Category: Xander

We went to Radnor Lake for a hike after blueberry picking this morning. I didn’t think it was going to be too much for the boys, but I guess it was. Oh well.

I gave Jonas a trail map and appointed him as the navigator (which was great until he would announce, “Guys, we still have a mile left until we get back to the car!”). Xander was not into being there, so he basically…ran ahead and tried to run off the trail whenever he could, grumbled the whole time, and hit anything and everything with a stick. Roman really dug the nature scavenger hunt I printed out for them and found all sorts of things. He also insisted on carrying (or on me carrying) a gargantuan stick most of the way because it doubled as “his antlers”.

We saw all sorts of wildlife…a buck, four does, a fawn, a heron and her babies, beautiful blue and yellow butterflies, and a log full of turtles. AND we hiked two miles! So there.

The boys and I went blueberry picking this morning at Golden Bell Farm. We ended up going a little later in the season, so most of the berries were a little tougher to find/get to than usual. BUT we still ended up picking almost 2 pounds collectively!!! Xander, even though he doesn’t look like he’s too into it in his picture, picked the most.

I’ve been feeling a little down and needed to pull out of my funk. So, I took the boys to Grand Ole Golf. I used to go put put golfing there with my mom when I was a little girl, and I knew they would love it as much as I used to. The weather was beautiful. Jonas, Xander, and I took score and Roman just played for the fun of it, which ended up working out really well for everybody. After we finished playing 18 holes, we took a break and ate the lunch we brought from home and re-grouped. For fun, I decided to let each boy choose one extra activity…Jonas (and I) chose go karts and Xander and Roman chose the arcade. This was Jonas’ first time driving a go kart on his own, and he did a great job…I was impressed! I had fun zipping around the track, trying to keep up with him. Xander and Roman, even though each ended up with differing amounts of tickets, were rewarded above and beyond by the sweet girl behind the counter (she even tossed in several things for Jonas). They were so excited. Afterwards, we stopped at Cotton and Snow for one big snow cone to share with multiple flavors…I picked snow cream, Jonas picked red velvet, Xander picked blue raspberry, and Roman picked sponge bob. Yummy! It ended up being a really fun, indulgent day that lifted all of our spirits.

I ran the Nolensville 5K today and placed 3rd in my age group for women!!! Can you believe that?!? I could not and still can not. I had no plans to place and no idea I had until after I crossed the finish line. I was just trying to beat my personal best time. What a fun gift!!!

Roman ran the 1K Kids Fun Run. He was nervous at first, but then when he realized just how short the distance was…he was all about it. I’m so proud of him for wanting to do the run in the first place, for pushing through his nerves before the race, and for running his little heart out. Go, Roman!!!

This is our 8th year to go strawberry picking at Valley Home Farm!!!

Despite Xander having a monumental meltdown over sunglasses he couldn’t find before we left and then finding them in the car only to forget to bring his shoes and Jonas hopping around on one foot (he hurt his toe yesterday playing football), we enjoyed it. By the end of our time strawberry picking, Jonas was wearing one flip flop, Xander was wearing my flip flops, and Roman had taken off his shirt and his hat and his flip flops…haha!

The best part was having a reverse lunch (eating dessert first)…Roman and I had homemade strawberry honey pops and Jonas and Xander had homemade strawberry ice cream…so delicious. We ate a picnic lunch on a blanket in the grass afterwards, got almost to the interstate and realized we forgot our basket of handpicked strawberries and drove all the way back to get them, and then I took the wrong exit and headed down the interstate the wrong direction for a while before I realized it. Ack!!! Oh well…because it was a long drive, the boys were watching a movie, and I was jamming out to some tunes anyway…so it all worked out. That’s one of my favorite things about summer break…we’re not in a hurry. Yay for a slower pace and yay for strawberry picking with my boys!!!