Summer fun list update

Since Last time I posted on our summer list, we've been playing hard! Maybe this is my first summer enjoying being a stay-at-home mom. No scheduled activity for kids. I was originally worried at the beginning, but I really like this laid-back "So, what do you want to do?" kind of days.

Now, last time I said:
 We still would like to:
- go to a local ice cream stop (I know, those who are local, we haven't done it this year yet!!)
- go to our favorite beach about 2 hours away
- go more camping trips

Yes, we did go (finally!) to the local ice cream stop - Check! (courtesy of our library's Summer Reading Program, our kids each got free soft serve)
No on the second one, unfortunately, but we have been to beaches....Ummm, I lost counts, but several times.
And yes, to the last one. We just went last weekend and will be going again in a couple of weeks.

In addition to those, this summer we have;
- had M's first visit from a tooth fairy
- completed Summer Reading Program (Yay!)
- played a lot with cousins and had a serious water gun fight!
- had boys (yes, including my husband and boys and their cousins...I need to make another post on this) blow up a watermelon
- camped with 20 some cousins (sorry, I've lost count on this as well)
- J tried on tubing (behind a boat) for the first time
- J and M become comfortable in the water (I told J I'd give him $2 if he comes in the water with life jacket and learned to float)
- watched beautiful sunsets
- went blueberry picking twice (total 26 lb!)
- and play, play, and more play!

House work? Maybe I'll resume when school starts....

Summer check list

Just a few of items here....

Going to a family camping trip to a lake - check

Fishing at a lake (well, pretend fishing for kids to be exact) - check

Chilling by camp fire - check

Taking a nap at a beach - check

Going to a ball game - check

Bonus: M got to give a hug to the team mascot and J caught a ball!

Loving every bit of summer here - check

Big brother and Little sister

This picture has nothing to do with post, but captures their loving relationship as big brother and little sister.

This evening, I had a work meeting. I made Tacos for dinner and left home as soon as my husband walked in. And this is a story he told me when I came home.
As usual, I asked "How were kids? Were they good for you? Did they eat dinner?" kind of questions. He told me that baby K was mostly happy, but he became inconsolable (is baby K teething? We are not sure, but he has been cranky during the day this past few days). So, he put the baby down in his crib before they started eating dinner. As he came down stairs, he realized that kids were very quiet. He peeked around the corner, he found J saying a prayer. J carried all the food, dishes and everything out from kitchen, made tacos for him and his sister, and blessed the food, while Mommy was out and Daddy was taking care of baby. What a big brother!!! I was very proud of him. It kind of reminded me of my childhood with my big brothers.

Mommy and daughter time

I went out for a Mommy-and-daughter time tonight. Having 3 kids, one being a baby, and one being a very curious 5-year-old who just can't wait for school to start, my 3-year-old daughter who is now a middle child has been needing a little more attention. She never complains, but I noticed that she tends to spend time quietly alone, while her older brother talks like a machine gun and tries to get Mommy's attention every second of the day, and the baby brother, well, being a baby. But us going out alone this evening was my husband's idea. "Why don't you two go out and have fun? Don't worry about time. I'll take care of the other two." (Have I mentioned enough that he is a wonderful man?) So, off we went. Where? Shopping, of course. Well, not like fancy dress shopping spree type of thing. It was more like getting some milk and checking out a craft store. Still, it was our special time together. We found some good looking strawberries, and she decided to buckle the container of strawberries so that she can keep an eye on them. She enjoyed looking at pretty beads at a craft store, and told me that she wanted to wear pretty beads earrings like Mommy. To finish out evening, we went to our local diner for some milkshakes. I asked her, "Strawberry shake, or chocolate shake?" She said, "Chocolate!" Yes, she loves chocolate, but also she loves pink, so I got one of each to see which one she picks. Sure enough, she decided to drink PINK shake. I guess color matters more than taste in her case. After we came home, she was happily telling Daddy how fun it was. It was really fun. Thanks, honey. You are such a wonderful Daddy and a husband.

Me and my daughter - Summer 2009

Big brother and Little brother

Bedtime snack

We came home from Grandma and Papa's (my in-laws) around 9 pm tonight. M fell sleep in the car on the way home, so she went strait to bed. J, on the other hand, was still awake being hungry. So were Mommy and Daddy. We had consensus of having oatmeal for our bedtime snack tonight. I cooked it on the stove. Three of us sat at dining table and each had a bowl of oatmeal. It was very nice. I think J enjoyed it - special time with his Mommy and Daddy, their attention all to himself. No fight for attention. We do spend time alone with him time to time, but usually only one of us at a time, not both of us with him alone. That was probably the best bedtime snack we had in a while. I don't know if it's oatmeal or the time together, or even both, but I feel so calm and peace. I think I can sleep good tonight.

A day trip to a children's museum

We went to a children's museum about 1.5 hour drive from here. We played all day - bubbles, Legos, magnets, all kind of noises, mirrors, play bank drive-through, play restaurant, etc. Kids had a good time. Hubby and I had a good time. There were many crying kids at the end, including ours, who did not want to go home. It was fun. J showed us his new skill (no pic) - a flipping a pancake on a flying pan without using spatula, just like a chef. Wow, where did he learn that? Maybe he watched Curious George and Man-in-a-yellow-hat doing it one time. But it sure was pretty impressive.

Good ol' technology

I remember when I was in 1st grade, there was a homework - a drawing of future. I was supposed to draw what I would picture as "future." I don't remember if I came up with anything, but oh boy, did I ever dream that I would be talking to my parents through computer 20 some years later (ahem), from here to Japan, with 14 hour time differences?? Wow! I'm amazed! (yeah, I know we are little behind in some technology....) Kids enjoyed "meeting" with my parents. My dad had never seen M in person, so he was thrilled! Thanks to Skype. We had a good time.