Simple....

As I handed Tommy a plate with a PB & J on it:

"Thanks, Mom. You are the greatest mom I've ever, ever had."

You Can't Say We Didn't Try...

You will never be able to say we didn't try camping in the summer of 2009. I wonder if we will talk about this strange summer for years to come, due to the especially cold, rainy weather.

We had two camping trips scheduled this summer - one to Higgins Lake and one to Manistee. Both were busts. There was lots of rain and thunderstorms. There were high winds. There were temperatures too cold for us to head to the beach. But we managed. We were able to sneak in a few s'mores and some fun bike rides around the campground. We did see the beach at least one day and had a GREAT time visiting with the Minor, Allen and Cavanaugh families.

But there was a lot of sweating on our parts. A lot of "taking one for the team." A lot of secret conversations away from the kids like, "WHY did we decide to do this?" or "WHAT are we going to do with this entire rainy day?" and "Seriously...could it be worse??!!"

We do it all for the experience and the sheer fun of getting outdoors with the kids. Matt and I both love it and want our kids to experience the simple pleasure of camping. We love the IDEA of walking to the beach and playing, coming back to a burger on the grill and songs around a campfire. Unfortunately this IDEA never became a REALITY this year. But we will prevail. We are already talking about places we should go next year. We might be nuts.

BUT - the kids have had a blast, despite the dismal weather. They seemed relatively clueless about what they were missing with the cruddy weather. Someone asked Tommy yesterday what he liked most about camping and I was curious what his answer might be.
"Sleeping in the camper," was his response.
Hmm. Who knew that was the highlight? I guess it IS an adventure to just be somewhere new with the entire family within 5 feet of him. Ha!

We'll try again next year, but for now...this camper is folded up until next summer.

Hang out Summer Sunday...

I have made a decision to just "hang out" for these last three weeks of summer. No summer camps, no major commitments. Yesterday, we decided to sloooow down. We all slept in, ate breakfast late and rode our bikes to the park. Later, I set up the baby pool in our back yard and the kids played.

It's days like these when I stop and smell the flowers, enjoy the simple things, and remove the junk from my head. The recipe for the perfect day.

Self-Motivate

This is what my Saturday mornings look like these days....



Appealing, huh? "They" (meaning the crazies that have done this before), tell me I am rounding the bend (apparently the "post-16 miles" portion of the marathon training) where you might begin to ask yourself, "WHY am I doing this?"

"Why am I running for 2.5 hours on a Saturday morning, away from my lovely family eating waffles and snuggling on the couch?"

"Why am I not allowing myself more than one light beer on a lovely summer Friday evening in August?"

"Why am I pretty much taking on one more thing at this point in my life?"

Ahem....so I have already sort of "gone there" in my brain. At about mile 12.

However, I am really enjoying the training for the most part. Weekdays are a breeze and I actually like running 9 or 10 miles on a Wednesday as I step up my game. I get super excited when I think about running through the streets of Chicago with people cheering me on. It's tough to train alone, but last week, I pictured all the thousands of people who were out there...just like me...maybe running alone for their own reasons. We will all come together on October 11th to run 26.2 miles, after months of running alone, staying extremely self-motivated.

Odd, but exciting! Off I go...oh wait, I have to go eat some more.

Good Kids.

That's what you have been the past week. I mean really, seriously, good kids. No major issues at all. Just a lot of loving, silliness and fun.

I know I am hard on you and I know I expect a lot. But really, you guys are the best. I am the luckiest mom.

Fun, kind, smart, resilient. The stars have been aligning lately, and for that - I am so proud! Winning hula hoop contests (ha!), sharing with each other, dealing with 3 days of rainy camping and never complaining, always being excited about everything, being a nice friend, loving new shoes from Payless (ha, again!).

I really, really love you all the time (even when you are naughty). :)
But I beam with pride for you when you surprise me with your greatness.

What they Do and Say Today....

Lucy...

Wore a scarf in 82 degrees to run errands yesterday. Why?
"'Cause this is what Artists wear, mom."

I was on my t.v show for work and she was watching me with Matt.
"Sooo..mom is on t.v. and then she is just coming home to be with us after?"
"Yep."
"Weird."

Created an Art Fair for the Block Party this past week and just a lot of painting, painting, painting.

Feverishly riding her bike any chance she can get.

Being unknowingly gorgeous with her blond highlights and tan self. Not sure how I made a little girl so dang pretty.


Tommy...

Making anything a "web." This includes binoculars, door knobs, coffee table feet, curtain rods, etc.

So needing a nap each day but being done taking them.

Loving time with any little boy who will play any game with him.

Having dirty, tan feet and fluffy hair that needs to be cut every 3 weeks.


Me...

Eating and running. Running and eating. Wowza.

Hello, August.

This is my only August with a 3 and 5 year old. We will fill it with two camping trips, visits with friends, a Superhero/Princess camp, running, work, meetings, beach days, pool days, fun. It sounds exhausting but exhilarating at the same time.

To celebrate the kick off of this luxurious month, tomorrow we are blowing off the first Monday of the month with a day at a local amusement/water park. It's the perfect start to August.

Behind these next four weeks are a lot of changes that make my stomach feel a bit uneasy. New schedules, new school, new life.

But for now, we have August.