summer selfiness

I haven't written since the first day of school last fall.  I've had ideas and things I have wanted to share, and things I longed to get out, but wasn't brave enough, or disciplined enough to put down my phone long enough and open my computer to get my thoughts out.

But here I am.

I am spending my summer at home with my not so little any more, guy, Ryder.  He is 6 going on 7...how can that be?!  Early on this summer I found myself doing nothing, because it was summer and I told myself I deserved to relax a little bit...and not do much of anything because I was a teacher and "it was summer!"  I wasn't getting anything done because there was always "tomorrow to get that done."  I became discouraged and angry with myself that I was letting the time pass right before my eyes and I wasn't making the most of my days with R at home with me.  How selfish I was being.

I know there will soon be summers when him hanging out with his mama, is one of the last things he'll want to do.  I told myself I wanted to make this summer, and how ever many summers I have left where it will still be cool to hang out with your mom left, to make the most out of things and provide him with as many memories as I can.

I read another mom's statement she wanted to create/have such an awesome and memorable summer with her kids that they wouldn't want to go back to school.   By this, she didn't mean sending them to extravagant camps each week, spending money on stuff, or going on fancy vacations, but just making solid memories, that they created...together.  What a thought.  

By mid August I know I'll be "ready to go back to school" (but just for a lil while ;))...just because I thrive on routine, and summer does NOT provide that for me...But what an idea, to make your child's summer so memorable and fun for them, that they truly don't want to go back to school.  Not that I want him to not enjoy or dread having to go back to school, but I want him to look back on these summer days that we got to spend together and think, "Wow, those were fun."  I want him to remember his mom getting in the pool and playing with him.  Rollerblading beside him while he biked along the bike trail.  Swinging on the swings with him at the park...heck going to the park in the middle of the day!  Taking him to the track to run to prepare for a triathlon.  Inter-tubing with him out on the lake.  Climbing to waterfall she hasn't hiked to since she was in much better shape.  All things I may or may not have done with him in the past, but things I want him to know I want to do with him...I don't want him to do them alone.  I don't want his memories of these things to be with me in the background.  I want his memories to be with me by his side, as long as he will let me.  I will soon be in the background because it won't be cool to have your mom by your side any more.

Time is flying too fast...I know every parent can relate.

More to come on my brave boy as an only child...

random spring/summer

R at the lake with his friends...

I've been lovin' some scrambled eggs this summer!

Yes...he is wearing Christmas pajamas in the middle of the summer, but he was excited about his new color changing straws...I was too! ;)

Just some Travs baseball...I think he was mad at me, so moved down away from us!!  Ha!

We made our way to a few UCA baseball games...we were out in the outfield with Poppy and R was throwing his hat up and catching it.  Of course it fell on the field...during the game.  I was so embarrassed!!--but luckily we got it back! ;)

summer recap days 1 & 2

THIS WAS WRITTEN TUESDAY JUNE 2nd.  JUST NOW GETTING AROUND TO POSTING.

Man, have I missed blogging!  Happy to be back!

It's officially day 4 of summer, but since our first two days were a Thursday and a Friday, I didn't feel like summer REALLY started until Monday--which was yesterday!  Our first FULL week of summer! =)

Yesterday started off with a BANG, which is why I've decided to blog about my/our days.  So far, they have been too comical not to share, and I want to be able to look back on them and laugh.

I know that Ryder won't always be "little" and "stuck" hanging out with his mom all.summer.long.  He'll be off with his friends doing his own thing, wanting me to just drop them off at the pool, and not stay and "hang out" and "work on my tan".

Last summer, R still went to "school" everyday until after lunch/before nap...I had to pay for it anyways to keep his spot for the upcoming school year, but that's not the case any more.  So, he is stuck with me all day, 'er day....poor guy! ;)

We...or more like I am trying to create a routine, but that's just so hard to do when we can totally be "fly by the seat of your pants" during these days.  

My last day was Wednesday, but my whole entire room had to be packed up and I didn't get it quite finished, so I had to go back up there on Thursday (which wasn't TOO bad).  This was R's last day of school, because he had graduation that night.

So Friday OFFICIALLY kicked things off for both of us!  

I laid down with him at 1 PM to take a nap, and no lie...we both woke up at 4:45 PM!  We both obviously needed to catch up on some sleep, and I was NOT complaining!  =)

After our nap, I spent some name in the hammock, and R road his bike at KeeKee & Poppy's before having some grilled hot dogs to officially kick off SUMMER!!

My last few days of school and first couple of days of summer, we got to babysit this sweet girl!  Her name is Q and I am NOT a dog person...but this lil one stole my heart!  R's too!  I offered to keep her while a friend of mine left the state unexpectedly.  We'd keep her around if we could!  She was the sweetest lil cuddle dog...and to think I actually made her sleep in her kennel the first night!! ;)

Day 1:

Everyone always tells R he has a "kind heart" and that is true.  99% of the time...example above.  But there IS that 1% he is ALL BOY and not so much "kind hearted" like they say! 

Point proven yesterday as I walked out the back door to find him PEEING ON Q.  Poor dog!  He acted like she "got in his way" at first...but I didn't believe THAT for a minute!!  He told me he "didn't think I would ever know about it".  Little do you know buddy! :P

So...I made him give her a bath outside (when we had JUST given her one the day before!) which turned into ME giving her a bath.  I did NOT have time for that, but I had to make time...

I was going to spank him again, but then I told him he was going to have to tell Mr. Nick what he did to his dog and that seemed to be enough punishment for him.  But seriously?  Who pees on a dog?!!  

I am facilitating a bible study/small group/get together of ladies on Monday nights with a group of ladies who are doing She Reads Truth's Women in the Word together, and Monday night was our first night.  I made my fav sugar cookie fruit pizzas and some dip for everybody to enjoy!  They seemed to be big hits!  

I went to bed after the first day of summer thinking "this is gonna be a LOONG summer if it is anything like today!!"  But...again, I am trying to be thankful and make the most out of each of these days with my lil guy!  So we woke up to a clean slate, which I am so thankful for!

Day 2:

 Coffee date at Blue Sail with Allie on her day off starting things off on the right foot...

 We were walking out...and it was about lunch time, and saw all the food truck park trucks set up down the road, so we decided to hit them up for lunch!  We needed cash, so we just walked to the bank to get some...it all worked out!  Made me love my lil downtown even more!  

R went with the hot dog which he LOVED, and I went with the fajita tacos!  OMG...I'll be back for more.  They were $1.75 a taco--can't beat that!!

From there, I had an eye appointment...not much has changed, but got some new contacts.  We were right by Poppy's bank, so we stopped in there for a little bit, and I charged my phone....story of my life.  Then since we were half way there...we hit up Target to exchange some stuff and get something I needed.  But who needs an excuse to go to Target?!

R behaved...meaning he didn't push the cart into anyone's heels, so he got an ICEE before we left.  I am not an ICEE person, and I kinda always wish I was.  :( 

I wrapped up the evening at Tacos 4 Life with my mom and two of her best friends.  We were celebrating her "resignment"/retirement!  It was nice to sit and visit with grown ups...REAL grown ups at that!  I'm just thankful they let me tag along! ;)

We've got a busy weekend ahead, but a FUN one.  Here's to doing spontaneous things last minute! ;)

our labor day weekend

Now that we have all had a week and a few days to recover from the three day weekend, I can breath! ;)  

Pooh asked us to come up to the lake with her for the weekend...even though it was Thursday night at like 11:30 PM, we said YES!!  and I'm so glad that we did!  =)

Traffic...on the Friday before Labor Day!  GEEZ!

As a thank you for always letting us come stay...I picked up some Maggie's Cookies.  You can't go wrong there! :P

Here are some flashbacks of R at the lake before we get to this year!

[2011-1.5 years old]

[2012-2.5 years old]

[2013-3.5 years old]

We are so blessed to have been able to go at least once a summer to have fun on Pawpa Rick's boat--and I hope the tradition continues! 

Eating dinner out on the patio...quesedilla and grapes and blueberries of course!

For Labor Day weekend the lake was very calm!  I think it was because the weather man had called for it to rain AND the Razorbacks were playing!--GOOD for us!!

Look how cute they are together!  These two have way too much fun together!

We went to a local ice cream shop that makes their ice cream in house and it was seriously AMAZING!  I saw this poster there and just feel in love...and am so thankful that I have had someone to help me fall in love with this city! 

We came home on Sunday and R was off to his dad's and Mimi's and I had a coffee date with Stuart and Jackson (my cousin and his friend)!  I am so glad they make the trip to town for coffee with me! ;)  I graded papers and they worked on some homework!  

Ryder went out to ANOTHER lake with his dad and had a blast!!  How fun does that lilly pad look!  I wanna play! 

...and he was out catfishin' as well!  Doing what boys do best!

I got him back on Monday and we had to stop at Targ to get me some coffee!!  DUH!  He also asked me to take his picture on top of the water!  Ha!

When we got back to KeeKee and Poppy's....Poppy had a surprise for Ryder waiting for him!  His first set of camo clothes to go DOVE HUNTING the next weekend!  You have NO idea how excited that little boy was!!!

What a fantastic and blessed weekend we had! 

catfishin' with poppy

Ryder got to go catfishing for the first time a few weekends ago with Poppy.  They went to one of Poppy's childhood friend's house out of town and caught some big ones!  Some R couldn't even reel in himself!  They both got some sun and had a blast!

big cedar [cuatro]

Last update from vaca!  Wahoo!  

Truman's Coffee House was my go to spot for the week! 

The morning air was so crisp and beautiful!  I loved being away from everyone to soak in the view and some of His goodness!

After visiting the marina and doing their thing...Poppy & and R came and found me at the coffee shop.  Again, the weather was just too perfect--it couldn't have been any better!  We enjoyed some breakfast together and then we were off to let R ride a pony! 

He has ridden horses before but he still enjoyed this ride!  He even picked out a shirt that has his horses' picture on it as a keepsake! 

It wasn't the best day to go swimming because it was a bit chilly, but we wanted to enjoy this beautiful view!

We enjoyed lunch by the pool which was very relaxing!  Then Poppy and R were off to ride jet skis (I wasn't up for it)...and just read some more by the pool!  

 And of course we all had to squeeze in a nap before our dinner reservation at Devil's Pool!

It was a fantastic vaca and I can't wait for us to go back...and neither can Ryder! ;)