My daily routine at the beginning of the summer included the gym in the mornings. I now struggle with getting up and going because sleep convinces me that the gym isn't anything compared to it!
So last week, I decided I needed to motivate myself. I decided that if I went to the gym 5 days a week for 5 weeks, I'd reward myself with a new pair of tennis shoes... That would be perfect to get into the routine before school starts!
...only problem is, my inner self decided that was dumb. If I want a new pair of tennis shoes, I can sleep in and still buy them... no self control, no value on the feeling of accomplishment. NOTHING!
So instead of doing it the mormon way and praying my way through it, I decided to retreat to the daddy. I asked him if I went to the gym for five weeks, five days a week, if HE would buy me a new pair of tennis shoes (and he knows this doesn't mean a $15 pair of sketchers). His response?
"Make it six a week and you've got a deal."
However, I started the day after and only went to the gym one day... sheesh... not even a free $100 shoes can motivate me! I'm sooo sorry!
Anyways, back to my kids. Here are some things that we have done this summer!! They aren't in any order!
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| So the first thing I do in the mornings is take my kids to swim team practice. Most mornings they are ready before I get there so we just jump on the golf cart and head to the neighborhood pool before the sun really comes up. Then there are evenings where I get them ready for a swim meet. I love laying their stuff out like they are my own kids! Playing mommy is way more fun that I thought! But then again, I do get to give them back in the evenings and on weekends... |
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| Caroline got a pet frog for her room! We went to this toy store that I've never seen and it was a ton of fun! Christian already has a pet frog and Walker has a new Turtle that his dad got for him from a friend! |
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| I also took the kids to Monkey Joe's one day. They loved running around and "bouncing off the walls!" It's so fun to see the three of them have so much fun with each other! I stayed in the massage chair and held socks, bracelets, and belts as they came off! |
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| As a kid I remember putting the glow in the dark stars in my room on my ceiling. The kids got to do this also! |
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| Forst Jackson has a large playground area. There are three sections. The smallest one is for young children, second is for older children, and third is for the really big kids. They loved playing a game where I would sit down on the bench and they had to try and move around without me calling out their name. We had about 4 other kids who ended up playing with us! |
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| Burger King has the coolest Kid's Meals! Instead of coming in a bag, it comes in a box. Then, you can punch out the crown and wear it as well as little princesses on the side of the box. The toy was even cool! It was a connect four game that you could put the stickers on yourself! |
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| Christian was the only one to wear his BK Crown the entire time the kids played! |
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| One of my favorite activities this summer was making mini cupcakes with the kids! We bought white icing and then added food coloring so the kids could decorate their own. We used so many sprinkles that I had to not only sweep but mop the floor afterward! |
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| Playing outside in the hot summer sun is another favorite of the kids. They love to ride their bikes on the trail and up the street. They have so many toys in their garage that they never get bored! The imaginations they have amazes me! I often times play with them (Yes, I even lost playing "GATOR" in basketball). However, lately, I pull out a chair in the sun and read. The only bad part is every time I look up, one of the kids is either turing on the water hose, walking across the edge of the boat, or trying to build something using dads tools. Slow down imaginations!! |
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| My oldest, Christian is sooo loving! He is such a good big brother to Walker and Caroline. He likes to go play with his friends but ALWAYS includes his little sister when she says she wants to go! |
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| The kids loved Bowling! Walker had the highest score and this was Caroline's very first time!! Sorry about the hair in this picture, we went and got haircuts the very next day (not pictured)! |
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| And here are the haircuts!! They LOVE chick-fil-a! The play area keeps them entertained for hours!! |
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| The best part about the zoo was feeding the animals. We had 8 quarters so everyone got two handfuls (yes, i fed them too!) |
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| I think their favorite of all the animals was the turtle! And yes, the fake turtle! : ) |
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| They are such good siblings to each other! They all wanted this picture together and choreographed it themselves so everyone's faces could be seen! |
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| And this is where my large collection of pennies ended up! My purse was so much lighter when we left! I've done my part to help protect the animals! : ) |
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| At least once a week, we have to go fishing! The kids pack up the golf cart with rods, tackle boxes, and bread and we head to the pond in their neighborhood which is full of fish and turtles! |
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| Just about every day we go fishing, the kids catch something! Luckily, they have only caught three turtles and I was able to get two of the three hooks out... I don't like catching turtles one bit!! |
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| This was the smallest of the fish that we caught, but it's the only picture that I have all three of the kids in! |
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| Christian has been skating before so he loved going around trying to get better. He even did the races and competed against another little boy and won a snow cone! |
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| Walker did not want to skate and took his off after the first five minutes. However, once he saw how much fun everyone was having he gave it another try and it ended up being okay. |
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| This was Caroline's first time skating! She had so much fun and had blisters all over her little feet from the skates! We went back a couple times skating and Caroline got the big girl skates that you wear and don't go over your shoes. She was shy at first but I think from now on, she'll be getting those to keep practicing! |
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| I learned my lesson not to get oreo ice cream unless we are really close to home. This was the last time we had food in my car! I was cleaning up ice cream and oreos out of my car and off Caroline! |
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| The waterpark was probably the easiest days for me because the kids are such good swimmers, I don't really have to worry about them. I let the boys go on the big slide as long as I can see them and they have to check in if they go anywhere else and Caroline and I hang out wherever she wants to go! |
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| Caroline and I made cake pops for the girls down the street whose dad passed away. Talk about a lot of work! The sticks wouldn't stay in and then there was no way to stand them up!! But we did our best and they still tasted yummy! |
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| Early one morning the kids played Dress up and Christian did Caroline's makeup so she could "look like a college girl bat girl". I don't even know if they really played or just spent the whole time getting ready! |
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| We went to the Fort Jackson Waterpark two or three times this summer. The kids loved it and I loved being in the sun! This was the playground part! |
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| And of course Caroline has to do what her brothers do she this is her on the rock wall! |
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| Of course there were a few days the kids just played at home with Ninjagos and cars. This was one of those days! |
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| The kids wanted to sell books in their neighborhood that they no longer read. The only problem was they priced the books themselves... luckily when people actually came I told them each book was only fifty cents! I think they only really made two dollars because it was so hot and everyone was at work... but it was still fun! |
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| I took the kids to the public library for the first time! It was so much fun! They first had to ride the escalator... twice! I guess they don't see many of those! Then, they each got to pick out six books! This kept them busy in the car so I could run errands the rest of the day! |
Oh, and Saturdays are usually family day where my mom and dad and I (and sometimes Christie) will go to the flea market and farmer's market. Those are fun times! :)
On Sundays, I drive to Sumter for church and then spend the day with Matt and either mine or his family. It's nice having that day to relax and unwind from the busy weeks.
So, what can I say, Nanny, knows her onions! : )
Small bits of Happiness: White Sauce & Polka Dots
