A day with our animals

In attempts to fit all the fun we can in before school starts, we went to the Zoo last week. 

Otherwise known as, GET-YOURSELF-COMPLETELY-EXHAUSTED-BEFORE-YOU- GO-BACK-TO-WORK. 

Because that's exactly how I was feeling after we left. 

What a cute little group, right?

Yeah, well, my kids were being oh what's the word? Oh yeah, DIFFICULT that day. AS HOPE'S EXPRESSION SHOWS.  (She was upset that her sandwich had crust on it. Uh-huh.)

What a stinker.

There were moments of zoo bliss, but all of the kids seemed they were only interested in one thing.

So we gave them what they wanted...

 So overall the animal part of the day was pretty limited

While the food ran abundant.

But you know what, that's okay.

Even the not-so-perfect days are still pretty great.

Tiring day, but still a fun day with our little animals.

Fly like a boss

Sometimes in life you've got to step your game up.

You've got to swallow any fears you might feel

And take that high dive on like a boss.

Why?

Because of flying.

The wind in your face, your stomach in your throat, and that awesome feeling when you splash into the water

That's why. 

And when you've watched your big brother long enough, you might decide to give it a try.  But for reals, it's higher than you than you think up there.....

So you just have to bite the bullet and jump.

And take it all in

Because sometimes you just gotta fly.

 Like a boss.

In which I admit I'm a ninny

When it comes to my parenting skills I do my best to be a chill, laid-back kind of mom, but as hard as I try, I think I can generally be summed up as this:

AN OVER PROTECTIVE NINNY.

And sometimes I need little GIANT nudges pushes to quit being a being ninny and let my kids do their thing.

For example: I still had Hope in swimmies last summer, and it was Brittany who was like, "girl you need to take those things off and teach her how to swim!" On the outside I agreed, but inside I was hoping to have her in swimmies till she was like 15.

Kidding.

  Maybe.

And of course once I took the swimmies off, she took to it right away.



And then this summer it was Brittany again who made me realize I needed to back off my ninny game.

It was just a week or so ago that they took Luke's training wheels off his bike, and guess who is riding his bike like a dude, AT JUST THREE YEARS OLD? Yeah.

Hope promptly shamed me, "MOMMY HE'S THREE AND DOESN'T HAVE TRAINING WHEELS!"

Okay I get it, it's time.

Hope had already made some progress on Luke's bike, but it wasn't really official until we took the wheels off of her bike.

Of course it was a little touch and go at first.

But with tears in her eyes she gritted her teeth and was determined to get it.

And in just a matter of minutes she had it down, and off she went with her neon-sign brother. 

I know this is a little blurry, but that expression on her face? SO, SO EXCITED.

Maybe I keep all these "baby" things on her longer because she is my baby, and somehow I'm trying to keep her that? I don't know.

But this smile makes it all okay.

Visitors!

Look who came to see me yesterday!

Even though these four assumed this visit was all about them.

We gladly let them assume that

Sure kids, all about you! Tracey and I are just miserable to sit and talk while you play WITH EACH OTHER and leave us alone. (Well as close to alone as kids ever leave their parents)

And me oh my, let me say how cute these two are!

Hope is almost always outnumbered by boys, so any chance to be with another little girl tickles her pink!

And I think the feeling was mutual.

And these two go way back! Homies straight from the womb.

It's pretty sweet watching them grow up buddies.

And I know if I've said this once, I've said it a million times, but it's true...

I so appreciate a friend that will travel to see me.

I understand the effort it takes, especially with small kids, and I won't ever take that effort for granted.

Thank you Tracey for saying I'm worth it.

Great day.

8 days

In 8 days, I go back to work. 

Whoever can explain to me where the last 46 days have gone gets a cookie. 

But alas here we are, and I'm doing my best to have fun with the kids.

On the agenda, lots of swim time

And hanging out with our friends.

And these last few days, I'm also taking an unexpected social media break.

My iPhone screen shattered so I took it in to get it repaired. While I am waiting on my new phone to come in, I'm using a loaner ghetto phone, and decided not to put ANY social media apps on it. No FB, no Twitter, no Instagram. I'm straight up cold turkey over here.

But you know what? With my time limited with the kids I've decided it's a good thing. And I'm pretty sure that when I get my new phone back I'm going to leave FB off. That darn FB gets on my last nerve anyways.


So yeah, we will just be over here playing

And soaking in the last few days of the no schedule life.

No two creatures on this earth can drive me to the brink of insanity, or to the brink of a love stroke, quite like THESE TWO PEOPLE HERE.

8 days and counting...

Goodbye for now.

We've returned from this.

Such a great week, that seemed to turned into the 'fishin' mission' trip.

Pierce, unsurprisingly loved it. 

But Hope was a legitimate surprise.

She is all girl, so we were all shocked at how well she took to fishing. Not only did she enjoy it, she was also very good at it.

And I even gave it a shot!

Check out my MASSIVE fish! Yeah, I'll just stick to cheering.

Of course Paul is good at all things outdoors, and he loved it.

RICO.

But you know the best part of the week was spending time with our Northern family.

We average seeing them only 2-3 times a year, so these visits are always very special. And always too short.

We will countdown the days until our next visit!

Goodbye for now.