The Summer List: In Review {Project: Rewind}

Our plans for summer (via our Summer List) went to the back burner fairly quickly once we learned we'd be moving before the summer's end.  Unfortunately, cleaning and packing became priority (although that's not to say we didn't have fun while doing so.  Well, okay, it wasn't a screamin' good time or anything, but you do what you've gotta do to get through).  We weren't able to fit in a lot of what we were hoping to do, but we did have a mighty good time crossing the other things off our list!

What We Did Do

* Fun Food Fridays

* Craft Wednesdays

* go to the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal, IL

* participate in the library's summer reading program (Drew)

(I don't seem to have a picture for this.  What is wrong with me?!?!)

* vacation Bible school

* Tot Soccer & T-Ball (Drew)

* see Cars 2 in the theater

* send the boys to their grandparents' houses

* backyard water fun

* go on a scavenger hunt

What We Didn't Do

* Kinect bowling tournament

* feed the ducks at the pond

 * fly a kite
(We didn't do this last summer either.  Maybe it shouldn't even make the list...)

* go on a little vacation

(We went on plenty of trips, it seems, but none with all four of us together.)

* picnics at the park

* boating on the lagoon

* photo booth fun

* build a fort

* mini golfing

Oh well.  Looks like we have a good start for next year's list!

Picture of the Day, Week 38

Sunday {9.18.11}

The early morning TV trance.  Oh my, I didn't realize it was this bad...we have to do something about this!

Monday {9.19.11}

Reed discovered one of my mom's nativity sets, and of course I told him that it was a "pretty" and that he couldn't play with it (after I took a few pictures, of course.)  At least Mary is kissing baby Jesus...

Tuesday {9.20.11}

My brother and sister-in-law had a softball game tonight, so mom and I took the boys to watch.  Enthralled, aren't they???

Wednesday {9.21.11}

Reed's favorite book right now is a Sesame Street Seek and Find book.  He wants to read it all the time, and has become a pro at finding all of the "hidden" pictures.

Thursday {9.22.11}

Brad's been printing math and writing worksheets off the internet to work on with Drew, and Drew totally loves them!  He asks for more!  I love that Brad wants to do this with him.

Friday {9.23.11}

Avery, Drew and Papa enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

Saturday {9.24.11}

We met up with the Vriezes for our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  This time we went to Emma Krumbee's, and we had an awesome time.  BUT I had two very uncooperative boys when it came to taking pictures.  This was the best I got.  Boo on that. 

One Last Summer Fling {Project: Rewind}

One of our favorite things about summer is that the boys get to go away to their grandparents houses for some super-special boys only time with Grandmas and Grandpas.  Obviously, Brad and I love this for a much different reason than the boys do, but it definitely falls into the "favorite" category for all of us!  For us, it's always nice to get a break.  And because that can always sound a little harsh, I'll say again what I've said many times - I LOVE my boys.  There are no words that completely define the love I have for them.  It goes beyond, ya know?  But for reals.  It's also that kind of love that can drive me up the stinkin' wall!  And before Mama gets sent away...it's better to send the boys off to a happy place!

But more important than the "time-off" that Brad and I both need at times and very much appreciate, is the time the boys get to spend with their grandparents.  Just them.  For them to enjoy each other's company, deepen their relationships, and create some lasting memories together. 

We squeezed out the last little bit of summer when we sent the boys off to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Pella for their time to spend alone with them.  It was perfect timing for the boys to be gone from home, as Brad and I had still had plenty to pack before we  moved.  The boys were gone from Saturday, August 13 to Thursday, August 18 - returning home just two days before loading up the moving truck.  Drew narrated the pictures below, telling us all about his and Reed's last summer fling.

"Reed was makin' a mess."

"That's when we were playin' with the clothes and messin' 'em all up."

"I don't know what we were doing.  I think we were coloring maybe."

"That's when we went to the playground and Reed was having fun."

"I was crawlin' through the tunnel."

"I was squirting and Reed was watering Grandma's flowers."

"Reed's eating a corn dog."

"Reed found the M&Ms."

"That's when we had a tea party."

"That's when we were playing PacMan and eating pizza on the floor on those little tables and we were wearing our jammies."

"We were wet and I was 'I'm too big for this.'"

"That's when we were playing in the water."

"We were playin' and messin' everything up."

"I'm in the rocket."

"AAAHHHHHHH!  Yikes!"

"We were blowing bubbles."

"That's when we were bein' crazy on Grandma's chair."

"We were playing with the M&M cards upstairs."

I am so glad for these moments - when it's just the boys with their grandparents.  I know I won't completely understand the love that grandparents have for their grandchildren until I become a grandparent myself (a long, long time from now)...but I catch a glimpse of it when I see our parents look at our boys.

Where the Boys Were {Project: Rewind}

You've probably caught on by now that when Brad and I are away (which, granted, isn't very often), there is one of two places the boys are: Pella or Mankato.  Being as my parents had hosted the boys at their house just a few weeks prior to our Vegas vacation, ideally the boys would have gone to Pella for their summer "vacation" to Grandma and Grandpa's.  Unfortunately, Brad's parents' cruise to Alaska coincided with our trip, and while the idea of having two little stowaways might have appealed to Grandma, we went the legal route and bribed Grammy and Papa to take the boys again.  They happily, although perhaps hesitantly, obliged. ;)

My annual cousin's weekend was the weekend prior (July 23-25) to our leaving for Vegas, so like last year, the boys got to spend a couple days with their second cousins and great-aunt and great-uncle (my mom's sister was taking care of two of my cousin's kids while we were shopping our little hearts out).  If it's possible to have too much fun, I think these four kiddos did.  Brady, Drew, Reed and Olivia are like the Three Stooges and Pretty Little Princess.  Or the Three Musketeers and Wonder Woman.  I'm really not sure exactly.  But they are so fun to watch together!

 {It was really, really, really hot!}

And then on to Grammy and Papa's house for the rest of the week, where they had more fun with Avery, Addy, and Perry.

 {It just happened to be the week of VBS at Avery's church, so he and Drew got to attend all week long together.  I definitely think this was the highlight of Drew's week!}

{Cheers! with ice cream cones.}

We flew back into Moline on Friday (July 30) around noon, and drove north to my parents' house to spend the remainder of the weekend before heading home.  Vacations are great, and I love time to be away, relax, and step away from being "Mom" for a little while.  But I miss the boys.

And I can't resist these hugs when I see them again!