GramMo Visits!!!

I've said it a million times... I HATE living 3-4 hours away from my mom and dad.  But, one thing that always makes it better are long visits.  

GramMo came in last Thursday evening and left Sunday late afternoon.  We were so excited.  The kids got lots of snuggles, new clothes, good food, more snuggles, extra playtime and GramMo even babysat them one night.  

Friday we shopped all day, rode the carousel at the mall and had Shakespeare's Pizza for lunch.  

Friday we grilled out and then my mom and I went to my classroom to work.  There was lots of construction going on in our building this summer.  My principal called Friday when we were at lunch and said my room was ready.  My mom and I made and plan and decided to work that night.    We ended up staying until 2:30 a.m. working.  I am not sure how my classroom would have come together without her help.  

BEFORE...

AFTER...

When we got home, everyone was sleeping...

Saturday night Scott and I enjoyed a night out with friends and the kids enjoyed one-on-one time with GramMo.   

Thanks GramMo for coming to visit and ALL your help.  We love you tons!!!  

Ireland's new face when you tell her to smile.

Two Weeks Worth of Phone Pictures

Again, summer is flying by, but we've kept super busy...

We have done parks...

 Swim lessons where BOTH made huge improvements in the water...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie (not the scary new one) with Mack and Cohan and friends...

 Ireland got rid of her pacifier rather easily!!!!!  Huge news around here...

 We have spent lots of time at the pool...

and even spent a rainy day at the pool with cousins... 

I spent time with my awesome co-workers...

I have watched these two play and laughed so hard I've cried at the two of them...

And I have taken some girl time.  I am so lucky Scott urges me to do things like this.  Two of my best friends and I headed to KC early Saturday morning.  We stayed in a hotel, shopped, drank, ate awesome food, laughed, drank some more, got pedicures and had an amazing time staying on the Plaza.  

The kids had an awesome time with Daddy.  

They did the park, lunch out, dinner at home and did a lot of playing... 

 
We watched Sofia one morning...

And yesterday, I had a presentation to give all day so the kids stayed with Nanny.  

They had lunch at Chuck E. Cheese with Papa H too!

And today?  

We played in the rain, searched for worms and embraced an at home day before GramMo gets here!!!  

Boone County Fair and Fireflies

I have not updated the blog in forever!!  I am seeing that summer is quickly slipping away and I've been focused on our kids, staying busy, snuggling, playing and loving every second.  

I am trying to hold on to every little moment.  Each day we have something planned and it is quickly dawning on me that this is the last summer that I will have kids this age.  They are so fun and beginning to get independent.  I am thankful in some ways for that, but also missing the need for mommy all the time.  This quote keeps reminding me how quickly life is going.  Some days aren't all bubbles and laughs, but dang, they go quick.  We are living it up these last couple days off.  

Two Fridays ago, we (mostly Uncle Pooh) talked Scott into going to the Boone County Fair (this is NOT his thing).  Uncle Pooh, Aunt Meagan, Scott, the kids and I went.  Ireland was beyond excited that she was finally tall enough to ride the rides.  They did them all.  She even did her first roller coaster.  I was laughing so hard I was crying.  She would scream, cry a little and laugh so hard.  She didn't know what to think.    

That night, we came home and caught fireflies.  It's the little things that make me the most happy...

I feel like every summer, right before school starts, I start to get a little weepy and sentimental.  After staying home with the kids all summer, keeping a clean house, keeping up with the laundry, cooking good food and just spending extra time together makes me realize how good we really have it.  

Two songs I have been listening to lately that make those LONG days so much shorter....

Darious Rucker - It Won't Be Like This for Long

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at_lUnFjXg8

Lonestar- My Front Porch Looking In

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KOj7Vcq-i8

Life isn't always perfect, but I sure love the life we live.