Summer Bucket List Update

We are having a blast this summer! Since one month of our summer vacation is behind us, I thought it might be time to check on our summer bucket list to see how we are progressing. 

Here's where we stand as of the 3rd of July...

1. Give dogs a bath.
2. Play on the big kids' playground at A R Lewis.
3. Go swimming!!  DONE
4. Play at Jaycee Park.
5. Have a picnic.
6. Visit Mema.  DONE
7. Ride the entire Swamp Rabbit Trail.
8. Go to the Greenville Zoo.
9. Visit the American History Museum in Washington, DC.  DONE
10. Go to the beach.
11. Build our swing set.
12. Go to ParTee Time.
13. Go to the mall.  DONE
14. Ride on an airplane.
15. Go visit Jonathan's family in Florida.
16. Go visit the Wakefields in Texas.
17. Play at a new playground.
18. Go to the movies.  DONE
19. Sign up for soccer.
20. Eat popcorn.  DONE
21. Catch fireflies.  DONE
22. Ride an amusement ride.  DONE
23. Pick blueberries.
24. Pick blackberries.
25. Visit the Red Caboose in the CU Botanical Gardens.
26. Eat at the Runway Cafe.
27. Make wall-art for new bedrooms.
28. Move in to new bedrooms.
29. Make 4th of July tie-dyed shirts.  DONE
30. Ride the Merry-Go-Round at the beach.
31. Ride the caterpillar roller coaster at the beach.
32. Finger paint.
33. Make ice cream sundaes (and eat them)!!
34. Eat blueberries. 
35. Bake cupcakes.
36. Eat ice cream at Brusters.
37. Build a car wash for the Cozy Coupes.
38. Have a sleeping bag slumber party in the frog tent.
39. Make a princess tent.
40. Take Mabel to the lake to swim.
41. Catch butterflies.
42. Have a slumber party at Pop and Meems's house.
43. Participate in PPC's VBS.  DONE
44. Watch fireworks on the 4th of July.
45. Dinner date with Pop and Meems.  DONE
46. Have a dress-up tea party.
47. Take a bubble bath in Mommy and Daddy's big tub.
48. Build an indoor obstacle course.
49. Visit the library to checkout books.  DONE
50. Pick wild flowers.
51. Go to a Greenville Drive baseball game.
52. Have a balloon dance party.
53. Have a water balloon fight.
54. Play with the water turtle at Pop and Meems's house.
55. Visit family grave sites.  DONE
56. Build a sand castle.
57. Plant flowers.
58. Paint toe nails.  DONE
59. Make tooth fairy pillows.  DONE
60. Complete the Turtles on the Town walking tour.
61. Complete the PCLS Summer Reading Program.

Looks like we have our work cut out for us in July and August! 

Hope you are squeezing in some summer time fun too!

Summer 2013 Family Bucket List

Why hello there?! As you can see, we've taken a long break from our blog! Life has a way of making one prioritize and as a result, our family blog fell silent. But we've decided to start posting again and what better way to kick off our posts than with our Summer Bucket List.

Here goes!

1. Give dogs a bath.
2. Play on the big kids' playground at A R Lewis.
3. Go swimming!!
4. Play at Jaycee Park.
5. Have a picnic.
6. Visit Mema.
7. Ride the entire Swamp Rabbit Trail.
8. Go to the Greenville Zoo.
9. Visit the American History Museum in Washington, DC.
10. Go to the beach.
11. Build our swing set.
12. Go to ParTee Time.
13. Go to the mall.
14. Ride on an airplane.
15. Go visit Jonathan's family in Florida.
16. Go visit the Wakefields in Texas.
17. Play at a new playground.
18. Go to the movies.
19. Sign up for soccer.
20. Eat popcorn.
21. Catch fireflies.
22. Ride an amusement ride.
23. Pick blueberries.
24. Pick blackberries.
25. Visit the Red Caboose in the CU Botanical Gardens.
26. Eat at the Runway Cafe.
27. Make wall-art for new bedrooms.
28. Move in to new bedrooms.
29. Make 4th of July tie-dyed shirts.
30. Ride the Merry-Go-Round at the beach.
31. Ride the caterpillar roller coaster at the beach.
32. Finger paint.
33. Make ice cream sundaes (and eat them)!!
34. Eat blueberries.
35. Bake cupcakes.
36. Eat ice cream at Brusters.
37. Build a car wash for the Cozy Coupes.
38. Have a sleeping bag slumber party in the frog tent.
39. Make a princess tent.
40. Take Mabel to the lake to swim.
41. Catch butterflies.
42. Have a slumber party at Pop and Meems's house.
43. Participate in PPC's VBS.
44. Watch fireworks on the 4th of July.
45. Dinner date with Pop and Meems.
46. Have a dress-up tea party.
47. Take a bubble bath in Mommy and Daddy's big tub.
48. Build an indoor obstacle course.
49. Visit the library to checkout books.
50. Pick wild flowers.
51. Go to a Greenville Drive baseball game.
52. Have a balloon dance party.
53. Have a water balloon fight.
54. Play with the water turtle at Pop and Meems's house.
55. Visit family grave sites.
56. Build a sand castle.
57. Plant flowers.
58. Paint toe nails.
59. Make tooth fairy pillows.
60. Complete the Turtles on the Town walking tour.
61. Complete the PCLS Summer Reading Program.

Happy Summer! We look forward to sharing our adventures with you!!

Two Simple Words

Last week the littles, Meems and I spent a day shopping in town. At one point during our day together, we were in a super-crowded shop, selecting new tennis shoes for Isaac and Kathryn.

Isaac was trying on a pair and the salesperson suggested he take a walk around the small, yet extremely crowded store, to see how this potential pair felt on his tender little feet. (Sensitive boy, sensitive feet.)

In the process of making his rounds, Isaac accidentally stepped on the fingers of another salesclerk's hand while this person was assisting another child. I totally missed this mishap but the salesclerk made sure I heard about it.

Not because the clerk was upset or angry, but because the clerk was shocked. Shocked that Isaac immediately turned to the clerk after squashing his fingers and said, "I'm sorry". The clerk explained to one very shocked Momma that he had never heard a child speak those two simple words to him during his entire tenure at this store.

I was speechless!

(Way to make a Momma proud, little man!)

Why Hello There!

Yes, I know.  I have terribly neglected our family's blog.  Please accept my heartfelt apologies if you have missed us.  If you haven't missed us, we understand. You've probably been doing much of what we have been doing, living life and cramming as much fun as possible into each and every day of summer!

In an effort to bring us to the present, here's a recap of what we've been up to: (Apologies to our FB friends because you pretty much know what we've been up to!)

1. Mid-May Meems, Isaac, Kathryn and I spent a week visiting with Mema in Maryland.  Our trip was focused on spending as much time as possible with family.  While visiting, we had the privilege of spending time with Aunt Cindy, Aunt Cindy D and Jenna; two cousins (one who had her first child in June!); and of course, Mema!  We also fit in several trips to the mall.  As Isaac put it, "Mema lives SO close to the mall!" And we also spent a day "monkeying around" at the National Zoo.  We had a wonderful time, but did miss seeing other family members and friends who live in that area. 
2. End of May Kathryn and Isaac finished up Mother's Morning Out with a wonderful end-of-year program and a fun-filled Field Day.  Jonathan and I volunteered for Field Day and had a blast!  This year was our last year participating in Mother's Morning Out as Isaac and Kathryn will begin 4K this August at our local elementary school.  My littles are growing up! 
3. End of May Part II  Kathryn participated in her dance studio's year-end recital.  We enjoyed watching her perform her two dances and Isaac enjoyed dancing along (in the audience) with the older girls' routines.  Kathryn is pre-registered to take dance again (at the same studio) this fall.
4. Beginning of June  Our family decided to pay for a summer pool membership at a local golf club.  Honestly, I originally thought we had made a MAJOR mistake, because Isaac and Kathryn didn't leave the stairs of the pool during our first visit.  But after multiple visits to the pool, I'm happy to share that both move themselves around quite well with just their swimmies! 
5. Mid-June  Jonathan and I spent a week-long vacation in Jamaica with my best friend and her husband while Isaac and Kathryn spent the week at Pop and Meems. We had a wonderful time in Jamaica, Skyping with the children several times during our time away, but were happy to return home after a week away!
6. End of June The kids and I experienced our first Vacation Bible School!  Since Isaac and Kathryn are now old enough to participate, I decided to volunteer.  Whew!  I have a newly discovered yet lasting respect for those that work with children each and every day. I led the Active Bible Story Time in which each day's Bible story is acted out with volunteers. Let me tell you, there was never a dull moment!  I think the most difficult aspect of Active Bible Story Time is modifying the story based upon the age of your audience.  Most of the stories in the Bible are downright scary for 3 and 4 year-olds (throwing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in a fiery furnace that was so hot it immediately consumed the soldiers charged with putting them in the furnace, Lazarus becoming so sick that he died, the jailer becoming so upset when he thought Paul and Silas (as well as the other prisoners) had escaped after a massive earthquake that the jailer was ready to kill himself!).  The Bible is definitely not for the faint at heart!  But with a lot of prayer and a bit of preparation, we were able share God's promises with each age level in a manner that wasn't too disturbing!  Needless to say, the littles and I took LONG naps each and every afternoon during VBS.
7. Beginning of July We celebrated our nation's freedom with family and friends over several days.  The weekend prior our family attended my best friend's family's annual Fourth of July cookout.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at this year's event!  Then on the 4th, we hosted a cookout in the evening for family and a few close friends.  We ate, played Just Dance 3 on the Wii and then drove into town to end the evening watching the City's firework display. 

In addition to these "main events", we have also participated in "lesser events": attending the weekly free movie at our local theater, shopping with Meems, picking up and dropping off Jonathan at the airport for his business trips, harvesting local produce (from our garden as well as other sources), stocking up for the winter (local peas, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, etc.), eye exams, and chiropractic adjustments among other "things".

And on the horizon for us... our annual family beach trip, I&K's 4th birthday, I&K's 4 year-old well-check, the start of 4K, fall soccer, the return of dance, and the addition of a new four-legged family member!

So welcome back to Haines Hollow!  We look forward to sharing our lives with you again!

TGFIC

As many of you very well know, life is hectic in general. However, every year, post-Isaac and Kathryn's birth, as we enter the month of May our lives seem to enter warp speed.

Just this past weekend, the kids, Meems and I returned from a week-long visit with our Maryland family members. It was a visit devoted strictly to family as my grandmother is approaching her 89th year and too harried a pace simply wears her out! We had the opportunity to spend multiple occasions with my Aunts, Cindy and Cindy D, and my cousin, Jenna. We were even able to spend two evenings with my cousin Lindy (one with her hubby and one without), who is expected her first child in June, and an evening with another cousin, Lee, whom we haven't visited with since 2003. We had a wonderful time! I missed seeing my friends and former co-workers but hope to squeeze in another visit in the near future to catch up with old friends in person.

Since returning home, we have entered the "end of year" season for MMO, dance, gymnastics, church and Pickens Women's Association. The next two weeks are chocked full of activities, all to wrap up various commitments for the summer. Needless to say, it is keeping us quite busy and I believe we all are looking forward to the fast-approaching lazy days of summer.

As a result, I am extremely grateful for iced coffee... Thank God for Iced Coffee! Something tells me I'll be consuming insane amounts over the next two weeks!

Summer Project #1

Yesterday, during nap time, Meems came over to help me start on one of my planned "summer" projects: make Kathryn some summer nighties.  A few months ago, I visited our local thrift store in hopes that I would find several pillowcases to transform into toddler nighties.  I lucked out and found two (for 50 cents a piece)! At about the same time, I pinned a tutorial for an easy pillowcase nightie.  But after reviewing that tutorial and the supplies I had on hand yesterday, I opted for a different tutorial.

We made great progress yesterday.  I only lack hand-sewing the back of the binding around the neckline, gathering the skirt and attaching it to the bodice.  Although the ruffled cap sleeves are super cute, it was painfully slow machine-stitching each sleeve.  But thanks to my trusty pinner (Meems!) both sides came out perfectly on the first try.

To help us finalize the bodice, we had Kathryn try it on post-nap so we could fit it to her.  After slipping it over her head, she exclaimed, "Mommy, the bottom of my dress is missing!" 

Needless to say, I plan on digging through Meems's patterns from the 70s (Side note: Are patterns from that era considered vintage?!?! If so, am I considered vintage?!?!) before tackling the next one. 

Although this pattern is super-cute, I don't wish to create those ruffled cap sleeves solo! Hopefully Meems kept the nightie pattern she used when I was a child.  According to her, those cap sleeves are much easier.

And I'm also looking for a simple, yet cute tunic pattern for Isaac as he has now declared he wants a "nightie" too...at least I found an old sheet in my rag box that will suit him just fine!

Easter Weekend 2012 Part Two--PPC Egg Hunt & Flowering of the Cross