Summer Vacation - Day 40

Our morning started off with a huge breakfast.  These boys can put away some breakfast.  They started out with pumpkin pancakes with peanut butter and strawberry & honey greek yogurt.  Then they had bananas.  Then they were still hungry so we got out the pop tarts.  Then they were still hungry so we got out the cereal.

 In the middle of the cereal course Joseph announced that his ear hurt.  This was on top of him running a fever off and on all week and complaining of a sore throat.  (Final straw!!!)  Mama immediately called for an appointment and they were able to get us in first thing.  We quickly finished up breakfast, got dressed and headed for the clinic.

 The official diagnosis was cooties (no seriously, the doctor said that) in his throat and that he'd feel better soon. 

 Once back home we finished up our Olympic props and decorations.

 I made Joseph take a nap so he could stay up late for the opening games.  He actually slept and slept and slept.  He slept so long that daddy ended up getting Jake from school and coming home a little early.

 We had some pre-dinner torch relays.  I'll use the word "relay" loosely as neither kiddo actually wanted to hand-off his precious torch.

 Our sweet, crazy (future) Olympic champions!

 Dinner was fish & chips.  And it was frozen in a box and baked in the oven.  Because that's how we roll on Fridays.  We make things as simple and kid friendly as possible.

 After dinner we were ready!!!!!  Let the games begin!!!!!

Summer Vacation - Day 39

Ironically Day 39 of our summer vacation fell on mama's 39th birthday!  And she took the day "off" . . . . as "off" as she could take it while providing care to two little crazies.  They did help out by offering to play upstairs part of the morning and both took fabulous (much needed) naps in the afternoon.

The morning started out with an egg and cheese sandwich on a homemade english muffin.

Mama also enjoyed another english muffin with local honey and a chai for a mid-morning snack.

 And after an incredible dinner by master chef daddy (shrimp cocktail, bolognese, caesar salad, garlic bread) with our sweet friends Chris & Sammie, we had this yummy cake.

All in all - a good day.  Here's to a great year ahead!

Summer Vacation - Day 38

a.k.a. Another prep day for the Olympics!!!

We made English muffins using this recipe.

And we printed out flags to help with our decorations.

 Joseph helped cut them all out.

Two more days until the opening ceremonies!!!  How are you celebrating?

Summer Vacation - Day 37

Jake Jake went to school today and Joseph and I spent the morning running a few errands.  Because we needed groceries.  Desperately.  And we needed to go to Hobby Lobby.  Desperately.

After lunch we completed another London Summer Olympics project!  We made our torches!!!

We started with some cardboard paper towel rolls I've been saving.

 We bent them into a triangle shape.

 Then I cut slits about halfway up each side and folded them into each other, holding in place with clear packing tape.

 Time for some gold spray paint!!!

 Time for felt and pipe cleaners. . . 

 I cut each piece of felt in half and used 3 pieces (red, yellow, orange) and 3 pipe cleaners for each torch. 

 After cutting a slit in each piece of felt, we put the pip cleaners through and twisted at the bottom to hold.  We also used a little fabric glue between each layer of felt.

 Then we gathered it all up. . . 

 and stuffed it down into the paper towel roll which was also lined with fabric glue.

 We twisted the pipe cleaners to add a little whimsy.

 And mama tried her best (non-artistic) rendering of the London Summer Olympics logo.

 Torches for everyone!!!

 Ready for his part in the relay.

 Later we remembered to pick up this little guy from school.  (I don't think he naps very well there)

 And here's a sweet picture of Minnie Mae . . . just 'cause.

 Post-dinner ice cream drumsticks.

 And a few pirate shenanigans.

That completes day #37!!!  

Summer Vacation - Day 36

We are celebrating this 36th Day of Summer Vacation by composing a list of things about which we are currently freaking out!

(it's short)

1. School starts in 4 weeks from today!

2. The Summer Olympics start this week!!!!!!!!!!!

We started out our morning with a good workout at Stroller Strides.  Joseph probably got as good of a workout as mama since he ran most of the time.  Jacob just enjoyed the ride and his Space Adventure Goldfish crackers.

I have to say that the rest of our day was fairly lackluster.  Mama was attempting to get into the swing of post-vacation real life (and finish the book she had started).  And mostly we're completely distracted by our adorable Minnie Mae.  I mean, who wouldn't be??!!  So sweet.  

Baseball

My sweet boys (and Minnie Mae) picked me up at the airport on Sunday with 2-dozen roses.  I think they were as happy to see me as I was to see them!

In the evening we headed out to a Travelers' game with our community group from church. It was a bit hot when we got there but once the sun started setting it was surprisingly pleasant.

Afterwards the boys ran the bases.