Summertime

Here it is the middle of summer and we are starting to get the hang of it. You know, activities change in the summer. You've got to fit in pool time, library time, play time with old friends, play time with new friends, down time (for mom), riding bikes time (since Selah has recently learned how to ride her bike), farmer's market time, vacation time... Now that I'm getting us into a rhythm, I'm more relaxed, which means the kids can have more fun.

We have a general pattern that we try to follow, it helps me stay sane, and the kids (Selah especially) thrive on consistency and just knowing what to expect. For example, I normally clean on Monday, but this week I was trying to do some stuff on Saturday and Selah looked at me very seriously and said, but today isn't Monday, why are you cleaning? I had to agree with her, so I stopped :)

Our general schedule:
Monday - cleaning - stay home all day
Tuesday - at friend's pool
Wednesday - playdate with some new friends and laundry and ironing (very optional these days :)
Thursday - library day, playdate day
Friday - undecided - sometimes pool again, sometimes home because I'm so tired
Saturday - farmer's market, blueberry picking, around the house, races for Ross and I
Sunday - church and lovely leisurely afternoon at Mimi and Papa's house

Another wonderful thing that has happened to us this summer are 3 girls by the names of Hailey, Mary Catherine and Julia. They are junior high girls who come over on various days during the week to help me with the kids, help me bake and in general, just make my life more fun. I'm so thankful for them and so enjoy their company. My kids love them and get so excited when they find out that one or more of them are coming over that day. Hailey is homeschooled, so I get to hang out with her all year and we are already planning our fun for the school year ahead. (Thank you, girls!)

Pictures of my kiddos because I couldn't resist!

Blue Ridge, Georgia

A few weekends ago, my family had the pleasure of a long weekend in Blue Ridge, GA. My mom and dad have some friends that have an amazing house in Blue Ridge that they let us use. There was plenty of room for Ross and I and our 3 children, my parents, and Stephen, Ana and their 2 children. Just 30 or 40 feet from the back of the house was a creek that Ross and the girls fished in (with success!), woods to tromp around in and roads to collect bugs on. My mom was very smart and got bug boxes for all the girls, complete with a net for capturing and tweezers for picking up those icky bugs :) I think the bug boxes were one of the highlights.

We also got to hike alongside a beautiful waterfall and then play on a swinging bridge. The only bummer was that we couldn't stay longer - the weekend and at the bridge.

Ross and I managed to go trail running and mountain biking because my parents wonderfully agreed to watch the kids for a few hours each day for us.

But the best part about the trip was being with the whole family to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday complete with cake and homemade ice cream. Selah already believes that it isn't a birthday party without homemade ice cream. Dad, you've spoiled her :)

Below are a few pictures from the weekend:

Here is the gang at the bottom of the waterfall. Notice my mom, mason and cruz are missing. She kindly stayed home so the boys could nap.

Swinging Monkeys

The boys with the girls

Grandpa and Nana with their FIVE grandchildren

Grandpa and Nana with their whole family

We are hoping for another weekend in the woods soon. hint hint...