have been fighting a cold for exactly a week.  I don't think I've ever been sick this long and I don't know why it won't go away.  It seems to be worse at night time.  I haven't slept well at all this week.  This is why it's passed midnight and I'm sitting here on the couch trying to stop this continuous cough.  I can feel the mucus draining down my throat.  Gross!  I just don't know what to do to get rid of this annoyance and I'm trying hard to avoid seeing the doctor.  I just want sleep!  Last night I slept on the couch because my coughing was driving my husband insane and kept him from sleeping as well. So, I sat on the computer and did some writing.  I have always wanted to be an author and have been working on the same novel for many years, struggling to get through the first chapter.  It's mainly because I lack the time to get it accomplished.  Someday my dream will happen.  Someday.

In other news, today my son finished his last day as a second grader.  I can't believe it.  He has done so well thus far in school.  He is above grade level in math and reading.  He does need to work on spelling and handwriting but he will get it eventually.  I truly do believe that the English language is hard and not everything is spelled as it sounds.  It's so tricky.  As for handwriting he's a lefty, as am I, and I never seemed to be able to write eligible.  These things that he has trouble with I plan on working with him during the summer in preparation for third grade.  I cannot believe he is now entering the third grade.

My experience in third grade was horrible.  My teacher was the meanest person I had ever met in my life.  She called me stupid and told me I would never amount to anything.  I wasn't the only student she treated this way but it did hit me hard.  I believed it and from that point on I came to hate school and didn't see a point in trying.  It's a shame I allowed one ignorant teacher to effect my entire outlook of school and learning but unfortunately I did.  Now my son is entering the third grade, a year I hated so much.  I'm sure he will not have a teacher like mine.  Oh, I won't allow it!  But academically speaking he is going to be faced with more challenges.  I believe in him.  He's very smart.  I still worry.  Doesn't every good mother?

Now summer vacation has started for both of my children and I have many, many plans to keep them busy. 

Perfect Weather For A Hike

One of the things I've wanted to do with the kids this summer was to find a new park/playground we haven't been to yet.  There are so many parks in our area but it seems we only ever stick to the same few.  I actually didn't realize just how many parks there were until I signed the kids up for the summer reading club program at the library.  Aside from reading books and logging in the minutes for prizes they also offer a "scavenger hunt" as my son calls it in many different parks around the county.  You follow the directions on the booklet that was given to us with lots of clues that will lead you to the post.

Like this.

 

The walk to find this rubbing post was about .50 miles.  Not so bad, right?  Ha!  Most of the way had us walking up a very narrow hill.  Here I was with a heavy backpack (with diapers, water and lunch) strapped to my back while pushing my 20+ lb daughter in the stroller.  Okay, it really wasn't so bad and I do enjoy the exercise.  My son handled it great.  No complaining at all.  We found the post, my daughter wanted out of the stroller and I posed them for a picture.  Then we put the sheet that was given to us over top of the post and rubbed in the picture.  

Of course, after we completed our mission we took some time to play at the playground  It was a small, but really nice playground on top of a hill that overlooks a baseball field and basketball court.  In the distance you can see so many beautiful mountains.  I guess that's one of the good things about living in Pennsylvania.  The beautiful mountain scenery ... and farms, depending on where you go.  

Aside from adding my watermark I assure you I didn't photoshop the quality of these pictures.  The sky is that blue and the clouds are that white today.  The weather is also low in the 70's.  Perfect!  I can't believe in the middle of July we are not sweating and dying from the heat.  It was an incredibly perfect afternoon.  If only my husband could have joined us on this trip.  He's working.

Hopefully next week the kids and I can venture to another park for more fun, hiking for those rubbing posts and playtime. 

Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer

Happy July!  I can't believe we are halfway through the year already.  Is it me or is it going by very fast?

So far summer has been very busy for us.  I like being busy and I don't like to sit at home with nothing to do, plus my kids don't sit very well -- but today I am refusing to go anywhere and am making sure we use today to relax.  I also needed a day to get some housework done.  Lately I've been running around here and there and I just want a break from it.  Plus with it being in the low 90's with a heat index that has me choking the minute I step outside a day to be indoors is much needed.

We have been using these long summer days to the best that we can.  My parents have a community pool that I took the kids to yesterday and hopefully we can get over there to use it more often.  We've also spent some time at a local amusement park and since we have season passes we plan to go as often as possible.  We've also been to two local minor league games and have plans to attend two more this year.  My son and the rest of his baseball league walked in a parade at last Saturday's game.  They even got to hang out on the field with the players during the National Anthem.

There was some fireworks after the game.  My daughter is not a fan of fireworks.  I had to hold and comfort her throughout the entire thing -- but they were a beautiful site.

 

Also, my son just finished Vacation Bible School.  This was his first year participating and it was held at a church that we haven't attended before.  A very nice church with very warm and inviting people.  If we weren't already part of another great church we would definitely make this one our own.  He had so much fun learning about the love Jesus has for us and is very excited about doing it again next year.  After the week was complete they threw a celebration/carnival for the kids and their families.  Matthew was to memorize one of the verses that was taught to him and if he did so he got a chance to pie the pastor ... and he did ... right on his head.  

 "I am with you always.  Even to the end of the ages" -- Matthew 28:20  

I love that my children are so interested in learning about Jesus.  I would love to help my son learn more Bible verses.  He prays for us at the dinner table and sometimes my daughter joins in as well.  It's the sweetest thing.  

And since today is so hot we have been trying to come up with different indoor activities.  One was taking out a tunnel they have and seeing how many times they can pass through it.  

 We've been reading stories to help them earn the minutes they need to complete the library's summer reading program.  At this moment my son is playing on the Wii while my daughter naps.  Now I believe it's time to end this entry and get back into the housework thing.  I mean, the kitchen floor isn't going to mop itself, right?

Splishing And Splashing

When the sweat starts pouring down my face the minute I step outside I know that it's summer.  Okay, so according to the calendar the summer solstice doesn't start for another five days but let's face it -- summer weather is HERE!  I normally do not complain about the heat.  I've always loved it.  However this morning at the park I thought I was going to pass out.  The humidity here is awful.

So it only makes sense that when it's 90 degrees you should spend some time splashing around in the pool.  I wish we had a bigger pool in our backyard but since we don't we have settle for the plastic baby pool.  Hey, the kids love it.  Just make sure you don't splash B in the face ... she hates that.

 

 

Happy summer y'all!

Summer Bucket List for 2014

Summer is right around the corner and my son is finishing his last week of school so I thought it would be a good time to write up a Summer Bucket List.  I've seen this on other blogs so I decided to give it a try as well.  Then once summer ends I can see how many of these things have been done.  If I can find the time I may blog about each of them as they are completed.

• Complete the library's Summer Reading Club reading minutes.  Go to as many of their events as possible/complete as much of the scavenger hunt they have set up as we can.
• Visit the beach
• Attend nephew's wedding in NY
• Take the kids to Gettysburg 
• Find a park/playground we haven't been to yet
• Visit at least one new place
• Go to the local amusement park as much as possible (thankfully we have season passes again).
• Finish repairing/staining the back deck
• Playdates with friends
• Kitchen renovation
• Do craft projects with the kids
• Visit the pool
• Teach M how to tie his shoes
• Teach M how to ride a bike without training wheels
• Get B fully potty trained
• Move B into a big girl bed

I will add more as I think of it.  I can't wait to start crossing off the things on this list off and let's hope for a safe and wonderful summer!

Hagerstown, Maryland

Yesterday Rob and I took the kids on an out of state trip to Maryland.  We make a trip to Hagerstown every 6 months so my engagement ring can be cleaned and inspected in order to keep the warranty.  My husband, who worked in Hagerstown at the time, bought my engagement ring at a jewelry store there.  Well, there is no other jewelry store located near us so we have to make the trip twice a year.  It takes a little over an hour to get there and we don't mind going at all.  It's a beautiful town with a lot to do. 

So we went to the jewelry store to drop my ring off and then let the kids play in the play area inside the mall for awhile.  Then we headed to a park nearby.  It's a park we had been to before we were married and have always planned to go back.  It's called City Park and located in downtown Hagerstown.  The park is huge and we enjoyed a hike around the lake watching the ducks and spotting the fish swimming around.  There are three playgrounds but the kids only played at two of them.  We didn't have a chance to visit the train and art museums but I'm not sure the kids would have enjoyed them anyway.  I give this park two thumbs up. 

It was a nice day and I love any chance we get to spend as a family.  My husband works forty hours a week Monday through Friday and by the time he gets home it seems like we're too busy getting things done around the house so the chance we get to go out and have family time is enjoyable. 

4th Of July Fun

Happy Independence Day (1 day late).  I hope it was good for you!  I can't put it into words just how grateful I am to be an American and being part of this great nation.  Freedom wasn't handed to us.  It was fought for.  I can't say I'm happy with the direction our country is going lately but I'm still grateful (and I'll leave it at that). 

We stayed at home most of the day and had my parents over for a barbecue.  Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, kielbasa, baked beans and I made potato salad the same way my mother always made it (sorry not sharing that recipe).  I also made some desserts. 

I made Matthew a red, white and blue drink I saw on Pinterest.  It didn't come out as perfect as it should have but Matthew liked it.  First you add ice, then cranberry juice or fruit punch (I chose cranberry), then blue Gatorade.  The recipe also says to add Sprite last but he doesn't like carbonated drinks so I left that out.  

I made cupcakes but I regret this.  24 cupcakes for 6 people?  There is so much left but I guess it will be nice for Rob and the kids to enjoy.  Anyone want a cupcake?

This is a dessert I found on Brianna's High Five magazine.  So yummy!  First you crush some strawberries with a fork and put them on the bottom.  Then add vanilla yogurt.  Then blueberries and a little more yogurt.  Then top it off with crushed sugar cookies.  Matthew said he wants me to make this again. 

Of course, The 4th of July isn't complete without watching fireworks.  We sat outside of a nearby church so we could see the ones that were shooting off from the city.  I am not an expert on how to take firework photos so this was the best I could get. 

Then back home to play with sparklers before going to bed. 

First Day of Summer

Yes!  We have officially made it to summer.  Aside from the dreadful humidity I really enjoy so many things about this season.  The warm weather, swimming, riding my bike (yeah, I need to get that thing out of the garage and wipe the dust off), bringing the kids to different parks and playgrounds, barbecues, ball games, the nearby amusement park and well ... anything outdoors.

This summer I am going to strive to make it as fun as possible with the family.  The television will be turned off for most of the day while we spend as much time outside in the fresh air.  The mornings are the best time to be outside before the humidity kicks in.

Today I decided to put the housework aside and just have fun with the kids.  I spend so much time worrying about what needs to be done and need to remind myself that it's more important to make enough time to play and enjoy life.  I took the kids in the backyard and played in the sand box, on the swing set and even had a water gun fight before the two of them splashed in the baby pool.  Brianna, who is usually fussy about getting wet, didn't seem to mind getting squirted or soaking in the pool.

Then we headed inside for lunch and laid Brianna down for her nap.  Matthew and I played one round of Chuggington (one of his favorite board games) and then I allowed him to play some video games while I did my exercise routine.  Now I'm giving myself a moment to blog before everything begins again.  Actually, Matthew is begging for a snack so I guess my time is up.

Wishing everyone a happy and fun summer.