This Is How WE Do Summer

Well, it's mid-June and I think we've eased into our new summer schedule. We've replaced preschool with swimming pools and learning with Popsicles. Kidding, of course. I made Orien count to 10 once three weeks ago. That should cover it for the whole summer. 

This week the Millers were in town. Manley Miller is my godfather's (or uncle) nephew. So we're not really related, but lets just say we kind of are. We love their family of 5! They have 2 boys and a girl. Tuesday we all went to Noah's Ark pool in town. For some reason the pool was 65 degrees but the kids didn't mind their extremities turning blue, so it was fine with us. 

Orien actually just wanted to eat and lounge in the shade - BONUS for Mom! It was fun, but we probably won't go again. It's $6/person and the pool looks better on their website than in person. Plus Orien was way too freaked out by all the fake animal heads squirting out water on top of him. Can't blame him really.

And in typical Orien fashion...he kept saying "That's so weird Mommy."

I agree.

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One of our fav summer activities is taking (late) evening walks. You really can't go outside until after 7:30pm around here. It's seriously still almost 100 degrees at 6:30. So when the heat index was a cool 90 degrees we hit the sidewalk to exhaust our kids have some summer fun!

One 30 min walk around the block, 1 wet run through the neighbor's sprinkler, 10 sidewalk races, 5 Popsicles and one HUGE dance party later...

Our mission to make our kids sleep for 12 hours straight an awesome summer memory was a BIG success!

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Date night...

Brett shot some virtual deer then we saw Super 8. Andddddd...surprise, surprise we thought it was dumb, corny, and just a waste of $$. (We're picky movie-watchers!) But we did get 2 hours of snuggle time - score! Even if it was in a dark, sticky, rarely-cleaned and over-priced theatre. 

(Blec. Movie theatres give me the creeps. They're so gross!)

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Okay, so, Orien is LOVING his summer gymnastics class!!!! Every Thursday we head to Bill Austin's Gymnastics with our friends from our playgroup and have a blast. I struggled through today's class though, due to my sore throat and throbbing head. I have found that jumping on a trampoline and running around chasing a squealing 2 year old for 45 minutes and officially one of the worst things to do when you feel a migraine coming on. But all that aside, Orien truly thrives in this class. He's skeptical about some things, but goes ALL OUT for most of it. He totally rocks at jumping on the trampoline, swinging on the bars and walking on the balance beam (even if it is sitting on the ground!). 

Best part of this class? Seeing his confidence SKY rocket right in front of my eyes. So awesome.

Southern summers may be hot, sticky, drought-y and long...

but it's also an AWESOME time to make some lasting memories with your kiddos!

Now get out there and take a walk around the block! 

Then have a dance party.

Just Because

I want this moment to be a snapshot in time,

 Forever I'll hear his laughter in my mind,

Through his clear eyes I see a whole new world,

He has captured the heart & soul of this girl.

Love you my boy,

Mommy

Weekend Wrap-Up

THURSDAY:

Consumed to-go Pei Wei

Orien was a human bowling ball

Played with Aunt G

Messed up Aunt G's perfect house...

Check!

FRIDAY:

Partied Hawaiin-style with friends

Pulled two 2 year olds and one 10 year old in a wagon

Enjoyed company with a great couple

Completely wore out the kids...

Check!

SATURDAY:

Morning workout that only lasted 30 min

Watched Daddy play bball against 8 year olds

Praised God at church

Left church in the middle of the sermon due to P's headache

Sat at a sweet booth during dinner while O watched the iPad

Had a relaxing time with Brett during dinner thanks to the iPad...

Check!

SUNDAY:

RELAX!!!!!!!!

Check.

My Fab 5

This is a new post I'd like to continue. "My Fab Five" lists my top 5
favorite moments of the week. This will allow me to easily record
moments or feelings I don't want to forget. There are SO many times
during the week when I think how I don't want to forget a certain
memory. Here we go.

1)   Monday we ate dinner with my Nan at Salt Grass. It was awesome to see Orien have so much fun with Aunt G. He wouldn't leave her side. He had been asking for her ALL day.

2)   Last weekend I went to Dallas for one of my closest friend's wedding shower. My favorite moment of the trip was simply shopping with Breanne at Target and spending time with her getting ready for the shower. I haven't had one on one time with her since college! It actually reminded me of our college days when we lived together and always had SO much fun getting ready for parties, events, etc side by side :)

3)   Jumping with O on the trampoline at Gymnastics was definitely a highlight this week. He amazes me how he fearlessly takes on new things with a great attitude!

4)   Having family over for dinner is always awesome. We finished the night with a showing of "Just Go With It" - a hilarious movie!

5)   Today, I had my friend over and her two young girls to swim. I enjoyed our adult convos - something I've lacked this week :) We just love their family and look forward to hanging out more!

June x3 (and some thoughts...)

A look back...

JUNE '09

JUNE '10

JUNE '11

Orien has been extra sweet lately. The whining has (mostly) disappeared for now! Yes! Maybe because I was away all last weekend? I think he missed his Momma. Here are some things that he's been doing that make me just want to eat him up:

* Mommy, you okay? (he always just checks if I'm okay, lol)

* Ooooo, you cuuuute Mommy

* I want hold hands peeaaaz (in the car)

* HEY Mommy!! I wuv you!

* Thank you Mommy! (he says thank you 1000x a day I swear - and he says it was such meaning, priceless)

* Boo boo in mouth okay? All better Mommy? (he knows I have pain in my mouth a lot - due to my grinding)

* I want hug peeeaz (he holds me SO tight and lays his head on my shoulder - makes me melt)

I was telling Brett last night that I'm really starting to see a special, unique bond form between O and me. Brett and Orien have their own relationship - it's FUN, rough, loud, action-packed! Where Orien and I have a silly, sweet, affectionate bond. We have our own little things that we do and think are funny. We tell each other stories and talk about our day. We pray together, sing in the car out loud and always observe the world around us from a kid's perspective. I see SO much of my mom in me. As I'm going from one thing to the next throughout my day I feel myself growing more like her every day. That makes me incredibly happy because as I've said 1000x before, she is an absolutely AMAZING mom, friend and person. It feels good to pass on her light-hearted attitude and young, kid-like spirit down to my son. 

Orien has no hope.

He's destined to be a goofball :)

A Day Off

Yesterday I took a day off from the gym, running errands, cleaning or having playdates. We had a nice day off. AND...Eric, who has an extremely packed schedule with intense work-outs and sessions with trainers, had a morning off and spent it with US! :)

We went to the Galleria in town. Orien has never seen the Water Wall so we made a quick stop. He wasn't a fan, which is pretty obvious from the photos. I guess a 100+ foot tall, loud, roaring water wall isn't really a 2-year-old thing...

While at the mall I dropped my Tiffany's jewelery off for a way-overdue cleaning and polishing. Did you know they charge for that there?! I was surprised. But I guess that's expected from Tiffany's. Then we ate at the food court next to the Ice Rink. I thought O would like watching the skaters but NO. He was freaked the whole time because he could see the growling tigers and other "scary" moving animals at the Rain Forest Cafe across from us. He seriously did NOT like that place. He never has. You'll see below the photo of him being snuggled by Ren Ren. He kept saying "Ren Ren hold you me. See tiger?"

He passed OUT in the car on the way home. I love pictures of him sleeping. He always looks so big.

Later after his realllly long nap (woo!) we swam in the backyard. After about 5pm we have lots of shade back there. The pool entertained him for about an hour. He wanted to stay in longer but it was time to start dinner. 

Oh - if you're wondering what that weird face is Orien keeps making in photos below...

Eric kept telling O to close your eyes if you're scared (of the moving animals) and the expression he made was cracking us up. But he was SO serious while making the face and closing his eyes. Throughout the day I kept asking him 'What did Ren Ren say to do when you're scared?' I snapped a few pics :)

It was a great day off from our normal schedule.