PROJECT 365 - Day 243 - Outside my window
With the school year back in full swing and the routine back in our lives, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Whether I am getting the kids breakfast, making their lunches for school, helping with homework, making dinner, or whatever else needs to be done - the kitchen really is the heart of the home. So, it is so nice to have such a pretty view outside my window. I love butterfly bushes.
PROJECT 365 - Day 242 - Wall of Fame
The papers are starting to come in already. I usually post the kids papers and artwork on the side of the refrigerator and the garage door. This year I made a sign designating the side of the refrigerator the Leonard Weekly Wall of Fame. I have a spot for each child to post their work for the week. Special artwork can go there as well as on the garage door or framed down in the Leonard Art Gallery. :-)
PROJECT 365 - Day 241 - First Day of School
Today was the first day of school. I can hardly believe that we sent two third graders and one first grader to school today. The Bear and The Princess are now upstairs as third graders and they think that is pretty cool. They will also be switching classes which they are very excited to do. The Boy is so excited to be in first grade and a "big kid". They woke up in great moods, dressed in their new shirts, had pancakes for breakfast, and were ready to roll!! They came home with the same smiles that they had when they left and that is always a great sign. There were lots of tales of first day adventures. I am so happy that they love school and are excited for new adventures! :-)
PROJECT 365 - Day 240 - all set for tomorrow....
Playroom and bedrooms cleaned and organized. Office straightened up. Refrigerator cleared for incoming masterpieces and notices. Backpacks packed. Lunches made. Kids showered, nails trimmed. Outfits set out. Kids now in bed. Two third graders and one first grader ready and excited to tackle the start of a new school year. They are all set for tomorrow.....
PROJECT 365 - Day 239 - Keeping busy....
I am a mess about this flippin' hurricane!!! So in an effort to keep my mind off of the storm and an even more important effort to stop watching the dooms day reports on the news that are freaking me the heck out, I have been organizing, rearranging, and basically being crazy... First, I finally found a place for the really great shelf that I got at a yard sale in June. It made a great addition to The Bear's room. With his desk moved under it, it really looks great and he is thrilled! I have also been moving furniture in the playroom and driving My Wonderful Husband crazy. I have nervous energy so I am keeping busy.
PROJECT 365 - Day 238 - Lunch
The kids spent another day playing with their friend. I spent another day obsessing about Hurricane Irene and it's impact on NJ. I took some time off from my obsessing to make lunch for this crew.
PROJECT 365 - Day 237 - Go away Irene!
The kids spent the day playing and then we went to meet The Bear and The Princess' third grade teachers. But through it all today, My Wonderful Husband and I were watching the track of Hurricane Irene. She is getting uncomfortably close to the east coast, the Jersey shore, and more specifically LBI. Tomorrow starts mandatory evacuations of the island and we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed from PA that we are all over estimating Irene's path and power. Go away Irene!
PROJECT 365 - Day 236 - 14 years!
I can hardly believe that it has been 14 years since I walked down the aisle and married my best friend and the love of my life. Happy Anniversary to My Wonderful Husband! (Happy 14th birthday as well to our puppy -our first baby - if you look close she is behind the door in the picture) 14 years, 1 dog, 5 moves, 3 states, 3 kids, 1 happy life - Time sure flies when you're having fun!
PROJECT 365 - Day 235 - One good read
This morning after breakfast, The Boy grabbed one of his books and sat down with his Snoopy to read. He looked so darn serious sitting there reading. Three Smart Pals looks like it is one good read.
PROJECT 365 - Day 234 - Welcome Home!
We felt pretty loved today. We had friends saying goodbye at the beach and friends saying hello when we got home. We are pretty lucky to have the friends and neighbors that we have both at the beach and here at home. When we turned onto Blackberry Lane this afternoon, the kids' friend from across the street (remember Neighbor Girl) was jumping up and down in the road, waving hello. When we pulled up the driveway we were greeted with "Welcome Back" messages written in chalk all over our driveway. When we pulled into the garage, there were welcome back signs all over the walls and doors. Thanks friends - that was a great Welcome Home!
PROJECT 365 - Day 233 - Where has my summer gone?
The Bear woke up sick this morning and pretty much didn't move from this position on the couch all day. The Princess and The Boy helped a friend with her lemonade stand. The Boy went shopping with Daddy for his new backpack and lunchbox. The Princess and The Boy went up to the beach for a last day swim in the ocean while The Bear napped in his spot on the couch. Through it all, I have been packing to head back home and wondering where has my summer gone?
PROJECT 365 - Day 232 - We are breeding surfers
The Bear has been working really hard on his surfing this summer. He has moved up from a soft top to a real board and has had some great surf sessions where he is getting up and riding the wave. It is helpful that his Daddy is a surfer and really helpful that his Daddy has been a surf instructor this summer. He has been able to impart a lot of surfing knowledge. The Bear was pretty proud of this ride today as well he should be! I know that he and his Daddy look forward to the day, not too far in the future, when they can head out together in the morning and catch some waves together. My Wonderful Husband hopes to have all three kids join him someday... and they are certainly on their way. We are breeding surfers. :-)
PROJECT 365- Day 231 - Further proof that 41 is the new 8
My Wonderful Husband is very in touch with his inner child. I jokingly tell him that 41 is the new 8. Today he offered further proof that that is true. While at the water park today and on the flow rider with the kids, I saw him watching the tricks that some kids were performing with the boogie boards. I admit the said tricks were very cool - these kids were not only getting up on their knees on the boards but flipping over and landing on the boards, sliding the boards out, riding the water up and catching the board again, and of course the classic splash move using the board to make a wave. Very cool. My Wonderful Husband let the kids go first, rooting them on from the sideline. But I knew that he was just bidding his time until his turn to try out the cool tricks he just saw. I was further convinced of his train of thought when our actual 8 year got his turn and was also trying to recreate the tricks he just witnessed. (Because if I haven't mentioned this before, I am pretty certain that our 8 year old son is sharing a brain with his dad lately....) So, as I said, the kids went first. The Bear did awesome - got up on his knees and even did the splash trick. The Boy also did great - he attempted to do the splash trick and didn't shed a tear when he wiped out. The Princess did great as well - although much more like her mom, did not not attempt any tricks. (I did not do the flow rider this time - instead I chose to watch everyone and that is how I knew what was coming....) So, when it was his turn, My Wonderful Husband had no problem getting up on his knees on the boogie board. He even seemed to master the splash trick which was cool. Then I saw the look...
"Should I flip?" he asks...
"You are 41 you know..." I tell him knowing full well that more than anything I just issued a challenge. And then he flips. He goes on to do several 360 degree flips on the board and I am not going to lie - it was pretty cool. So if we needed further proof that 41 is the new 8, there you have it.
So why is the picture of the day his thumb on an ice pack you ask? Well 41 may be the new 8 but his body doesn't always get that memo.
PROJECT 365 - Day 230 - A song and dance
Tonight, we went to the Showplace with some friends. If you have never been, it is a unique ice cream parlor where the wait staff sings and dances and the customers have to sing and dance too. Somehow, I was the one at our table chosen to get up and sing for my dessert - how did that happen? That darn orange cream cooler! The kids all had fun watching the show, dancing and just being silly.
PROJECT 365 - Day 229 - Yo Ho Yo Ho It's a Pirate's Life for Me!
We took the kids on The Black Pearl pirate ship tour today in Beach Haven. They dressed as pirates, got tattoos, mustaches, and eye patches and had the best time! They joined Captain Salty and the crew of the Black Pearl in their battle with Pirate Pete to get back the key to their treasure. They learned pirate songs, dances, and games. They fought Pirate Pete with the water cannons and got the key, opened the treasure chest and shared the booty!
PROJECT 365 - Day 228 - Every princess needs a kingdom....
It rained again today and the kids were creatively keeping busy..... The Princess came down and invited her Daddy and I to see her "kingdom". When we went upstairs to her room, we were greeted by two guards (also known as The Bear and The Boy) who wanted to know our business with The Princess. (The Bear was clear about telling me that his sister had "made him" be a guard. I am certain that there were back room negotiations involved.) When we told the guards that we had been invited by the princess to see the kingdom, they moved their swords and let us in... There at the end of the aisle sat The Princess. She was surrounded by more of her faithful servants (otherwise known as bedtime friends - but The Princess told us in an aside that we were to pretend that they were the people in her kingdom) It is possible that referring to our daughter as "The Princess" has gone to her head.... but I like to think that she is just creative. After all, every princess needs a kingdom to call her own. :-)
PROJECT 365 - Day 227 - My face still hurts....
Today we went to see my cousin and her family. The Bear, The Princess, and The Boy absolutely love her daughter and the four of them had a blast playing. The adults got to chat and laugh and laugh even more in the van on the way to and from dinner. It was a fun night and a reminder that we should really get together more often!! My face still hurts from all of the laughing!
PROJECT 365 - Day 226 - It has begun
It has begun. Soccer season. Today was the first Manchester United game of the season and my three boys were planted in front of the television where you will find them for the rest of soccer season. The Bear made sure that he was dressed for the occasion. The Princess and I did our nails.
PROJECT 365 - Day 225 - Poppy on the beach
Poppy joined us on the beach today! It was nice to see him chilaxin' in a beach chair and soaking up the rays. :-)
PROJECT 365 - Day 224 - EXTREME!
My extreme sport crew. Only one had to come in for an ice pack. Today.
PROJECT 365 - Day 223 - Summer Bummer
The Princess woke up feeling under the weather today. She had a headache and just didn't feel well. The ultimate summer bummer...feeling yucky when it's warm and sunny outside. So we hung on the couch together hydrating, watching TV, and relaxing and hoping that tomorrow will not be another summer bummer.
PROJECT 365 - Day 222 - Ping Pong
Yes, I know it is not ping pong. I am aware that it is actually called Kadima. (although to be honest, I wasn't aware of that until this summer - I thought it was called paddle ball or something like that) If you recall, I mentioned how our kids sometimes call things the wrong word. Well, we finally got the kids Kadima and The Boy insists on calling it ping pong no matter how many times we tell him that ping pong is a different game. To him, it is ping pong. He was very happy to get to 11 hits in his ping pong game with his Daddy.
PROJECT 365 - Day 221 - 3 kids on a couch
It rained and we were stuck inside. After rehearsing their "show", the kids took a break and watched some TV...all on the same couch... 3 kids on a couch and no one was bugging anyone. That is a minor miracle.
PROJECT 365 - Day 220 - Summer lazy
We spent the day escaping the heat, relaxing, playing, and just being summer lazy.... Days like this are necessary sometimes, especially with the summer days dwindling and the craziness of the school year on it's way. A lazy day was just what we all needed.
PROJECT 365 - Day 219 - Cousins in the pool
We went to see My Wonderful Husband's sister and her family today. One cousin was still away with his drum and bugle corps and two other cousins had a work commitment and came home later.... But the kids' other cousin was home today after being away for weeks dancing with the Bolshoi. The Bear, The Princess, and The Boy were all thrilled to get to see him and swim with him in the pool. Even after The Princess had enough of the pool, The Bear and The Boy kept swimming and playing with their cousin.
PROJECT 365 - Day 218 - Gold Fish!
Over the years, there have been some things that our kids would say incorrectly that are so endearing that sometimes I wish I didn't have to correct them. But I guess I can't very well send them out into the world calling the hot brown drink "froppie" instead of "coffee" ;-) As those cute, endearing, yet incorrect sayings evolve into the correct words, it is a bit sad.. it is yet another reminder that our babies are growing up. One of those incorrect, yet really cute things was how The Boy would call the game "Go Fish", "Gold Fish". I allowed him to call it that perhaps too long, because every time he would say it, I would smile or giggle. So today when he asked his Daddy to play "Go Fish" with him I am not going to lie, I sighed to myself....... There goes another one.
PROJECT 365 -Day 217 - Bedtime Friends....
The Boy likes his bedtime friends. (That's what we call stuffed animals in our family - bedtime friends. Not sure how that started but The Bear, The Princess, and The Boy have been calling them that as long as they have been talking.) These are only a small sampling of The Boy's bedtime friends that we brought along this summer..... The ones he could not live without. Every night it is the same thing....he sets them up just so. They all need to be comfy cozy and have a good spot. Pluto and Pongo always have the places of honor by his side. When, and only when, everyone is where they need to be then he can snuggle in for the night and go to sleep. :-)
PROJECT 365 - Day 216 - These kids are so smurfy!
We went to see the Smurfs movie today and we all LOVED it! The kids have been doing their "research" by reading a Smurf Handbook that The Boy picked out at the book store this summer and watching the original (old) smurf cartoons On Demand for quite a while now... There was even a comment made about how loooong ago one of the episodes was made...you know way back in 1981 or something...haha. But I digress.... I was a big fan of the smurfs as a child....(way back in 1981...) and had many of the little blue toys. My parents saved them and I gave them to my kids several years ago - before I knew the smurfs would be making a comeback! So today after getting back from the movie, where did our kids go? Right upstairs to play with the smurfs. These kids are so smurfy!!!
PROJECT 365 - Day 215 - Left overs...
We went to Joeys' tonight for dinner. It was yummy and there were even left overs. :-)
PROJECT 365 - Day 214 - What I love...
What I love is that you are never too big or too busy on the beach to sit down and play in the sand.
PROJECT 365 - Day 213 - Dessert and a movie
Tonight after dinner, My Wonderful Husband made a bakery run for some yummy dessert before our family movie night with Gnomeo and Juliet.
