On Friday, I had this wonderful vision of a relaxing 3 day weekend...I looked at my calendar with 3 blank holes and was so excited about having some time to get caught up, maybe watch a movie or 2, take the kids to the pool, play around in the yard and garden and just basically kick back. Yeah, I was delusional.

I decided after a solid week of 80+ degree weather I could safely put away the kids winter clothes and find their summer clothes (so if there is a freak blizzard next week you can blame me). That process is started but not finished. I was also trying to go through a bunch of stuff since there is a rummage sale at our church this week and they will take it all off of my hands. I managed to get 4 huge bags of stuff for them to sell, but geez we have a lot of junk (all very nice, usable things if you are going to the sale!). How is it that we accumulate so much stuff? I am starting to think that it would be ok to just start a large fire in my front yard and start carrying things out there. If only the neighbors would get on board with this idea!

My grandma decided yesterday to have a small party after the Memorial Day mass at the cemetery. So we attended the service and then went over to her house. I only meant to stay for a little bit, but the kids were having so much fun playing kickball with their cousins that I had a hard time getting them convinced to leave. When we got back to town, we made the mistake of driving by the pool which was filled with people - meaning that Quincy HAD to go there - I said well maybe a little bit later - OH NO! We had to go now - Daddy bought her a pool pass - that means we can go everyday -didn't I remember that? We have now been there 3 afternoons in a row. I truly love the city pool, and with a pass I feel ok about going for 1/2 an hour or whatever and then coming home...it is easy and convenient, but I didn't have it on my agenda for the day. Harper seems to like the water and is entertained by watching all the kids, so it was fun. I forgot that sunscreen on your face does not protect your back though, so I am a bit deep fried!

The boys have been on a quest to catch large mouth bass to stock our pond with. They have been trying to get out to my uncle's pond to catch some, but every time they tried it rained, or some little girl who I won' t name demanded to be taken along. Tonight they finally made it. Unfortunatley, the 2 that they managed to catch did not fare well. Colin and Cam are now over at my cousin's house for the night. They called to ask permission, I said ok - I will bring you some clothes - Colin told me he didn't need them - he was clean from swimming all afternoon....ok - but that was before the fishing excursion. He finally relented and agreed to take a shower -- I wonder how much persuading had to be done on Melissa's end - you can't sleep here smelling like fish! AAAAHHH Summer!

Nut factory

This photo pretty well sums up our weekend so far...nuts! My kids are crazy!

We are actually having a pretty good weekend. So far, we have learned about pack rats -- not the ones who live with us who collect odd objects and make their rooms messy, but the real kind --since grandma had one in her garage and she successfully trapped him using some beads! We have also used Quincy's pool pass...and although we spent an hour looking for Quincy's life jacket so she could go off the diving boards (which she insisted she wanted to do) she will not do it! She keeps getting right to the end of the board, looking at the water and then saying nooooo not now. She backs up the line, and was not too popular among the kids there! She wouldn't even do it when my cousin jumped in and offered to catch her. I am rather happy that she displays a little bit of fear - it makes my life a little more comfortable knowing she won't jump in even with the life jacket since she does not know how to swim!

Colin and Cam each had a friend spend the night last night. They were very well behaved and the only real problem I had with them was that since they spent the whole night playing video games they were not too eager to get out of bed so I could deliver them back home before church this morning. I did manage to get them home and we were not late for mass!

Jim and the boys attempted another trip to uncle Tom's house to fish for bass, but again failed in the mission because a storm blew in just when they got there. The storm didn't turn out as strong as they thought it would so they fished in the city lake again....Quincy did not catch anything this time, but Preston caught a huge monster blue gill - the biggest one they had ever seen. Colin is saying he won't get a haircut until he catches a 10 pound fish....considering that the largest fish he has ever caught was 9 pounds I am starting to think he will look like a hippy very soon!

3 Day Weekend!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We are pretty excited to have a three day weekend! Quincy is totally stoked and has been jumping around all morning because the city pool opens today - she has been in search of all her pool stuff since very early! The other day, we drove by and the city maintenance man was working there - his kids were wading in the shallow end and Quincy saw them - she had a total meltdown because she thought the pool was open and I wasn't stopping! I hope that the water is not so icy cold that she won't enjoy it! Jim already took care of buying "her" pool pass this week!

Also on the agenda, we have finished painting the boy's old room and we are going to move Madison in. She did most of the painting herself, and didn't do too bad of a job. She used a lot more paint than I thought she should have, but then when I went to help her touch it up I realized why - the old room had been painted dark blue and it was really hard to cover. It looks pretty good. This particular shade of green is NOT one that I would have picked out, but she is really happy, so that is all that counts! It is called "picnic green" but a picnic is not what image it brings into my mind!

Colin and Cam are having friends over tonight and we want to get some other things accomplished, but right after that we are going to relax!

Crazy and Hazy, but not too Lazy!

We enjoyed our first day of summer break! There were no ballgames, so we spent some time getting the weeds out of our garden and flower beds, cleaning up the house, painting in Madison's room, patching a few places in the sheetrock that had been damaged, and grocery shopping!

Madison used some of her graduation money to buy Harper and Quincy sundresses. These are photos of her modeling it today! I know the one is really dark, but I love her little grin in it! Madison is so sweet - and she is really into shopping!

School's out for the summer!!!

Preston had his "big wheel day" today. It was his last day ever to go to preschool! We have absolutely loved the Jumpstart preschool! I know he is really excited about kindergarten, but I was a little bit sad as I drove him away from there today! He is so focused on summer activities he didn't give it a single thought! He had a great time playing with his friends, washing his bike, eating popcorn and buying popsicles from his big sister Madison who got begged to come back today for his special day!

Colin and Cam also had their last day today! They are now having a different kind of a countdown - 3 days until the city pool opens!

Colin's team played their first game tonight (Jay - Colin says these are jr high/high school colors for Santa Fe Trail-- NOT for a certain college down the road from here).

OH MY GOSH WHAT A GAME - it was the first game ever played on the new ball field that the city has worked so hard on! Colin's team (The Chick Magnets) was up by 6 runs, the other team tied it up and then a friend of Colin's hit a homer to win by a point in an extra inning. EXCITING game! They can NOT play like that again because I will have an ulcer and possible heart problems if they do!

I am so happy that the kids are finally all out of school. I always loved summer and I am relieved that our morning routine can be a little more relaxed! It is hard to get the kids up when we have been at the ball park all evening...and I like having more time with my tribe anyhow!

Quincy's big wheel day and ball games

Quincy's had her last day of preschool. The last day is 'big wheel day' where they set up a little town and the kids get a driver's license and money to visit the town's stores. There was a popsicle stand, kool-aide stand, bank, bike wash, and more! She has been looking forward to this day all year, as she remembered watching Preston's class last year! It was so worth the wait! She had a great time! Madison was a helper today - she was in charge of the popsicle store! They both had fun!

Preston, Mallory and Madison all had their first ball games. I was happy to actually get to go, and I am happy to say that Harper did a remarkable job too! Preston's team won their first game, and Preston got a couple of really good hits! It was fun to watch and he was off the charts excited! Truth be told, he started in while we were in Topeka - worried that I wouldn't get him back in time - I had to run up there to get the missing stuff for his uniform (socks etc.) and I guess he thought I couldn't tell time!

The girls' softball team played really well tonight too, and I thought it was a pretty fun game to watch...they didn't end up winning, but they certainly played hard! Madison had to pitch the whole game as their other pitchers were absent tonight. She did great! Mallory played 2nd base and she had some really awesome plays! The really cool part of watching these 2 games back to back was being able to see how much they have grown into the game!

Of course, it is now a little after midnight and I remember why it was that I never drank any caffeine during the later game - because then I get home and I can't sleep - don't really even feel tired. OH I will pay for this late night computer time tomorrow at work!!

Field day

It was k-6 field day today. Colin and Cam both had a good time - one son was actually glad that we came out - the other was indifferent. It was a little bit hot, and Quincy and I both got a little sunburned on our heads and necks.

One and a half days left of school for the boys. One day each for Preston and Quincy. I am so glad! At this point, school is just a big old burden! I just mean from the point of getting ready in the morning, getting everyone a lunch packed for field trips, and trying to remember whatever else they need. There is no learning going on, it is all field trips, field days, classroom cleaning, and whatever else they can conjure up to keep kids occupied! My kids haven't been to bed one night at a decent time because of all the summer activities already going in the evenings.

Cam had his first official baseball game tonight. I didn't get to go because the other kids all had practices in locations that they couldn't walk to. Jim is of course the assistant coach, so he went. Cam's team lost by 1, but I heard it was a pretty good game. And so it begins.....