It is funny that at the end of each school year, I think that I'm going to have SO much time during the summer. I'll cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner every night! I'll complete a daily Pinterest project! I'll do my taxes, my nails, and feed the homeless... all before 9am each day. Except, somehow the summer manages to get filled about with a million things that make it absolutely fly by. Which, I suppose is totally okay by me... even if it means that my pinterest projects are still going largely unmade.
This summer started off with a bang! Disneyland! It was my first time bringing the boys to Disneyland, and I was a little bit nervous. Those lines are looooong and I have an almost 2-year old and a 7 year old with ADHD. Great combo, right?? Thank goodness for Disneyland's parent swap pass. Shaun and I were able to take turns waiting in line with Carter, while the other one entertained Charlie or took him on one of the kiddie rides. Then, once Carter had gotten through the line once, he got to fast forward back to the front right away so the other adult could ride with him. Genius! And quite a reward for making it through the long waits. We had really hoped that we would be able to have ALL the kids at Disneyland for both days, but we ended up only getting M and A for a few hours on one of the days. Such a bummer to know that they were somewhere nearby with their mom, but that we couldn't have them with us! We had such a good time though, and I loved getting to introduce Shaun to a lot of my extended family that lives in Southern California. I can't wait to go back!
After our Disneyland trip, I took the boys out to Kansas City and Omaha. It was nice to visit my sister and a good friend. We made the best of rainy weather and went to the amazing Omaha Zoo, a working farm in KC, indoor playscapes, and more! Very nice to get out of the heat, and the boys loved seeing their Aunt and Uncle and friends.
Once we returned home, we hung out for a week before taking off again! We went with my mom back to Southern California for a family wedding. It was a short, but fun trip, and I think the boys were SO happy to be back to playing outside. I just love the weather in the OC! If it wasn't for the traffic (and $), I'd move there in a second!
We attempted to go to a nearby mountain town (about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix!) for the 4th of July, but Charlie got sick and we had to make the 4 hour drive back home after just 15 hours there. He has a yucky upper respiratory infection and needed breathing treatments. So thankful that the doctor was able to squeeze us in right away! He's being such a good boy, tolerating his breathing treatments as well as he can, and still trying to keep up with all the other kids in the house. Lucky Carter got to stay at the cabin with Grandma and Granddad, and enjoyed lots of extra attention though!
In between all of these trips, we've been moving things from my house to Shaun's house. He's been building shelves in all the closets, trying to accommodate all of our things... and we'll be stuffing the attic full of all the Christmas things. We are fitting surprisingly well into this tiny place, and anticipate staying here for a couple of years. Now that we are getting everything in order and organized, it is working out great!
It is hard to believe that there are less than 4 weeks before I return to school, and the kids start back soon after that. We are SO happy that the 3 older kids will be able to attend the same school this year. The thought of having the kids across town from each other really seemed overwhelming, and I'm so thankful that it worked out to keep them together. Of course the big boys will have different teachers (no WAY should they be together all day every day!), but it'll be so nice for them to already have friends at their new school (plus a couple cousins!). They made it off of an extensive waitlist into one of the best charter schools in the area. I'm a huge proponent of public schools, teach at a wonderful private school, and am sending my kids to a charter school - it just goes to show that there is a perfect school out there for everyone! We're so excited to see what this year has in store for them.
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Too tired to walk!
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At Aunt Kiki and Uncle Scott's house in Kansas City
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Visiting Grandma Jan and Grandpa Larry
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Grandma Jan's beautiful garden!
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Disney fun
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