8:15
8:45
I guess it’s a good summer?!
Category Archives: Kids
Cutie at the pool.
Such a drama queen.
So Katie has been playing with friends since about 11am. Within 5 minutes of her getting home at 6, and being asked to finish unloading the dishwasher (one of her few household chores), she started being snotty to me, asking WHY she had to unload the dishwasher and why *I* never did it. She kept being snotty and we warned her to watch her tone or she would go to her room. Her response was “NO. I WILL NOT GO TO MY ROOM.”
So I reached out to her shoulders to turn her around toward her room, and Miss Drama Queen flings herself to the ground and starts screaming at me for throwing her. 🙄
Tom came over to get her up to her room and I tell her that we don’t need this drama queen attitude and as she is stomping up the stairs and slamming her door, she screams I AM NOT A DRAMA QUEEN. 😂😂 Yes, I burst out laughing.
Is it time for them to go back to school YET? PLEASE?
This is how she walks with me.
Well, sometimes anyway. Some days it’s pure whining about how tired she is and it’s soooo far.
Successful coaches party!
We wanted to have a party but inviting the whole team seemed overwhelming so we just invited the coaches and team mom. And it was awesome! Everyone was able to come (minus one kid who had a sleepover already planned) and we all had a great time! The party didn’t break up until midnight!!
It’s not a margarita and I’m surviving! Go me!!
Tom making the other guys want a smoker and a flame thrower. Mark was even Instagramming it!! 😂
And of course, fireworks.
This might have happened late in the evening.
2019 Cardinals are headed to championships this week!!
The day was gorgeous, Katie was cute as a button, and I had my real camera, so we’ll start with a few pics of her.
Some of the coaches!
The best place to try and get pics (since I can’t be on the field) is beyond the first base in the outfield. Telephoto to the rescue! I love in the first pic you can seem him looking at Tom!
Pitching!
Getting a pep talk from Coach Dad!
Warming up for the next inning. I finally just went and stood in the dugout to get a few closeup pics.
This is what Katie does for most of the game!
Batter up! (He got walked.)
We won! Now we are off to the first round of championships!!
This is a good distance right now.
😂 After all her antics today, it was just fine that she decided to sit there. I actually told her she could come closer to me but she didn’t want to.
So, here’s my morning thus far. Subtitled: I AM DONE.
I leisurely woke up and watched a Facebook live mindset that left me feeling happy and relaxed and ready to start the day. I went downstairs to see the kids, and…everything went to shit.
I will leave out all the gory details because this would be a novel otherwise, but suffice it to say no one did anything they were supposed to do, both have unbelievable attitudes, both get on each other’s nerves over the simplest thing, and I have a 10yo who overreacts to EVERYTHING (without warning) and 7yo who likes to argue EVERYTHING and swears she’s not rolling her eyes when she totally is.
And I can’t have a margarita.
SUMMER VACATION, YAY?! TELL ME I AM NOT ALONE.
FRIENDS, IT’S ACCOUNTABILITY TIME.
Most of you know I lost a lot of weight a few years ago. And it was mostly easy–141 pounds in 1.5 years eating whatever I wanted with just walking as my exercise? Sign me up! And I swore I’d never let myself get that heavy again. But friends, maintenance is a slippery slope and a few pounds here and there add up. No, I am not back to my original weight, but I have gained back an embarrassing amount. 🤦♀️
I have tried to restart a handful of times now–and have lost like 10# each time–but I always went back to my bad habits pretty quickly. I mean, MARGARITAS, y’all…and all. the. food. all. the. time. And I mean ALL the food.
But, shit got serious when my pants went past just being tight and actually stopped fitting. Like can’t even get them on to zip them. Since I had followed Naturally Slim rules, I had gotten rid of all my bigger sizes so I wouldn’t be tempted to let myself get back to that size…so it was yoga pants, leggings, and maxi skirts for me! But then I remembered that I had actually kept like 3 pair of jeans in one size up…so those are now in my closet.
BUT NOT FOR LONG!
Tom and I have BOTH restarted Naturally Slim again. We are on Day 5 and I am currently down 10.2 pounds! (Man oh man do I love the first week back on the plan!) And I have walked every morning (with the kids!) this week.
So, I did it once…I can do it again. I simply have to. I have too many damn cute clothes in my closet that I want to wear again!! 😜
Post-baseball treats!
No more Ladder Ball
We bought a cheap Ladder Ball set and it falls apart really easily so the kids have taken to using the parts and pieces for their own games.
I gave in to painting her face.
I am not the best artist but she really wanted to use her face paints so I finally agreed.
She did two rainbows on my arms so I did one on her.
Then did some emojis and a lady bug.
Milwaukee-bound, Day 2
My friend Anna invited us to go to a kid museum in Milwaukee today so why not? It’s only an hour away. The kids got McDonald’s on the way in the car so they were excited about that.
Turns out it was mostly for really young kids, but all ours said they had fun…
Being a sportscaster—for all of 4 seconds.
Owen did like the baseball section—he got to time his run for stealing a base, play catcher for some little kids, practice pitching at a screen for accuracy, and batting at a screen to see if he could hit a home run.
There was a Scrabble exhibit with a huge board…but it made me twitchy because it wasn’t a real board with the correct number of squares or bonus color squares in the right spots.
Then some of the kids put on a puppet show.
And then made some cool things out of biodegradable packing peanuts.
Then they had some fun on the bridge waving to the cars driving below.
And A&W ice cream on the way home.
A family adventure to the Milwaukee zoo!
Tom took some time off (the days he previously asked for for the family vacation that I screwed up) and we decided to go to the zoo!
The Lego dinosaur exhibit! (For an extra $3pp of course!)
This was life size! It was like 5′ long!
Also life size!
If you look closely in the foreground you’ll see a bloody stump of a leg.
Cool Lego ferns in stone.
It was really hard to get me and the dino in the same lighting to see us both, so here are two versions.
Katie could fit inside one dino footprint.
Dino family!
Katie always wants to get her face painted so we finally agreed.
So then we offered it to Owen but he opted for a tattoo!
So while the kids were getting this done, we decided to grab a snack—so Tom walked to get himself a beer and some loaded fries for us to share. Well, then we came upon more food, so the kids had to make a decision because they were sharing it.
And then we walked some more and HOLY SHIT BEER ON TAP?! Then Tom had to make a decision. 😂
He opted for the Coconut Porter and got me an adult root beer float.
And it was right next door to Ooz, and now the kids wanted food, so… Katie got mac and cheese, Owen got BBQ pork mac and cheese, and we all shared some cheese curds.
Wording gets me.
Full of cheese…
And then we walked past a caricature booth and I decided we had to do it. Tom and I had one done probably 20 years ago and I’ve been wanting to do one with the kids but it’s expensive (like $15 per head). But we decided since we were splurging, why not?
So Tom and I sat down and we obviously couldn’t see what she was doing but she was drawing away. So 15 minutes later when it was time to switch to the kids and we saw what she was drawing…we both looked at each other like (pardon the language but it’s fully deserved) WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?! (I’ve photoshopped it a bit to make sure you can see her drawings.)
On what planet is that a caricature?! Was she serious? Were we on candid camera? Were we being punked? That thing was hideous. So Tom and I were talking quietly about what we were going to do and I said I was definitely NOT paying for it, but of course it would be awkward to say something. We let her go a few more minutes but then I just told her to stop because that was NOT a caricature and it was NOT what we wanted and we would NOT be paying for it. She was kind of surprised and tried to tell us that it would look different after she put color on it. Sorry, no. We figure maybe she was a face painter (the booth did both) but we were just aghast that she thought what she was doing was fine.
So that was a huge waste of time and a big disappointment because I had really wanted one. There were other booths that we had passed but didn’t want to go back and find one. And I am still debating emailing them to let them know about her pathetic attempt.
The zebras cracked me up. They had a huge enclosure but they were waiting at the door—so we guessed that’s how they got fed. I thought they looked like Maggie or the cats waiting for us to feed them. We probably watched them for five minutes and they just stood there waiting.
There’s always money in the banana stand! (Confused?)
And then we let the kids play in the farm area playground and then we were on our way home. We did see animals but they didn’t do anything exciting so no pictures. 😄
Someone is old enough to get his own ID!
He doesn’t really need one, though, so we took our time getting it. It’s really just something else I have told hold on to (because he’ll lose it). 😂 The worker was impressed that he signed his name in cursive!
School is officially over and summer has officially started!!
Had the kids stayed in school, today would have been their first full day of vacation. Against my better judgment, I decided to take them to the pool after we unpacked and ran a few errands. Ugh. WTF was I thinking on the first day of no school when it’s finally 80°? 🤦🏻♀️
Too many people. No seats in the shade but lots of shaded seats taken up with bags and towels. The kids didn’t pack a towel for me so I’m sitting on Katie‘s towel on the ground in the shade and ants keep crawling all over me. Am I having fun yet?
I guess this is my repayment for being a good mom?!
And it only took a matter of HOURS for me to be annoyed by the kids. 🙌🏻 What do I win?
They were complaining that we were leaving the pool early. REALLY? After I had told them we weren’t staying long? And after I just took you on a five day vacation to a house WITH AN INDOOR POOL where you got to do whatever you wanted and eat whatever you wanted and play with your cousins then we came home and I TOOK YOU TO THE POOL!! But that’s apparently not good enough. 🤦🏻♀️
So I went to Sam’s Club and bought them their summer workbooks. Ha. I’ll show them. 😂
How’s your summer going so far?
Vacation house, Day 4
Filipeks and Coes left super early this morning because they had a long drive and had to be back for work Monday. So that meant it was just the Hudson and Schwalm clans.
Katie was trying to sneak the flower crown on Gramma.
Look at this gorgeous little flower girl. I can feel the hearts breaking already.
They had so much fun with the “breakout box” that they played with it again this morning.
Someone finally got a bath!! I only had my body wash with me but once you turned the jets on it was bubbles galore!!
When Schwlams were leaving it was a bit rainy so we decided to look in the landscaping rocks for Petoskeys…we didn’t think we’d really find any, even though I had already found one. Mom thought it was random luck—like someone tossed one out there. So I went out and proceeded to find one within about two minutes. And then found more! I can find them anywhere!!
And then I found this, which I had no idea what it was. I posted on a Petoskey forum and was told it was a great Rugose Horn Coral colony.
There was also more pool time, of course. But also lots of time playing Peggle with Gramma. 😄
Vacation house, Day 5
Our last full day!!! Of course there was more pool time…
And Katie’s dive got a little better.
But maybe the best part was that I got to read a whole book in one sitting!
Vacation house, Day 3
Random pics aplenty!
Cousin Gabby made some gorgeous flower crowns.
Kathryn and Izzy tried some lipstick!
Filipeks made an awesome taco bar for lunch and ice cream bar for dessert!!
We spent the afternoon chatting on the deck and then dinner was delicious cheesy shrimp and grits!
And then the annual pics!
Cousins!
The kids, then and now.
Aunt Marie put together an amazing escape room/box for the kids. They had a blast!
Then there was card playing and video games.
Vacation house, Day 2
We were sleeping in an awesomely dark and quiet basement room so combined with a late bedtime, we all slept in! I was up at 7:30 (technically 6:30 CST) and just waited for either kid to wake up. Owen finally got up about 8:30! I stayed in bed to enjoy the quiet and when I finally came upstairs, this is where I found Owen.
And I decided to have a fully relaxing no makeup day.
The kids spent most of their day in and out of the pool. Spending time with Uncle Jim was super fun and they even had a cannonball contest!
While the kids were (still) in the pool I got some work done. Not a bad view.
The kids were finally out of the pool and playing hide and seek while we were getting dinner ready. Uncle Marcus and Uncle Jim we trying to confuse Katie as she counted.
The birthday kids!
And tonight was a campfire and sparkler night!
And it was a momentous night—Katie actually asked to go to bed!!!
Vacation house, we are in you.
The kids really wanted to get in the pool the minute we got to the house but I was a mean mom and made them look through the house first and then actually put their suitcases in a bedroom and not just leave them splayed open in the middle of the living room.
Watching intently as I opened the pool cover.
It’s like this pool house knew I was coming.
They might already be in the pool and I might have bought them an inflatable unicorn. 🦄💦
Ahhhhh.
We had a bit of time before everyone else got here. It was quite a steep journey to the water and fire pit.
Dinner tonight was shish kebabs from the Coes. They were delicious!
IF THE DINOSAURS CAME BACK, THEY WOULD TAKE ME TO MCDONALD’S.
I am not sure I could love elementary artwork any more than this. Oh who am I kidding, I love most everything she brings home.
And if you look on the far left bottom corner… McDonald’s!!
The last day of 1st and 4th!
This is what happens when you give your 10yo the phone to try and take a pic on their last day of school. 😂
It looks like all smiles and laughs but we parents all know the day is bittersweet as we’re reminded just how quickly time passes and how lightning fast they are growing up. Weren’t they just in diapers a few months ago? Weren’t they just getting on the bus for the first time? Before you know it they’ll be graduating and moving out and getting married. 😭
These are the feelings I’m going to try and remember this summer when they are making me crazy with 1000 snack requests and whines of “I’m bored.” And I’m going to try and take in each moment and relish the fact they’re still actually little kids. 🥰
First and last days of school. The district actually has three more days due to snow days but we had a family reunion vacation planned for months so today is it for them. We also had a Katie outfit change with lots of drama because she’s ALMOST SEVEN and everything is filled with drama. 😂🤦🏻♀️
We ran into a dwarf lilac bush!
Today was a good day. We ran into a dwarf lilac bush that had such a strong scent I could smell it across the parking lot. As I got closer I closed my eyes and just stopped and slowly inhaled…and was instantly transported to my Michigan childhood home. It was a warm summer afternoon and I was playing in the front yard with the neighbor kids. The lilac bush was right in the center and was easily twice as tall as I was and probably 20′ around. We’d run circles around that thing trying to catch each other. My mom would cut branches off and bring them in the house so we could smell it all night long—and if we were lucky they’d last another whole day.
Sigh.
My mom still lives there but the lilac bush is long gone…but the memory of it will never fade.
What smells take you back to your childhood?
And thanks to the scissors I carry in my car this time of year…
We’ve come a long way!
She just mentioned yesterday that her tooth was kinda wiggly. Just now she said it was bothering her and she wanted to pull it out. I thought she was being silly. She took a Kleenex and came back in about 30 seconds with a new hole in her face! No tears, no whining, plus blood!
Two pruny and happy kids!
Of course each kid found a friend there within 10 minutes. I barely saw them the whole two hours we were there.
Cats laying on shoes, part 32.
So you think there’s no shoe? Look again.
Lunch with Katie, Grade 1
I’m amazed the kids have time to eat anything with all the talking and messing around they do. 😂 (That said, I’m not sure how much was a show for us and how much was regular behavior.)
Tom and I don’t eat—we had plans to go to Kenosha for lunch since he had taken the whole day off!!
Do your kids argue with you about the literal time?
It will be 7:58 and I will say “It’s 8 o’clock so blah blah blah” and the first thing I hear back is a somewhat snotty “IT’S NOT 8:00.”
C’mon kid. We’ve gone over this 50 times.
But when I specifically ASK what time it is, suddenly she can’t tell time.
A regular appt today—nothing broken. Yay!!
