Bucket List Part Deux

Well as we enter week two of summer break the fun continues. 

June 20th - I ran 6 miles this morning with my friend Jen B.  I was really worried that I would be too tired from backpacking but I put on my *new* compression socks that my MIL bought for me and my legs actually felt really great. We did school work in the AM and the rest of the day was spent recovering (aka lounging around) with some cleaning up from the trip.  Mr. B attended cub scouts and had a great time!

June 21st - Did our usual morning school work and then spent most of the day vigorously cleaning the house in anticipation of my family all showing up the next day for our June birthdays celebration.  The kids did a great job helping.

June 22nd - I intended to run 9 miles this morning but instead Jen and I did hill work.  It was incredibly beautiful out and I had no problem getting up at 5:50am!  What a fantastic way to get a jump start on enjoying a beautiful day to its fullest.  The family started rolling in at about noon and we BBQ'd some really delicious Thai food.  It was nice to have everyone together.  The awww moment of the day was when my SIL and her baby fell asleep together while lounging on the grass. 

 

That evening AH, a nephew and I (plus the kiddos) played some ultimate Frisbee with a group of friends.  It was so much fun - a perfect way to end a stunning day in the PNW.  

June 23rd - We had a shortened church service so that we might be home to watch a special church broadcast.  Of course we missed the broadcast due to another appointment, but I watched it later on and it was really inspiring. 

June 24th - Started out the day doing our usual morning school work.  We got a lot accomplished in math and English, however what the kids enjoy the most is our reading group time.  We are currently reading "Obi, Gerbil on the Loose" together and the kids are getting a lot of laughs out of it. It is the highlight of our work time in the mornings. 

Piano lessons are still on for the summer, we had them today.  We also got a lot of household chores done that usually don't require so much attention when everyone is at school all day, but now that everyone is home all day things do get dirty/messy rather quickly. 

Tonight Beeb and I tackled dinner together by making homemade spaghetti with meatballs.  Yum!  I used The Pioneer Woman's recipe, altered to be gluten and dairy free.  It turned out delicious!

After dinner we had our Monday night FHE.  It was Mr. B's turn to pick the game and he chose Settlers of Catan.  Beeb, who's only played it 3 times before, managed to beat us all (with a little help from her parents) and was thrilled.

I must say the key to our success thus far is a very under scheduled summer.  This certainly allows me the time I want with the kids in the morning, for the essentials, and then playtime in the afternoon.  If I had things planned throughout the day at different intervals I would never be able to maintain a learning environment because I would just be too frazzled.  Here's to hoping I can keep it up for 9 more week!

Inner Peace

It's one of those moment when my heart is overflowing with gratitude for my little family.  No particular reason, though as I sit here feeling this way my mind turns to this afternoon when Mr. B helped me do some yard work (he's a great helper), this evening when AH returned home late from work only to have both kids anxiously waiting to play some Xbox with him (the kids were giggling so loud during it) and he readily obliged, though he was worn out, and just now when Beeb (my little night owl) came to ask for a hug (she gives the best hugs!). 

I am truly blessed.  I love my children and husband beyond measure and I am so very thankful for them.

Summer Bucket List

School has officially been out for 7.5 days and we have already accomplished much much more than I ever expected.  In my head, long before school let out, I planned to have the kids spend the mornings with me doing school work and then they would have the afternoons to spend with their friends.  We would have specific days of the week to work on skills such as cooking, art, field trip, etc. and become very well rounded and ahead of the game before school starts up again in September.  Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this to actually work, but it has. . . for now (I'm really hoping this continues).  (I'm kind of giddy!) 

Here's the breakdown:

June 11th - kids got out of school just before 1pm, home by 1:30pm and playing with friends the rest of the day.

June 12th - spent the morning doing worksheets together, 30 minutes reading aloud a book I picked out for us to work on together and some chores around the house.  Afternoon spent playing with friends. Beeb decided that our first official summer activity would be for us to make a dress for her new doll.  I think it turned out pretty cute, but what a pain to make!  It took 4 tries to get this dress right. 

June 13th - "Field Trip" to Wild Waves (bucket list item) with friends (because it was discount day, and not too crowded since most other school districts hadn't started summer break yet).  Super fun!

June 14th - Spent the morning doing school work, Mr. B mastered his 7's in our goal to complete the multiplication table by the end of summer, spent the afternoon playing with friends.

June15th - Went to a free fun run put on by our Stake.  Mr. B ran the 1K and got 4th!!!  Beeb managed to run right into a pole with her face before the 5K started and gave herself a black eye.  She and I were planning to run the 5K together but this sidelined her for the day so we'll find another fun 5K to run later this summer (bucket list item - must do).

June 16th - Went to AH's sisters house in the evening to celebrate Father's Day and my upcoming birthday.  Super fun!

June 17th - Spent part of the morning doing school work and then went strawberry picking (bucket list item).  We came home and capped the berries, washed them, cut them up and put them in the dehydrator.  Yum! 

June 18th - Field trip to Goldmyer Hot Springs with AH's boy scout troop.  5 mile hike in with full packs on, set up camp, had dinner and then spent the rest of the evening in the hot springs.  Everyone LOVED it - so much fun.  Got a little rain during the night but it tapered off by mid-morning.  We packed up and then spent the rest of the morning back in the hot springs until it was time to leave.  Hiked another 5 miles out - nobody cried, though we were all tired by the end.  It was a really fun trip for us all; can't wait to go back again.

I am so tired tonight but it is the very best kind of tired.  If this summer continues the way it has begun I will be one super happy momma by summers end. 

Memorial Weekend: Seabrook

Memorial weekend we could be found enjoying the raining Washington coast.  In true Washington spirit the beaches were packed despite the weather (you can't wait for a sunny day in this state or you'd never go outside).  We actually had a purpose to our visit, to help AH's brother and SIL finish putting things together in their new beach/rental house.  It's a cozy home that packs more space than what can be seen from the front yard - 3 stories, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths.

 

The first order of business was putting blinds up on all the windows - even those hard to reach areas.

 

 BTW this was also the only place in the house to get internet reception.  Apparently the internet service was installed before we arrived, but we found out afterward that you had to call in to "activate" the account. . . only they don't work weekends.  Doh!

Taking a quick break - oh, who's that cutie?  Mr. T loved all the time with his cousins.

 

 And attention from all the adults too.

Pool time was a must. . . at least 2 - 3 times each day.

Happy Kids = Happy Parents

Mr. R loved showing me all his many ways of entering the pool.

Beeb and Ms. C also joined in on the demos. 

 My beautiful Mr. B.  He was MIA for the most part playing Xbox, Kinect, iPad and any other device he could get his hands on with his cousin Mr. G. 

 Monopoly . . . I hate it almost as much as I hate playing Clue.

 

The cute accent wall in the eating area.

The white kitchen.  I *heart* white cabinetry.

 The main floor bathroom.

 

 The cute bunk room!

 

The light fixture intended for the bunk room was similar to this fixture, only antique (from Chris' childhood bedroom) and cuter.  Unfortunately it was broken during installation (so sad) and this is the replacement the builders found.  It's cute, but not at unique as the original.

This is the bedroom AH and I stayed in over the weekend.  I love the color scheme!

 

The living room is just darling.  Nat worked really had to bring it all together and I love how light and bright it is with fun beach colors.

 

I love all the details.

 

 

 

Mr. R lounging while we packed up to head out at the end of our stay.  We were all sad to go.

Ms. B claiming her spot!

 

On a trail next to the house people have built all these cute troll/fairy houses.  Beeb, Ms. C and Chris added to the collection with this fabulous mini space of their own.

Apparently Smurf's are popular with the Trolls.



So long to the as-yet-to-be-named beach house.  We had fun within your walls.  Looking forward to seeing what color you are painted this summer.