“Hey Mom - This “L” is for YOU!”
Every day I swear that I’m going to get on here and update my blog, but then suddenly the clock goes into fast forward mode and 24 hours suddenly feels like 6. I looked at the calendar and thought, “Holy moly! School’s almost over!” I had to shift into overdrive to try and get my act together, because trying to do things with 2 kids around is a whole heck of a lot easier than trying to do it with 5 kids around - especially when three of them assemble themselves into a chorus of “I’m bored” accompanied by multiple openings and closings of the sliding glass door. Hello mosquitoes and good-bye air conditioning.
NOT alleviating the situation is the fact that for the past two weeks there has been a field trip, event, activity or party at school that has required my presence, the last minute packing of a sack lunch, and/or the acquisition of some special item. Last week I volunteered for Field Day at the elementary school which consisted of letting 1st and 2nd graders with questionable aim throw footballs at me a hoop.
I would have several photos of all the awesome projects I’ve been working on, but my small digital camera has suddenly disappeared, and it doesn’t take Nancy Drew to figure out that the prime suspect is a 2.5′ tall female with a propensity for throwing things in the garbage. ((sigh))
My biggest project, however, has been bracing myself for the end of school. I have vowed to take control of summer this year. In the past I’ve allowed relegated myself to the role of (unpaid) summer camp counselor/cruise director, but not this go-round. I refuse to let my kids become vacation fat cats. Seriously - summer hasn’t even started but I’m already tired of watching my kids drape themselves over the furniture, eyes glued to an electronic product. Their love of iPods and DVD’s and Wii’s is turning them into gelatinous nincompoops. No more.
I have scheduled our activities this summer. I have drawn up a list of summer chores. Last night, I presented my older kids with the concept of summer goals. They were dubious at first, but they actually got excited and started bouncing up and down with ideas. On everyone’s list is a reading goal. I also told the kids that we would be walking/running 5 miles every week. I’m hoping that I can entice the kids into running a 5K with me in the fall. Eliza is vowing to learn how to backflip on the trampoline and Weston tentatively agreed to riding one big rollercoaster at Six Flags. Hayden is going to give tennis lessons to his siblings and has agreed to try (and add) 5 new foods to his current repertoire of hot dogs, mac & cheese, and root beer. And Kellan doesn’t know it, but his summer goal is to ditch the diapers (scary!)
There are approximately 9 more hours of school left. As of noon tomorrow operation “Take Back Summer” begins. Pray for me.
And just because she’s so darned cute, here’s another picture of ‘Riss:
“My summer goals include eating lots of sand.” (she’s off to a good start)
She is so cute and has gotten so big!!!