Busy...who us?

Portland

So lately I find myself answering the question "So, how have you been?" with a single word. Busy. And it's usually yelled back over my shoulder as I'm running off to wherever the tiny humans and I are headed.

With two kids and only one of me, we have "scheduled" activities 5 out of 7 days. And that is with each kid having only 1 activity. Braden is playing soccer this fall and Amelia is taking dance. I'm in a kickball league (because obviously that is what grown ups do…), so Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (church), Thursday, and Sunday afternoons/evenings are all scheduled. That usually leaves Friday night for snuggle time on the couch and Saturday often times is such a blur I can't begin to imagine how we fit it all in.

 

B and Jax at VBS

But what isn't said after the "busy", is that we're good. I've always been a person on the go. I enjoy living life at a busy pace. And I've been incredibly blessed with children who either have no choice in the matter so they go along to get along, OR they actually enjoy the frenzied pace that I keep, too.

 

Zipline at a friend's house

Kids on the plane to Florida

I like to think it is the latter. Especially when I hear folks telling me that "they don't know how I do it" or "you only get them this age for a little while"… Well, why do you think we're doing all of this stuff? I'm not saying there is anything wrong with the family that sits at home and enjoys a slower paced life with each other. That just isn't our family. And my kids and I have plenty of quality time together. 90% of the time we eat dinner at the table together every night (ok, sometimes they are at the table and I am leaning over the sink eating while I'm also trying to clean the kitchen before dance class, but we still talk about our day so I feel like it still counts). Every Saturday and Sunday, no matter what we're doing the kids climb into bed with me and we watch Disney Jr. for an hour before beginning our day. I ready to my kids. Every night (ok – we'll go 90% here, too).

 

Sea World San Antonio

But, my kids and I have also had some amazing adventures over the past 2 1/5 years that I wouldn't trade a moment of. I'll attempt to recap what we did this summer since apparently the last blog I wrote (before the date blog, which by the way went well!) was in February 2012.

 

2013 AR Travelers

Ok, so our summer was full of baseball. We spent an average of 1 night per week from April – August at Dickey Stephens Park watching the Travelers play. I've got more game balls piled up in various corners of my house than I remotely know what to do with. What can I say? Amelia had the bullpen wrapped around her little finger. We got to know the staff, players, and made some great memories along the way. Amelia also had an awesome trip to the ER during one game, but like I said, we live an exciting life.

Memphis Zoo

In May I took my first mom only vacation in a moment. I went to Portland to visit Ross and Amie for a week. It was amazing. No other words. And I love my kids, but thank god that they didn't go with me. I barely survived the 9 hours of travel time, so I'm almost certain someone would have gone out the side hatch had they been with me. Memorial Day weekend was spent in Memphis with my friend Jessi and her daughter Hannah (who is Amelia's age). In a little over 36 hours we drove to Memphis, did the zoo, Children's Museum, Beale Street, Peabody Hotel, swam and drove home.

Braden at baseball camp

Dolphin Tour in Florida

In comes June, which brought more baseball and vacation bible school. B went to two in one week and loved them both.  Can't wait til sis is old enough to go and I'll get a 2 hour break for 4 nights… What will I ever do with myself? Braden also went to the Bryant Hornet baseball camp. He also played baseball again this spring with his best friend Jaxon. We also did a rotating dinner club with about 10 other families every Wednesday night. I seriously think that might have been one of my favorite parts of summer. We got a lot closer to a lot of friends and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Wild River Country

July was kind of a blur…but a great one. We spent a week in San Antonio with mom and Larry and my aunt flew in from Florida. We spent the majority of our time at Sea World or in mom's pool. Sea World was beyond amazing! Kids loved it, I loved it. Highly recommend to anyone who has a chance to go! Drove to Texas, but stopped in Dallas both ways to the drive wasn't too bad.

Amelia at her first movie

Home for a week so, Braden got to go to his first summer camp in July. He went to a week of RiverCity gymnastics summer camp. Loved it! Little bit took swim lessons. She sinks less now, so I guess that's good? I also took Amelia to her first movie, Monster's University. Epic fail. She was kind of terrified of the giant centipede thing. Then we took off to visit my aunt in Florida. I was scared because I was flying by myself with the kids, but I could not have asked for an easier journey! Kids and I had a blast at the beach and just kind of took it easy and enjoyed each other.

Kids in Branson

August ushered in what I had predetermined to be our "get back in school mode", but ended up being my "suck every last ounce of summer of out this month" month. More baseball, Wild River Country, quick trip to Branson with friends, open house for Kindergarten, and did I mention baseball? August also brought Braden's first day of Kindergarten (I'll brag on how great he's doing in another blog)! We've become Bryant Hornet fans so of course we attended the Blue/White game.

Braden's first day of school at Hurricane Creek Elementary

September has been a blur of baseball (I know...you get the picture!), parades, school, dance, soccer, Razorback parties, running,

Birchtree 1 mile race

and oh yeah, my kid rode a sheep. 

Kids at the fair - pre sheep riding

So…there's also the whole I work full time, but that in a nutshell is what we've been up to. We're healthy and happy, and yes, we're good. Sometimes we're tired, but we're always good. Thanks for asking. 

Kids and my first Razorback tailgate at War Memorial