Everyday Happenings

~ Even though it may have seemed like I was off on some exotic vacation because of the lack of posts recently, I was really just home here in good ol' Pennsylvania.

Not me.

~ The Fourth of July was awesome.  I love holidays like these.  They give you the excuse to chillax.

Tommy and I went for a bike ride.

Bill beat me in Scrabble.

 We got out the sprinkler and hose.

We got the kids sparklers for the first time.  We had them gather in a circle with their sparklers together.  Bill lit them all at once and since the kids didn't know what to expect, they dropped them and ran off screaming.  Most of them got over the fright, but poor Ann never recovered and only watched from the sidelines.

 

~ The kids' dinner-making has been slow this summer.  However,  Billy made empanadas last week and they were delicious.

4 out of 5 kids approved.

~ random shots of....

 

Basketball

Haircuts

Tempers

Silliness

Hideouts

Illness

Creativity

Vader

~ I'm getting my haircut tomorrow.  I had tried to do the "color in a box" thing, but I seem to be missing all of the gray!  I'm going to a new salon so this is the picture I'm bringing with me. 

Any thoughts?  Mary Kate doesn't like it, which is a little hurtful since I think it's my current style but longer.


~ If you're still with me, I would just like to mention that on my sidebar there is a spot to sign up to receive these riveting posts in your email inbox.  I know it's frustrating to check here and find I have not updated in a while.  Also, I've been hoping the count for my followers reaches 40 sometime before the year 2020.  So, if you'll notice, I'm following myself now, thank you very much.

~ I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get my new background to go all the way to the top.  It's driving me CA-RAZY!

 **It's fixed!!  Thanks to Casey from Hot Bliggity Blog for coming to my aid.

~I hope your summer is going well.  Keep in mind, this post is 25% of what we are doing these days.  The other 75% is complaining, boredom, fresh talk, and me wishing it was August 26th!  Just wanted to keep it real, people.  Please tell me I'm not the only one.

What We've Been Doing

**I talk a good game, especially here on the blog.  We've got our chore chart, to-do lists, and wish lists.  I know how I want it all to play out here in my head; but in real life it doesn't happen that way.

The first week and a half of summer vacation has been called "the worst summer ever" by nearly every kid in the house.  Not sure when I became Julie McCoy...

but apparently I'm expected to fill the social calendar around here.

If you ask me, the summer is going just fine.  In the past week we have visited the library, started journals, played miniature golf, went to the pool, visited 4 different walking paths for our morning outings/exercise, played family kickball, went to the playground, hosted 43 of our friends here for the rosary, slept late, finished up baseball season, ate ice cream and popsicles, each made dinner, cuddled a LOT, and watched movies.

Isn't it funny how they only see the time in between all of these things and claim they're bored.

**On a different note, Billy got his stitches removed and his nose looks pretty good.  I'm very grateful for that.

There is a small notch on the nostril but that might heal and look better in time.  In the next picture you can't even tell it happened.

Love when he smiles!

**Mary Kate made the Silks, meaning she will be in Band Front next year as one of the flag carriers/twirlers.  All year I was rejoicing that she was only in Orchestra because Band seemed to be more of a commitment with parades and such.   Wouldn't you know she wanted to try out for Silks and made it.  Way to be ambitious Mare; you are your father's daughter, for sure!

**Still on the fence about Matthew and Kindergarten.  He is a July birthday and his preschool teachers think he would benefit with a second year of preschool.  Long story short, he can be insecure and shy, but I'm not sure that will ever go away. (I was/am like that) and his fine motor skills are lacking.  On the flip side, he knows a lot of sight words, is interested in math, and says he'd be bored in preschool.  Advice?  Anyone?  Bueller?

**It took me 13 years....

.....but don't you just love mud?