I Don't Care if I Never Get Back

(back row, 2nd kid from the left)

Last night was Max's last tournament game, due to a 14-2 loss--ouch. He plays center field and had a beauty of a catch--a pop fly that looked sure to sail past him on the right. He reached across to catch it with a backhand catch (i'm positive that's not the correct terminology), then threw a rocket in to homeplate. It was so exciting! I could hear some crazed fan screaming and jumping, only to realize it was me. Ahem. He was out there, beaming in the field for the duration of the inning. That happy, proud smile made the entire season worth it. But I really am sad to see the end of baseball, I love it so. Best sport there is.

Isabelle has tournament games next week--stay tuned. I really must post a photo of her in her uniform and pink socks. Between watching a wiggly, busy baby and my love (fervor?) of the game, I don't stop for photos like I should.

Here is a glimpse of what my van looked like this spring, every day after school. Oftentimes one or both of them was changing into uniforms in the car right after I picked them up from school. I must say, I was very organized with the car packed on most days.
With the games being right after school and going through dinnertime, I tried to have picnic dinners but honestly many nights it was cold cereal, grilled hot dogs or pb&j's. Ugh.

Look at me, even remembering to feed the baby. Yes, I set the bar high. Try to keep up.

This is an everyday view of my drinkholder: survival food for both me and Jack.

So with baseball wrapping up, I feel like our nights can have some normalcy again. I have seriously felt on the run since April. Is it just me? Am I a lightweight?

I have loved the first week of summer: sleeping in, relaxed pace, setting my own schedule. I find it is taking some adjusting, though, to work the big kids back into our morning routine; When they were in school this year, Mimi & I had a great morning routine going: we'd get them out the door and immediately do her school...

(About a month ago we began this great book, which I also used with Max & Isabelle with great success. Mimi is resisting, so I am breaking the lessons up into smaller bits. We'll see. And we've been working on sight words.)

...and while we did school, Jack had Scruffle Time. He is so energetic in the morning and just swims (not crawls) all over the house.

Each day, after finishing Mimi's schooltime and we'd then go upstairs to do the whisk-through-the-house tidy up from the morning chaos. Mimi helped me whisk while Jack had Upstairs Scruffle Time. He love, love, LOVES the girls' room and all the exciting, non-babyish toys.


Our Summertime Morning Routine is off to a slow start, mostly because I have been sleeping in like Rip Van Crystal. We did make our job charts, though! Finally! I've been planning for an entire YEAR to do these. I got the idea here from Stie, one of my favorite bloggers. I'd meant to do them before Jack was born, ahem, last year, but nope. Just couldn't summon the energy. And I'm finding myself approaching somewhat back to normal energy levels now that Jack is almost at his 1st year birthday.


In other news, I have been exercising again. Sporadically. I need a personal trainer. Actually, make that a personal drill sergeant; someone who'll boot my butt out the door and onto the trail, whether I feel like it or NOT. The chub factor around here needs to change. This view on my fav flat trail (i am back to beginning-level running. sigh.) was so idyllic the other day!

Also, we have been visiting the new library. Every time I am in there I want to do the Maria Von Trapp Sound of Music Meadow Twirl. Every single book is brand new. Brand! New! They smell good, they feel clean, they're all new and up-to-date, and I am usually the first to check out any book I lay hands on. Such a treat.

On the last day of school, Mike & Max went on the Father/Son campout. I think they had fun. Hard to tell. They came back the next day, both answered in mono-syllabic undertones when I asked if they had fun and then both power-napped. No comment. (although, beforehand, Max asked me privately if I would pack his stuff because he didn't want "to be Man-Packed." Looks like he's learned the hard way.)

He hiked up the mountain today and brought me back a bouquet.
I love this kid.

(and please, no comments on the chub factor.)

Tomorrow is Another Day, a la Scarlett O'Hara

Today is the official First Day of Summer not on the Lunar Calendar (summer solstice), but on the Crystal Calendar: it's the first day the kids DON'T go to school. I think I feel more giddy about summer as an adult than I did even as a kid. I relish the freedom from schedules so much more now that I am in charge of all those schedules.

So. I had big plans of morningtime structure before the kids disseminated throughout the neighborhood, but today it just didn't happen. Why? Because I slept in until 10:30am. Oh, sweet bliss. When the mom is snoozing away in her bed, her Big Plan of a morning routine kind of goes awry.

It was totally worth it.

We'll begin anew tomorrow.

So rewinding a bit to the last day of school (last Friday): For teacher gifts, I framed these wordles for Max's & Isabelle's teachers. I loved doing it! The kids typed in the text at this site and we printed them out, framed them and sent them off to school be-ribboned and with a sugar cookie in cellophane. (oh, I've learned a thing or two from this cellophane-loving, ribbon-licious girl) I had plans to have the wordles printed at costco in poster size, which would've been so much more fun, but there were issues with the printing. Next time I'm using iPhoto. Harumph.

Isabelle & her beloved Mr. Felt, who integrates music into his curriculum (go HERE and see!) and who held a "Wednesday Jam" every week after school for his guitar students.
Hands down, the best teacher we've ever had.

After school was the 2nd Annual Neighborhood Waterfight Party, which was so much fun this year! Instead of surprise-pelting the kids with water balloons at the bus stop, we met at the park about 1/2 hour after they got home and had the waterfight there. It lasted much longer and was much more of a block party instead of a quick waterfight. My friend Emily, the genius party planner, brought a huge tarp, greased it down with crisco and set the hose going. Wa-la! Giant slip-n-slide! Here is a view from the top. Looks a little steep.

And here we have the ensuing mayhem. I wish I'd had my camera with video, because the unfiltered sounds of kid-delight were priceless.

We tried to form 2 lines and have them go down two at a time, but there was a mutiny.

I spent the time 50/50, laughing one moment and cringing the next. Laugh, cringe. Laugh, wince. The kids were fearless and after getting a foot crammed into their solar plexus or a knee in the neck, they bounced right up and scampered to the top for another go. I watched in fascinated horror.

Max.

Isabelle, all nice & dry, who never did go down. Smart girl.

Mimi unleashed.
This photo says it all.

Me & Emily's self portrait.
Emily=fun and in a swimsuit, getting wet.
Me=curmudgeon in clothes, snarling, "don't squirt me!"

Afterwards, we party-hopped to my friend Ali's, where the other 2nd Annual Last Day of School party was underway. Ali began this tradition last year of getting together and chilling (chillin'? I am so uncool) in her back yard while kids of all ages run amok. This year she rented a huge blowup waterslide, which was a hit. I love this party because it's the perfect end to the hectic pace of the last two weeks of school. Everybody brings something to share and we just...sit and relax, chatting while the kids run wild. Everybody wins.

Jack tested out his first popsicle. I think it felt good on his gums, where SEVEN teeth are coming in. Poor tyke.

And this was how the afternoon ended. Laid out flat. All of us were in similar shape.

...more later on the fun & frolic that was the last week of school.

Last Day of School!

Oh, how I LOVE summertime! I love the freedom of setting my own schedule, I love the blue sky and happy, warm weather, I love filling our days with loafing and outings--depending on the mood. I'm so giddy with the feeling of summer days ahead! Go to the park! Go to the pool! Roast hotdogs up the canyon! Take the kids fishing! Little road trips to see family! Tour the cave up the canyon! Hiking! Trail running (not THIS year--sniff)! Sidewalk chalk! Backyard picnics with my friends and all the kids!

This year I haven't scheduled the kids for a thing--not even swimming lessons. I plan to ride out the end of this pregnancy (3 weeks!), have the baby, and just let the summer days roll. I love to be out & about in the summertime...but on my own terms. No school, no lessons, nothing but laid-back "what should we do today?" Yay!

Today as the kids got off the bus on their last day of school, a few moms were waiting to surprise them with water balloons and water guns. Thanks to my friend Emily's fun idea, this was the PERFECT way to kick off summer!




Afterward, we went to Ali's house for a "School's Out Party." We ate pizza & chips and the moms sat and talked while the kids played their guts out. It was a perfect way to welcome the lazy days ahead.

I caught THE FUNNIEST EVER pictures of Mimi, doing "splits" on Ali's trampoline.