Summer Sweets

Sometimes, in summer, you just have to have ice cream for lunch! 

M takes her strawberry sundaes very seriously as you can see. C really enjoyed the Blizzard of the month which is Sour Patch Kids. I tried a little bite and it didn't work for me, but he and Husband LOVED it. Later we went to the store and they saw Sour Patch Kid Cereal and GoGurts. Ice cream I kinda get but cereal and yogurt are definitely crossing the line. We did not purchase such things.

But we DID stock up on all the stuff needed for smores! Because Saturday, August 10 is National Smores Day and we needed to be prepared! Since it's only Monday this should give you plenty of time to gather your supplies as well!

Oh sweet summer, I love you so much! Yay for August!

New Wheels

With a post called new wheels just days after a post about getting rid of my car, you're probably expecting a picture of my awesome, flashy new vehicle. But no. In fact, I am writing about C and his brand new bike!

Believe it or not, this is C's first bike ever. He had a tricycle when he was younger but he had no interest in it. Zero.

And then M came around and she loved it. But C was firmly in the no camp. Then C got a scooter and he was perfectly content and happy with that.

Then the Easter Bunny brought M a bike and she has been loving it! She's really quite good. But that started to spark C's interest a little and finally, it got to where M couldn't use her bike when she wanted to because C would be using it. Cue the delivery of this bike yesterday.

It helps that we are currently having some beautiful weather! We brought the kids to one of the elementary schools to use their parking lot to really practice!

We even went back again this morning after swim lessons. Every little bit of practice helps. And there's already some marked improvement. Definitely still on training wheels but again, he hasn't even had the bike for 24 hours at this point and it's his first bike EVER. He'll get there! 

Geography Fun

This summer our school repainted the United States mural and we've been enjoying practicing our geography skills. Husband or I will call out a state and then the kids run to stand on it. 

Some states are of course easier than others. We're working on our East Coast states specifically. 

I am really impressed actually by how well C does especially. This is just one of the ways we sneakily work in some school stuff in the summer. 

Goodbye Old Friend

It's funny how attached to stuff people are. I am no hoarder but I certainly fall into the trap like most Americans of accumulating stuff. But then there are things that you hold on to because of sentimental value, even when you shouldn't anymore.

On Saturday I said goodbye to my 1999 Ford Explorer. It, no joke, was the car I learned to drive in. It became my car my senior year of college.

It safely delivered me to and from grad school. 

But we haven't really driven it for over a year now. And it's registration was about to come up due. And it was just time. It's 20 years old for crying out loud. I took it for one last spin Saturday morning. 

And it was an emotional process. No one pushed me to do it. I set it all up myself, but it made me feel sick to my stomach to see it drive away. To know that this key will never be on my key ring again. I should've just kept one of them. But there's nothing to be done about that and what would I have done with it anyway. 

For all the miles, and all the memories, I am still sad that it is gone. It was time. But it stings a little. I have recently determined that this is why people lease cars or trade theirs in more frequently. 20 years is a long time to get attached to one vehicle. 

I keep wistfully looking out the window at where it used to be. It was just such a part of me you know? It was technically mine for 12 years. I will miss it forever probably. Goodbye old friend. 

Wedding and a Hair Cut

So on Saturday Husband and I went to his cousin's wedding. It was a kid-free event, which I was totally okay with but it did cause some strife with the extended family. (Even some of Husband's first cousins missed the cut since they're under 18. And even the groom's nieces and nephews were only allowed at the ceremony.) 

Anyway, it was a nice wedding and the only proof I have that we were there is this picture of the dinner menu:

And this picture of the cupcake table per the request of my kids. 

 Anyway, yesterday was a big day. M's first big girl haircut! She had the cut at Disney World when she was two. But it was really a minor trim. Then she got another minor ttrim last August before school started. Yesterday she got her hair cut. She has been asking for one for a while. And her hair was getting SO long. Here are a couple before pictures.

Be 

And at the hair cut. I brought her to my salon and had my stylist do it. 

Here is her hair after. It's a pretty major cut actually, but I still think people would say she has long hair.

She wanted to go very short but we compromised at "elbows." My biggest fear is that since this was the official cut that got rid of her baby hair she won't have her curls any longer. Time will tell I guess. 

All Smiles

We are cruising into Friday with big grins. (Some missing more teeth than others.) 

I am excited to report that I do not work this weekend! I am not even seeing one show! It's been 7 weekends in a row that I've seen something so that's kind of fun. (I will make up for it next weekend seeing two shows.)

We have a wedding to go to so it's not quite a relaxing weekend but it will still be nice! Have a wonderful weekend friends.

Hi-Ho Wednesday

Hello from my Wednesday! It is really quite dark in my house right now because it's about to rain. (It's thundering and lightning right now but only sprinkling.) We have an excessive heat warning like the bulk of the Midwest right now so I've been keeping the blinds closed in order to keep the house as cool as possible. And I don't want to turn the lights on so it's dark. That's okay, I don't mind.

We've been keeping busy so far this week. We all went to a birthday party for C's friend on Sunday. The kids ate pizza and cake and told ridiculous made-up knock-knock jokes.

We've had swim lessons this week every morning again. The last class of the session is tomorrow. C will not pass his level this go around. But I am glad to know that going in. M will "pass" but can't actually move up until she's five.

I haven't been taking pictures much this week. The kids have rediscovered Cosmic Yoga on Prime Video. I really like it because it calms them down and uses their bodies. C liked it so much he made up his own story.

And here's a picture of M.

She's been singing a lot lately. It's adorable mostly.

Life is pretty normal right now. There's good things and annoying things. Meal planning. This week's dinner menu is: Mongolian Beef, Ribs, Cheeseburgers, Chicken Quesildilas, Pancakes, Grilled Chicken and Pizza. I haven't figured out next week yet though.

Tomorrow C has another birthday party to go to. M is very distressed that she cannot go as well, and I still have to figure out something fun for us to do. M is also mad because she doesn't have any parties to go to. It's really strange actually, all of her friends have Fall/Winter birthdays and C's friends have summer birthdays.