so ... I think we might slow down now!!

We have been having a great summer ... well, by my standards we are.  Last summer was spent recuperating from my "Stroke of Luck" and while the kids had more to do than should be humanly possible, I didn't spend much time with them.  Between the beachdays, play-dates, sleepovers, water park festivals, etc. they were spoiled while I went to physical therapy, regulated my medicines and tried to get back to my normal self.  Anyone who has tried to speed-heal through something knows that is a bit of a joke!

ANYWAY, this summer has been very different from last - and I have been around to enjoy it!  So, I will try to put together a little picture montage of the last few weeks...

   LAST DAY OF SCHOOL ... they were really mad at me, but for the life of me I cannot remember why!!

THEN the 4th of July arrived ... community bike parade and festivities GALORE!  Fireworks from the floor of my daughter's bathroom (yes, all 5 of us were huddled in her bathroom to watch the fireworks from the direction of the ocean)

No, it is not beer pong ... just more 4th games.

AND THEN....

THE BIG 10th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ... new bike, new camera and a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood - lots of fun and many traditions maintained!!

MORE 10th BIRTHDAY!!  I would show you more pictures of the great time had by all, but that would involve pictures of kids other than my own, and I am not sure I want to step over that line!!

BUT ... have to talk about the frozen pineapple flowers that I made as a pre-lunch snack ... HOW MARTHA AM I????  I did my daughter proud - I think she was even a little surprised that I pulled it off!! 

Once we survived the birthday and the party, it was time for beachboy to go to lacrosse camp ... and then dad and mom went to the Naval Academy to watch him play some games.  It was AWESOME, he had such a great time - and I actually think he learned a thing or two!!  While playing 8 to 10 hours a day of lacrosse does not necessarily make me a happy camper, it is the next closest thing to heaven for this 11 year old defenseman!  He was exhausted, banged and bruised and was shocked that "my feet actually grew in the middle of the week" when he explained why his feet were hurting so badly!  He didn't realize that cleats were not meant to be worn for 12 hours a day!!  What an awesome experience for him - and while we certainly missed him, it was well worth it!!

 

Throw in a TON of Swimming  

 

some VBS 

GIRLS LAX DAY CAMP 

and Reading to the DOGS    ...

 

We have been busy, busy, busy!!  Life is good right now - and I am grateful everyday for what I do have.  That doesn't mean all is perfect all the time, but it is certainly good!!  Hope you are having a great summer, too!!

what can I say???

       HE'S A DORK!!!

so, I have not fallen off the face of the earth ...

... but it certainly feels like it!  The old blog had some dustbunnies and cobwebs (hmmm, my house looks like that too, I think I detect a theme!!) when  I returned.  Neglect is not a pretty thing, but the last couple of weeks I have been focusing on birthdays (upcoming 10 year old beachgirl birthday, wow!!), holidays and getting everyone to three different camps within a 30 minute timeframe.  I need a vacation!!!!

All is as ok as it can be, my procrastination "issue" has cropped up again with regards to some house stuff and even worse, with finances!!  I don't know about you, but when I don't have enough money in the bank account to pay ALL the bills, it is really tough finding the time to pay ANY of the bills.  Not a very good system and  I certainly don't recommend it because, guess what, the bills won't go away ... AND there will be even less money in the bank account!!  I think I need therapy.

Swim season is going beautifully - the kids had a huge meet last night and beachgirl had the best meet of her entire little swimming career!  Beachboy had (yawn, hum) another great meet - I think he might be "athlete of the week" in next week's paper - his technique looks fabulous, he makes it all look so effortless (yes, I am a little jealous of my own son!!)  The most exciting part of the evening ... beachdude (the 6 year old) swam in his first swim meet last night!!!  SOOOOO exciting for him and for us - he has been such a good sport over the last couple of years going to all of the meets and cheering on his brother and sister ... and now he is part of the action!!  He did very well, and probably won a couple of events, but it was so much fun watching him!!

Enough gushing for now ... going to enjoy an 85 degree day!!

thanks Mr. Tick ... we are headed to the doc tomorrow!

So, I am sure it is not a big deal at all, well at least I really don't think that it is a big deal ... ok, it better not be a big deal because I will be really really mad.  If you remember from the really icky picture of the tick earlier in the week, the missy over there had a tick embedded in her head about a week and a half ago.  We got it out, but I have been watching the spot fairly closely since it happened.  There has been no red or hot spot around the spot where the tick was, but it also hasn't gone back to normal yet.  It keeps scabbing over (the chlorine in the pool keeps softening the scab so it comes off) and just hasn't gone away yet.  Tonight, after wearing a headband for a majority of the day, she asked me to look at it because it was bugging her.  Still not red, but now there is a LUMP ... A LUMP I TELL YOU ... where at one time there was a tick!!!  I am not a happy camper and we will be heading to the doctor first thing in the morning just to make sure all is OK.  Wish us luck!!

weigh in wednesday

I am now higher than where I started ... enough said.