Day 1686 | Donuts
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I haven’t taken any photos the last two days. Sorry about that. I’ll share this cute one of the boys with their donuts from the weekend. These donuts were SO good. We’ll definitely be making a trip back.
Day 1685 | Big Weekend
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It was a big weekend around here. Yesterday was a lovely summer day with two bike rides and a water fight and some pool time and the boys’ first ever 4th of July fireworks. Today was calmer because of some stormy weather but still really lovely.
Summer is the best.
Day 1684 | Bike Riding
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Look at these little cuties. A successful bike ride to the playground with a seven, five, and three year old. We were surprised, too.
Day 1683 | Juggling Lesson
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Tadpole Camp was cancelled today because of storms, so we ended up stopping at the library to grab a book on hold that we’ve been waiting for. When we arrived, we found out we were just in time for a juggling lesson. You can’t pass that up!
We’ve definitely got some work to do on our juggling skills, but the boys did get the hang of the twirling plates and balancing balloons. Probably no jobs in the circus for us quite yet, though.
Day 1682 | Reflecting on a Crazy Week
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Last week was bananas. Like, maybe the busiest we’ve experienced since having kids. The boys had a blast attending two separate camps and starting soccer (which is an eight-week activity), but, man, all that schlepping and prep-work is exhausting. I think I’m still recovering.
This was the general schedule last week:
8:45am | Leave house
9:30am-noon | Beaver Creek Nature camp
12:10pm-12:50pm | Drive from Beaver Creek while eating lunch in the car
1:00pm-4:00pm | Time Travel Camp at the Children’s Theater
4:15pm | Home
That’s not too terrible, right? Well that was just Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Monday and Wednesday, it looked like this:
8:45am | Leave house
9:30am-noon | Beaver Creek Nature camp
12:10pm-12:50pm | Drive from Beaver Creek while eating lunch in the car
1:00pm-3:45pm | Time Travel Camp at the Children’s Theater
3:45pm-4:00pm | Drive to soccer while changing into soccer socks/shin guards and eating a quick snack
4:00pm-5:00pm | Soccer
5:15pm | *Home
*Except on Wednesday when I had to drop the boys off at Chris’s office so that I could scoot out to my pottery class. That day, the boys got home around 6:30pm and I returned back to the house at 9:00pm.
Some observations from a manic week
A perfume of sunscreen and bug spray followed me everywhere.
In total, I drove about 290 miles in one week. I’d say usually we average around 50. I was in the car for about 2.5 hours/day.
Packing lunches is no joke. Chase eats hot lunch (because I’ve never given him the option-ha!), and I always knew packing lunches every day must stink, but I really get it now. It’s just one more thing you have to plan for and prep before getting out the door.
I over-scheduled myself because I needed to make the most of my windows of kid-free time (which is in short-supply this summer). During the two-hour windows of these camps, I shoved in three meetings, two appointments, and countless errands. Although it was nice to cross some of these things off my list, I wouldn’t say I felt more composed at the end of all of this.
Living out of the car is a thing (see photo above). Our van has never been dirtier + more full of stuff than last week. We had about three changes of clothes, lunch containers + bags, sunscreen/bug spray, crafts from every day at camps, water bottles galore, stuff for all my meetings, multiple pairs of shoes/sandals—you get the idea.
The van has recovered completely from the chaotic week. I think the boys and I are still working on it.
Day 1681 | Letting Go
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Both boys are officially two-wheel bike riders now. They are at their happiest when they are navigating our block on their own. You read that right. We’re letting them ride their bikes around our block solo (out of site…eek!). It’s been a lesson in letting go, that’s for sure.
They’re just so proud of themselves and their independence, though. It’s very sweet.
Day 1680 | Tadpole Camp
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Another week, another camp. This might be the favorite one yet...but it’s only day one, so we’ll see how the rest of the week goes.
According to the boys, Robbe caught nine tadpoles and Chase caught 30. I cannot confirm or deny these numbers.
Day 1679 | Father’s Day
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Since Chris and I were out of town last weekend, today was his Father’s Day celebration. We surprised him with a pretty great present scavenger hunt (Chase even contributed his first clue—usually I’m the one who writes them) and then the rest of the day was filled with some of his favorite things: a walk to the farmer’s market, some productive time spent working on the fort, a bike ride to get ice cream, a [fruitless] trip to play Kubb at a local establishment, and grilling out + low-key family time with just the four of us.
It was a good day. I’m not sure we did enough to express the total and complete love and appreciation we feel for this guy, but we tried our best!
Day 1678 | No Longer a Baby
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That moment when you realize your baby is no longer a baby. It took me seeing a photo of myself holding this “little guy” (during a Kubb game, obviously) to realize how big he is.
Day 1677 | Nature Camp
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We’ve made it through day four of the craziest week of the summer (officially). One more day of the two-camp shuffle and we’re home free. At this point, both boys are looking forward to the “low key” weekend (their words). It seems like they’ve been sleeping well, at least.
Day 1676 | Foot Race
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There was an epic foot race at our house tonight. Robbe, Chris, and Dr. Tim took to the backyard to test their skills.
Even though the experience was a bit lopsided, Robbe won. He was pretty pumped, as you might have guessed.
Day 1675 | Soccer
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Chris and I made it home after a wonderful weekend away. We’re tired and behind on life but that’s what you have to do sometimes. :)
This week also happens to be the busiest week of the summer for us—perfect timing. The boys are in two camps every day this week and soccer started today as well (it’s a Monday/Wednesday thing for most of the summer). It’s going to be *a bit* intense but super fun.
If the blog is a tad quiet this week, it’s because we’re all running around like maniacs.
Day 1674 | Taking a Break
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Chris and I are off on a [solo!] adventure and I’m going to unplug from the blog for the weekend. I’ll be back on Monday with a full report.
Day 1673 | Smiles with a Gap
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Aren’t these two the cutest with their missing-tooth smiles? Also, Chase likes wearing giant t-shirts these days. That is all.
Day 1672 | Summer 2019 Bucket List
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I wouldn’t say we had the best first day of summer around here. I thought maybe a low-key day with nothing on the agenda would be the right way to ease into our months of freedom. As it turns out, the boys were not interested in being bored all day (on the first day!). Fingers crossed we get into a better routine around here or it’s going to be a long few months. Don’t worry, though, I’m hopeful tomorrow will be much better.
We’ve decided to put together a bucket list again this year (like we did in 2016) as a way of making sure we motivate ourselves to get out there and seize these beautiful and fleeting days. Without further ado, and in no particular order…
The Summer 2019 Bucket List
Go fishing — done!
Go mini golfing
Go swimming — done!
Catch frogs
Look for new animals
Playdate with Malcolm
Attend a baseball game
Go bowling
Make a movie
Make homemade ice cream
Lots of playdates with Edwin
A Fairfax Pool trip
Go camping
Bike to get ice cream
Go to a family wedding
Sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa’s
Attend Harry Potter’s Birthday at the public library
Go tubing down the river by our house
Attend Chalkfest
Walk/bike the sculpture tour
Attend a summer concert (at least one)
Practice stand up paddle boarding
Read three new chapter books
Take a Mississippi River day trip
Visit the Upper Peninsula
Go strawberry picking
Go blueberry picking
There you have it! We’re going to be busy, that’s for sure. I’ll keep you posted as we make progress.
Day 1671 | Ga-ga Ball Action
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The adults and kids got in on the ga-ga ball action today—in a real ga-ga ball ring and everything. It was epic to say the least.
Now I get why the boys like it so much.
Day 1670 | Summer Begins
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Today might have been the perfect summer day. A morning bike ride (with donuts), fishing and swimming at the lake, lunch over a bonfire, dining al fresco, and a rowdy game of gaga ball to round out the night.
Seriously, such a good day. If this is any indication of the type of summer in store for us, it’s going to be an epic one.
Day 1669 | Last Day of School
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Ready or not...summer is here! I’m super excited about hanging out with these two crazy guys all day every day.
Day 1668 | Kubb
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Chase and I are the family Kubb champions. Look it up, it’s a really fun yard game.
Day 1667 | Blossom
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He’s still around, in case you were worried. And Robbe is still very interested in becoming best friends (I am, too, for the record). We’re working through a bit of a nibbling stage at the moment, but I’m confident he’ll turn the corner soon.
