Final Summer Hoorah

Even though this weekend is technically the end of summer, we concluded it a little early last weekend by spending it at the lake with our friends the Wagers and the Pedens.

From the time they could drag us out of bed to slather them in sunscreen til the last rays of the sun had disappeared and we then dragged them in to eat the kids lived in the water.

They slid

and swam


and tubed
Riley and Chase, the lake experts, showing everyone how it is done.

Greyson commandeered the jet ski for most of the weekend...

The definition of windblown hair.

They were even brave enough to try water skiing. Greyson actually got up the very first time and Quinn was so close to being able to do it. I am so proud of them for trying and doing so well the first time ever.


But I think the highlight for them was surfing with Daddy. I don't know how he did it, but Raif managed to not only get himself up on the surfboard but Greyson and Quinn as well. Oh, did they have fun surfing behind the boat with Daddy and I think Raif had fun with them too.



To say the kids were exhausted Sunday night would be an understatement but the cranky children Monday morning were well worth the weekend adventures. As always thanks to both sets of Wagers for hosting us! See you next year!

Treasured Family Heirloom

When I was a little girl (about 7 or 8 I think), my grandfather took a trip to Japan and China and returned with a beautiful kimono for me. I spent countless hours playing dress up in it and it was one of my most treasured possessions. When I outgrew it my mother thoughtfully stashed it away in her cedar chest. Earlier this year she took it out, cleaned it up and brought it to me so that once Quinn grew up a little bit I could give it to her. Right now it is way to big for her and so we are storing it in a closet upstairs.

Yesterday while Quinn was reading she happened to stumble upon the word kimono in her book. After helping her sound it out I went and showed her the kimono that was waiting for her when she got older and told her all about it, who had gotten it for me and how special it was and how excited I was that someday she would get to play in it.

With that childhood voice filled with wonder she said "Oh Mommy, it is beautiful and someday when I outgrow it can I give it to my little girl?"

My touching "Awwww" moment of thinking about my granddaughter wearing my special kimono was cut short by the next phrase that came out of Quinn's mouth just a mere seconds later...

"Or I could sell it and buy some toys."

Ouch. I am think perhaps I should bequeath my sentimental items to Greyson.

Getting to Know You - Greyson Style

Greyson brought home his first batch of school work today. It was filled with all sorts of activities designed to have the kids get to know each other. Here is an example - Greyson did a little cut and paste activity where he cut out different pictures representing things he likes and doesn't like and pasted them in the corresponding columns. I found out two very interesting things from this activity. The first being that my son likes a lot of different foods and second apparently he only dislikes one thing.....

Me, Myself and I

So today I sent Quinn off to her first day of Pre-K, leaving me alone in the house for the first time in 3 months.

Last week, when it was just Quinn and I, we would sit at lunch and I would tell her how lonely I was going to be eating all by myself. The statement was partly true, I am going to miss our lunch time chats but I can't deny that I am looking forward to some concentrated alone time to get some projects done without a million interruptions.

Well my sensitive soul took my comments to heart and decided that something needed to be done so that her Mom wouldn't be too lonely. This was her idea...


A self portrait taped right to the chair so as I ate I could look at it and it would be just like looking at her while I ate. "You can even talk to it," she informed me. I guess I won't be alone after all.

First Day of Pre-K

Slice of Americana

I would say either at the end of winter or the beginning of spring, I read Charlotte's Web to the kids over several nights. Of course, they both loved the book, but Quinn was overly fascinated by the concept of the fair. She asked a million questions about it non-stop for several days, including all about the ferris wheel. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, we have a car dealership off the highway on the way to school that has a ferris wheel out front (don't ask me why) so I could even give a real life example. All of this fair talk culminated in the obvious "Mommy, can we go to a fair?"

Absentmindedly, I said "Sure."

"Now?"

"Sorry, sweetie but fairs generally only take place at the end of summer right when school is starting up." And so there I left it, thinking she would forget about it over the next 6 months or so. And she didn't bring it up again until about two weeks ago.

"Mommy, summer is almost over and I am starting school soon."

"True."

"So it is time for the fair!!"

"Huh??"

"Remember, you said when summer was over and school was going to start that fairs happened. And you promised to take me on a ferris wheel. Remember???"

Well crap. I did didn't I? A promise is a promise so my search for a fair began. The nearest fair had happened the week earlier and so we had a slightly further drive to get out to the Wilson County Fair which is also slightly more rural, if you get my gist.

So here are some scenes from last nights escapade at the Wilson County Fair.

We toured all of the livestock (cows, bulls, and sheep) and watched some of the barrel racing.

The kids bled us dry riding overly expensive rides, but amazingly did them all by themselves because Raif and I weren't going to pay $3 to ride in that little car with them.

View from atop the Ferris Wheel.

And well, you can't go to fair and not go see the Demolition Derby, can you?? That is 30 minutes of my life I will never get back.


Here is my social commentary of the day. Want to know why we have an obesity problem in this country? Because people eat crap like this... Deep fried Twinkies and Snickers?? Chocolate covered bacon on a stick?? My arteries clogged up just looking at the signs.

And while this was probably not what I would have chosen to do with my Friday night the kids had a blast. On the way home Quinn told me that she wanted to go back next year and well since we know she won't forget I guess we will be heading to the Wilson County Fair next year.

Greyson's First Day of School 2011