Our summer was honestly great...We had several bumps in the road, but we are as always looking back with lessons learned and happy we are on the other side.
So...Here is the run down...Erin had her 4th birthday on June 18th and a great birthday party planned at J&R gymnastics where she used to take dance, then gymnastics...well things didn't go as planned on a lot of levels. A huge accident happend on I-35 that backed up traffic so badly that some people basically made it to the last ten minutes of the party. We had to have the party at the time we scheduled since another party was due after us, so we lost a ton of the play time and it stunk for the kids, us and all around. Durning the party a friend of Erin's fell and broke her arm...oh yes, at the party. So we offered to watch their son while they took her to the ER. I forgot the candle and all cake cutting items...it was just one of those days. But Erin had fun and was none the wiser to the many issues. After the party Brandon and Erin went to the base for a father daughter dance and I watched Nathan and Zach and tried to pack....I was about to go out of town alone for a week...
Her party and great group of friends...minus the two boys in the middle (Zach and Nathan), they are all her age...she is tiny!
But, super tough!
So the next day, father's day, I left and went home to NC to see my parents...my mom was having surgery that monday and I was lucky enough to be able to go home. It turned out to be perfect timing...I went back a week I had enrolled the kids in a summer camp at Erin's preschool. They both would go Tues-Fri from 9-3. Brandon would only have to take off Monday and be done with work at 3...The kids had a great week at the camp and home alone with dad. Brandon learned a lot about our kids, me and as the saying goes, you appreciate people when you walk in their shoes. I am just so thankful he was willing and able to do this for me, so I could be with my mom. Her surgery went well, but the recovery was hard. She is still recovering to be honest. I stayed with her in the hospital and so glad I did. While she was drugged a lot of the first day and doesn't remember much, I am glad I was there to be her voice and make sure she was okay. I am so thankful I had that chance to do for her what she has done for me so many times.
I came back to TX and got back into the groove of mom and a busy summer with crazy kids. Zach's therapies were crazy this summer and not as structured as they should have been. We did double up his OT and speech, but it made for a lot of driving for me and long waits...we did three VBS camps....the kids loved them all and learned so much. It was so wonderful to hear the conversations at home about God, loving themselves and others...I am glad we did them and look forward to more in the future. We did a lot of days at the pool and are so thankful we have a neighborhood pool. A must here in Texas (it was 111 yesterday here and 107 today, it is a touch hot). We had a lot of play dates and fun things to fill our days. We also had a lot of time to hang out and just enjoy each other. All of it good. As always the lack of structure and boredom is hard on Zach as the weeks go on, but he did really well and I learned a lot. I have no July 4th photos to share, fireworks were cancelled and we didn't even tell the kids...they were fine with a day at the pool.
At the end of July we headed to NC for the second year in a row. We drove again, which we are so thankful we did. It is a great opportunity to see the country and enjoy our time. Honestly, we do love it. We went to Atlantic Beach, NC (yes the place that just got hit by Irene). We went there a lot when I was a little girl and it really is my favorite place...I love that island...I love the whole area really. I can't help but say I love NC and enjoy going back. We had a great week at the beach this year...we did new things we didn't do last year and both kids enjoyed it so much. Erin finally became a fan of the beach, the ocean, the water...YEAH! I loved our week. Now I must figure out to curb my shopping issues and ebay enough to be able to buy a house there when we retire. :)
Here are some pictures...
My boy...he loves the beach as much as I do....maybe more. :)
After the beach we headed back to NC for a week...I will have to upload those photos tomorrow and share some fun from that trip. We stayed for a week while Brandon went home to TX and then we got to all drive back when he was nice enough to fly back to NC...
We returned to get back into the swing and start school...and haven't stopped since...
Tomorrow I will post some NC part 2 photos...stay tuned....
