Roman was SO excited to get to go to VBS with his big brothers this week! Here he is with Jonas and his crew leader.
Category: Activities for Kids
Peach Picking
The boys and I met MeMe and PaPa at Pratt’s Orchard this morning to do some peach picking…what a treat!!!
Feeding the Turtles…
Feeding the ducks turned into feeding the turtles at a small local pond we like to visit. Â The ducks were not into our stale bread for some reason this time around, and then out of nowhere…a whole bale of turtles swam up to us in a feeding frenzy. Â It was so cool!!!
Music City Star…
This afternoon my dear and inspiring cousin, Heather, invited the boys and I to join her and her sweet children, Val and Annabella, on our greatest adventure of the summer!!!
We met up and rode the Music City Star, Nashville’s commuter train, downtown to play at the Cumberland Park Sprayground and back. Taking Heather’s advice, we backpacked it up, and it worked great (so well, in fact, that I’m going to look more into this kids-carrying-their-own-gear thing). Â I think I was even more excited about the train ride than the boys (which is saying a lot because they were super excited). They had fun playing at the spayground with their cousins, while Heather and I enjoyed catching up.
One of the things that makes traveling so interesting is the unexpected. The bus that carries people to the last train out of downtown was caught in car accident traffic, so we had to sit and wait for that traffic to clear and for the bus to arrive before we could head back home. Â The kids were all restless and hungry but ended up either entertaining each other or being entertained by other kids. Â We finally made it back to the station and enjoyed more time to play and catch up over pizza with Heather, Val, and Annabella at their house before heading home for the evening.
We’re looking forward to our next adventure together!!!
Mr. Rich’s Super Science Show…
The boys and I all thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Rich’s Super Science Show at the library this morning!!! Â He made four little kids’ shoes light up at the same time, sent mini electric shocks out to brave volunteers, gave anyone who wanted one a bubble brain, created a giant bubble, and made cotton candy for all of the little people. What an educational entertainer!
Bowling with Xander…
Xander and I had some special time together and went bowling this afternoon…what fun! Â (We were all going to go as a family, but the bookends…Jonas and Roman…trumped that with their morning shenanigans.) Â We decided to bowl in the mini lanes, as they are quieter and more kid-sized. Â Xander had bumpers, and I did not. Being the excellent game player that he is, he beat me the first game and we tied the second game. Â HeHe!
Blueberry Picking…
The boys and I went to Golden Bell Farm this morning just down the road for some blueberry picking this morning in celebration of Xander’s 5th birthday!
Pool Time…
We have REALLY enjoyed having this wonderful pool right down the street from us this summer!!! Â What a blessing.
Grocery Shopping with Roman…
Roman and I did a little bit of grocery shopping after dropping Jonas and Xander off at VBS this morning. Â He loved giving his Ah-Ah a ride and pushing a Roman-sized cart.
VBS Brothers…
Jonas and Xander are having a BLAST this week at VBS at our church!!!
Fishing…
MeMe and PaPa bought the boys fishing poles a little while ago, and they were SO excited to put them to good use today!!!
After a worm search at every gas station in town, Tom ended up digging some up from our very own backyard. He’s been working on a water feature, so there were several hanging out in the mud. Â While he was working on that, sweet little Xander puckered up and started crying because he realized the worms that Daddy found were going to have to go on the hook and were eventually going to die so we could catch a fish (he’s so much like his Mommy). Â He recovered and had fun fishing with the best of them. Â We didn’t catch anything, but we had fun trying…
Fire Department Fun…
We enjoyed running around in the water from the fire hose at the fire department this afternoon with Firefighter Tom and a slew of other moms and kids from our moms’ group. Â I didn’t snap many pictures but here’s a few…
Sculpture Class…
The boys went to a sculpture class at the rec center for two mornings this week and had so much fun!!! Â They made so many fun things…I had to bring a bag to help carry everything home. Â Here are the boys with one of their favorite sculptures they made with toothpicks and gumdrops.
Field Day…
I was so excited to get to volunteer for Field Day (I’m so grateful to my dear friend, Rebekah, who kept Roman for me…she said he had a blast playing in the backyard with her sweet girls). Â I worked the Pitch to Catcher station with the mother of one of Jonas’ favorite friends in his class and my precious friend, Jenn. Â We had fun cheering the kids on and marveling at their varying approaches, skill levels, and personalities. Â Jonas visited and got the ball in the net several times. Â It was so fun to see his smiling face and hug him!
Bike to School Day…
Today was Bike to School Day! So, all of my boys rode on their wheels while I followed behind, pushing the empty jogger stroller, just in case…good thing too…Xander ended up falling and skinning both knees on the way down the hill so we left his bike there and I finally convinced Roman to ditch his trike so he could join Xander in the jogger stroller and we could catch up with Jonas. Â It was a crazy morning (we had painters in the house at 700 am, our van overheated on the way to preschool, etc.), but it was worth it to see the smile on Jonas’ face when we got to school.
Lemonade Stand…
Jonas put frozen strawberries (the ones we picked at Valley Home Farm) in the Gatorade he brought us when we were laying sod. Â It was so delicious that he wanted to do a lemonade with strawberries stand today. Â It was super hot, so Tom put up the beach umbrella for some shade. Â Xander had the great idea of twirling the umbrella to attract customers (Tom’s kids know how to sell, man!) and Roman even got in there with him, twirling the umbrella from the water table. Â MeMe and PaPa stopped by, as they were in the area, to buy some lemonade with strawberries and to let me hug their necks and give MeMe her birthday present. Â I loved looking out and seeing Daddy sitting with them. Â What a fun afternoon…we stayed out there for a while and had several customers. Â We’re looking forward to doing it again this summer!
Sod…
Tom and his friend, Andrew, from the fire department laid sod in our backyard this week. I even got in there and helped them because I couldn’t stand not too. Â I tell you what…I have a new appreciation for those who do that kind of back-breaking work on a daily basis. Â We were worn out!!! Â I was telling Tom that there’s actually something really good that comes to me when I’m working hard outside…I think it’s peace. Â The boys were helping out by bringing us Gatorade to drink (their sweet servant hearts made me proud) and using the wheelbarrow that Mrs. Laura gave them after their hard work at the library. Here are a few pictures of Xander and Roman helping out…
Service Project at the Library…
A few weeks ago, I noticed that the flower beds in front of the library could use a little sprucing up. Â So, I talked with the head librarian and got his okay on everything. Â Then, we were off to the races! Â The boys went with me in different configurations and I went by myself a few times over the course of several days to do some weeding, pruning of the crepe myrtle and roses, and cutting back of the dead monkey grass. Â The Mulch Stop donated 2 yards of mulch, and The Southbranch Nusery donated 6 small pots of lantana to put in the flower pots out front!!! Â I talked with another instrumental mom in our moms’ group, and she suggested putting it down as an event on our calendar and inviting moms and kids out to join us for a work day. Â She also suggested rotating with each other playing with the kids in the library (reading, coloring, etc.) and working outside. Â We brought snacks to share, and we had a great time! Â Laura brought the mulch in her truck, and it was amazing how much we were able to get done. Â There is no way it would have gotten done without everyone coming together. Yay for community!!! Â Here are a few pictures of the boys hard at work…
Ducklings…
Xander and Roman were so excited to get to pet the ducklings that hatched at preschool this week!!!
Zoo with the Roths…
Xander, Roman, and I went to the zoo this morning with our dear friends and old neighbors…Stephanie, Grayson, and Claira. Â It was SO good to see them and to get some play time in together at the zoo!
