Hello Friends! It’s been a while since I have shared in this space and reached out to you all. We have been busy little bees this summer. Even though I have a serious dislike for saying we are busy, we have been overly consumed with all things summer vacation and that is one kind of busy I am happy to be! Back to school shopping has already begun and oh, say it isn’t so, please just give us an extra summer month filed with Fridays off from work! This summer we took a leap and instead of the structured weeks of getting up for work and taking the kids to summer camp we let them stay home, ALL SUMMER!!! No more up and out the door by 8:15, no making lunches, kids can chill in their pjs till they change into their bathing suits and when it’s rainy they can watch movies on the couch, craft all day or JUST BE!! Find their own ways to deal with the “boredom” of day to day, play games with one another, make a fort, fight and figure out how to make up and play again! There have been many life lessons learned in this past 1 1/2 months of unscheduled downtime. All of which I am grateful to have had, witnessed and been a part of such a summer of growth and joy for both of my children.
The summer started with Hayley joining the swim team at our pool club. It was my goal this summer to get her to join the swim team and hang out at the pool so she could spend the summer with friends and building memories. Though I of course wanted all this for Derek, I especially wanted it for Hayley as she is a bit younger and still newer to their elementary school. Hayley wasn’t big on the team practices but she did learn to love the swim meets (she is so competitive!) and private lessons we had her take. By the end of the swim season she earned 2 blue ribbons in backstroke which she now claims is “her stroke” Both Hayley and Derek are now determined to do the swim team next year in order to earn more ribbons, always an alternate reason!!!
Derek and Finnegan turned 9 and 10! Brothers, born on the same day just one year apart, Finnegan is the older and calmer of all our children. Derek, with a heart of gold, is a sweet, loving, caring, compassionate and sports obsessed little boy that brings smiles to the faces of everyone he comes into contact with. He can charm adults with his many, many, many questions and chats it up with the refs and umps in all his games! This summer we have enjoyed watching him play both baseball and basketball while chipping in to help take care of his sister and play with his friends like it’s his job!
Derek also attended his first baseball camp at UPenn. Dropping him and his friend off left me feeling so excited for him and his adventure as well as a bit emotional at the fact that he is old enough to go to sports camp WITHOUT ME!!!!
Adding to the theme of doing things we have never done before and doing them together, the kids participated in their first ever 1 mile fun run! Rob and I were unsure if they would be able to do the whole thing but sure enough they did, they loved it and asked if they could do more in the future but just not when it’s so hot out, hahahah!
Our swim club hosted a Cardboard Regatta on the 4th of July. Rob made this enormous boat that would not ever, ever, ever sink!! He’s such a great Dad!! Derek wasn’t feeling well so Hayley and her friend Ella entered the race. Armed with two cardboard oars, they paddled their way across the pool!! If the award were for construction and cuteness, these two would have won!
And we lost another tooth!!! Well, technically it’s not lost since it was ripped out while wiggly by Hayley herself. She is so excited and insists I cut all her corn off the cob because it’s too good to give up due to a missing tooth!
We have joined in the rock painting craze. However, we love our creations so much that we keep them all for ourselves in our own front garden. Creativity for Kids sent us this awesome Hide and Seek Rock Painting Kit. It came with smooth rocks, rub on faces and designs as well as paint, brushes and more.
Sadly, I have not been making as many things I would like to this summer. It’s been a total outdoor and on the go kind of summer but I did whip up these awesome shirts for Father’s Day this year and Rob and the kids loved them!
I would love to hear what you have been up to?!!! Comment below, let me know how your summer is going!
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