Summer Bucket List: Spend the Night in a Tent

It took most of the summer, but we finally had a cool enough evening for the kids to spend the night in their tent.  Thankfully, my husband was willing to stay out with the big kids all night and I was able to stay inside with O.  I was a little nervous that the big kids might wake in the night and be afraid, but according to my husband, they slept soundly the entire night.

The tent all set up and waiting for darkness:

Night Time!

L and E were SO excited.  They gathered all their stuffed animals, snuggled into their sleeping bags, and were ready for a night of "camping."

E in her sleeping spot

L in his sleeping spot

O came to kiss them goodnight and pretended like he was going to sleep too.

Asleep:

They woke up in the morning as soon as the sun started shining, but it was a complete success.  My husband had difficulty sleeping, but the kids slept all night in the tent!  Check!

And a few days later, we added: Eat Lunch in a Tent to our Summer Bucket List too!

Summer Bucket List: The Zoo

On my Birthday this year, my husband took the day off of work and (after a trip to the dentist) we took the kids to the Nashville Zoo.  The weather was unseasonably PERFECT and it was the first time in several weeks that we were able to do something together as a whole family.  Pictures of the day:

This is how we roll!

My View

This goat kept trying to knock me over

A Serious Goat Brusher-- Two Brushes!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Growing up... too fast...

Two years ago, I posted about my son L's love and obsession with hockey (L's Hockey Obsession).  Back then, he lived hockey, breathed hockey, and played hockey all the time.  His face would literally light up when he saw the ice and nothing made him happier than to skate after a puck in all his gear.  My house was turned into a hockey rink and he basically lived in his roller blades and hockey equipment.  

Four Year Old L

My Four Year Old

His "tough face"

This smile... all.the.time.

His hockey smile!

Earlier this summer, L told me, "I want to play soccer instead of hockey this year."  I was not expecting it and I literally felt like I had been punched in the face.  Seriously?!  How could I not have noticed the sparkle disappearing from his face when he mentioned hockey?!  What happened to that little boy that wanted to be an NHL hockey player one day?!  Where did my little hockey obsessed boy with the smile plastered on his face go?!  What happened?!  How can he possibly grow up this fast!?!  "No! No!" I wanted to scream. "You have to love hockey for the rest of your life! You are my hockey boy! You have to always be my little hockey boy."  

I seriously wanted to cry, but somehow managed a smile. "Okay." I told him. "If you want to play soccer, we'll sign you up for soccer... and you can always play hockey again next year if you change your mind."

After next week's hockey camp, we'll close the door on ice hockey (for at least a year).  I'll admit, I did great, emotionally, when he transitioned to school, but letting go of hockey is going to be very hard.  I feel like he just grew up right before my eyes.  Wow, they really do grow up... too fast...

My six year old L

Summer Bucket List: Movie Theater

Over the 4th of July Holiday, we decided to take the big kids to see a movie in a theater.  I was a little concerned that my oldest would be too fidgety, but he was great.  That week they had watched the original Despicable Me three times, so I felt like Despicable Me 2 would be a good choice.  They absolutely loved it.  E sat in my lap for the first half (until my legs started going numb), and she nearly giggled herself off several times.  I am honestly not a big movie go-er (I've been to 3 movies now in the past 7 years), but I will admit I really did enjoy watching it with them (without distraction).

Despicable Me 2

E and her Daddy

L and his mama!

Happy 4th of July!

This was my kid's first rainy 4th of July.  The parade and inflatables in the little town nearby were cancelled, so we just spent the day hanging out at my parents house.  The kids played, the adults talked, and we enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs, and barbecue for both lunch and dinner. We finished off the night by watching some neighbors shoot off fireworks across the street.

O, on the way to his Grans with his flag

My mom (Gran) and her cake

The kiddos

My aunt and the little kids

O, E, and L

MY siblings

The Family

The safest way to watch fireworks!

TV fireworks!

Dancing

Flashback Friday:
July 4th, 2012:

July 4th, 2013: