Summer 2015

After coming to the blog this evening to write a quick snippet of what Mae told me, it would appear I have been non existent as of late. I am highly aware of it but man oh man, summer is exhausting. My kids and their limitless energy coupled with no school and no naps makes for one very tired mama. By the end of the day, which seems to end later since the kids don't go to bed till later, I crash into bed or veg out in front of the TV. 

I realize that I should recap summer [July and August] prior to the start of September, which means Mae's 6th Birthday, the start of Kindergarten, and the start of Whitaker's preschool. Despite not writing we have had countless hours of fun and memories. I have also had some moments of wondering why I didn't enroll the kids in camp more this summer. Those moments were fleeting and I realize how lucky  I am to run around like a kid again all summer. 

We went to Deep Creek Lake for two nights over the 4th of July weekend with Pearson's friends from college. They rented a big house on the lake and the kids just ran from the house to the lake and back over and over. 

We embraced the ho hum days of summer with water balloon fights and water gun fights. 

We made our annual trip to the PacNW - 3 days in Portland, 3 days on Whidbey Island, and 3 days in Seattle. It was such an unbelievable time that it really requires it own post. 

First time swimming in a mountain lake. 

At the Portland Farmers Market with Grandma C. 

We rented a house on Whidbey Island with this view.

Pearson catching crabs with his hands.

I thought these shells were some of the most beautiful 

Unbelievable sunsets. 

Grandma C. bought a place in Washington, DC. 

I babysat this little nugget one day. 

Then she turned ONE. 

We went to "the beach" [an exhibit at the National Building Museum] that includes thousands of balls. 

Mae was in camp from 1:15 to 5:15 everyday for two weeks so that left me with my sidekick. 

We attempted to grow tomatoes. 

We went to Hershey Park the sweetest place on earth with our friends, where Mae rode a legitimate roller coaster. 

Andrew, Mae, Whitaker, and Caroline.

All aboard the Trailblazer. 

Mae and Caroline after a ride on the Comet. 

We went back to Oak Island for beach time, fishing, and golf. 

These kids love each other so much. 

Whitaker caught his first fish.

We got to see one of the coolest things in nature. Baby loggerhead sea turtles make their way to the ocean for the first time. 

We went to the pool quite a bit and both kids became fairly confident and able swimmers. Mae even went off a high dive. 

We went to a bunch of playgrounds and even checked out a few new ones. 

I went to not one, but two concerts in a month (that is a record for me). I barely go to one a year. 

Heather, Jennifer, and I at Zac Brown

We ate ice cream everyday. 

Then somedays we crashed out in the car from pure exhaustion. 

We also played so many round of games, including Go Fish, My First Carcassone, and Left/Right/Center that I lost track. We got to see tons of our friends and family. We played in the street almost every night we were home and caught fire flies then later in the summer got eaten by mosquitos. We went through countless tubes of sunscreen. We did the mundane things like go to the grocery store and run errands. We laughed (and we cried a bit) and we made tons of memories. 

Mae Monday

Me [while laying with Mae in bed tonight]: I can't believe I only have one more night to cuddle with a 5 year old. [Mae's birthday is Wednesday]
Mae: Wait. You will still cuddle with me when I am six.
Me: You bet ya. 

Rain

It has rained A LOT this past month [June]. It seems like almost everyday we get a huge storm or there have been a few days where it has rained ALL day. Yesterday afternoon it was sunny, then a torrential downpour happened for a half hour right during dinner. With nothing else to do, we decided to embrace all the rain and harness our inner Seattlelites (ironic since there has been barely any rain there this year).  

Rain or no rain these kids always seem to find a way to have a little fun. 

Pop Up Pie Party

Yesterday was the day of the unexpected and excitement according to Mae. 

With no fruit in the house, I decided we had two choices to go 1) pick some or 2) go to the grocery store for some. Since I don't love taking both my kids at the same time to the store - we always end up with unwanted stuff [junk] in our cart as to avoid a meltdown in the store - I decided the country and wide open spaces would be much more ideal. Plus we didn't have much planned except a visit with a friend so I thought it would be a good way to spend the day. 

The unexpected…on the way there, I was thinking aloud (something I am known to do and can be a detriment with the kids sometimes) and said maybe we should make a pie with the blueberries. I then said wouldn't it be fun if we gave some pie to others. Then the idea of having a Pop Up Pie Party was born. It seems like all the rage for the last few years is pop up restaurants and shops so I thought why can't we serve pie in our street. 

Mae instantly took to the idea. She instantly started dividing up tasks saying she would be in charge of music and invitations. Whitaker would be in "charge of games" and I would be responsible for the pies. She then said, "Today started like a normal day. I got up, ate, got dressed, had to do something….now we are having a party. This is so exciting." That statement and her true, innocent excitement about it all gave me the gusto to actually go forward with the idea. After a couple hours on the farm we got enough blueberries and cherries, which the kids loved picking from the trees, to make a couple pies.

Armed with our produce we made a quick pit stop to the store to pick up some essentials and raced home to prepare for the party. (Note, it was almost 2 o'clock and we were thinking we would start the party after dinner at 6:30, meaning I had to pull together pies in a few hours. Also a friend was coming over and I wanted to visit with her for a little bit). After stepping into the door, I sent off a quick text to a few neighbor friends to see if they were able to come. Thank goodness most were able to come and there would be someone there. I didn't want the kids to be disappointed or to make a bunch of pie and have to eat it myself.  Mae got to work on invites and Whitaker was thankfully taking a snooze in the car. My dear friend showed up and helped so we gabbed while doing prep work. 

I don't need to give a minute by minute lowdown of the rest of the day but the pies got done, invites distributed and all of a sudden neighbors and friends were eating pie in the street!! 

Yesterday was one of those days where truly magical things happened when you don't plan, are open to any possibility, and you take simple joy in sharing pie with friends. I would have never done this without my kids' encouragement and excitement so I can say thank you to them for this unforgettable time. 

These dogs live on the farm and we love seeing them every time we go. They are beauties. 

On the tractor heading to pick blueberries.

Complete project with one happy girl. 

Mae's sign. 

Decided against pie and went straight for the ice cream and whipped cream. 

Mae with neighbors, Cate and Ginger, deciding what type of pie they wanted.