Under the Big Top

So last night was our first EVER trip to the circus. 

The kids were so excited to go and a little crazy after school in anticipation!!

[our little circus]

We went down to the circus early for the preview show.

This allows up to get closer to the animals and watch small shows to get the kids excited for the main event.  

 

[clowns creep me out] 

Lil Miss was all amazed at the circus.  Of course, she had to wear her "circus" dress mommy made. 

During the preview show, we were on the floor up close and personal.  Bubba was amazed at the juggling and couldn't wait to get home to try it.   

[don't try this at home kids]

[daddy wasn't happy to share his cotton candy] 

[the elephants... mommy's favorite]

The best quote of the night comes from our Bubba. 

As the horse riders came out riding the backs of horses, he turns to me and says "that's why I need a horse, Mom!!!"  Really?  Between the horse riders, ninjas who jump through rings of swords and the motorcycle clan driving circles in a sphere, this momma better keep an eye out for dare devil behavior. 

  I kept finding myself staring at the kids and not at the show. 

The circus was as good as I had ever imagined, but to watch the fascination in

their eyes was priceless.  They kept asking if things were real.

"Are those tigers, real?"

"How is she hanging from the ceiling, Mom?"

"Is that a real dragon?"

We tried to explain everything to them, but they were completely in awe of the magic of the circus. 

 



What we've been doing...

So it's been asked a million times... what are you doing while the kids are in school?

Reflecting on the last 2 1/2 weeks, (it is crazy that the kids have been in school that long!)

I am so glad to say that I have been productive AND got some time to relax. 

I have three kids that are so excited to be in school so I can be at ease during school hours.

I have been able to get up in the morning and have a little "me" time either going on a run or for reading and journaling.  A much needed slow down of our busy life. 

The rest of the time we are busy living life...

[Lil Miss playing with all her toys]

[She keeps busy while we are running errands... even a trip to the bank]

Bubba had his first camp out with Cub Scouts recently.  The girls and I

visited them during the day, frog hunting and taking a hike.  Then, we left the boys after making smores and headed home to sleep in our own beds. 

[excited to sleep in a tent with daddy]

 [Family Game Nights]

 [annual dentist visit] 

 [picking flowers with mommy]

 [homework time... the important skill of using a dictionary]

[mommy/lil miss trips to froyo]

And when I am not having fun or running errands, I have been cleaning the house from top to bottom.  We had gone out and purchased a steam cleaner and have emptied every room to clean one by one. 

[its kept me busy]

 Once the room is clean, it is fun to put everything back in its place even if it is only there for a mere minute before the kid's destroy it.   My house isn't meant to be perfect though, it is meant to be lived in. 

 

And that is what we've been doing.  Three day weekend ahead... can't wait.

Back to School we go...

We made it through the first day. 

They were so excited and could hardly sleep so why was I so reluctant to let go of their hands to go to school today?  They were so happy and all smiles this morning but this momma was a little sad. 

Let me not forget lil miss either. 

She was completely distraught watching her brother and sisters walk into school. 

A dozen times she asked where they were throughout the day. 

 As I tucked my little Gigi in bed tonight she told me that she had wet eyes today.

I asked why and she said because she really missed me.

Awwww.

 {our second grader}

 {kisses from Lil Miss before she let them go}

 {our first grader - wasn't she just starting kindergarten?}

 

 {Our third grader}

 

Our neighbor saw us outside taking First Day photos and came over to see if I wanted in one.

Of Course!!  So this year mommy got in a pic with the kiddos. 

I wish I would have had enough time to do my hair but with excited kiddos waking up at 6 am that wasn't going to happen. 

 

 "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
 -Ferris Bueller 



Ain't no cure for the Summertime Blues...

T'was the night before school starts and all through the house,

not a creature is stirring.... and hope to God not a mouse! 

Everything is ready for the first day of school. 

Clothes are laid out, alarms are set, and camera battery is charging. 

I sit here soaking in the last few hours of summer before school starts once again.

It's been an amazing summer!

Just last week we spent the week in Ohio and made lots of great memories hanging out with family. 

{How many more people can fit on the merry-go-round?} 

{my dad's bike .... over 2000 miles}

Bike riding seemed to be the theme for the week. 

I cannot count how many "laps" the kids took around in Grandma Judy's driveway.  

The girls and I took our first country bike ride and took the familiar ride around the block that I did when I was young.  A lot has changed on our 3 mile stretch of road in 32 years, but grandma's bike hasn't. 

When the boys came over we had quite the crew.

We used our imaginations and made a gas station where they "filled up" their bikes, the gas prices were really low.  I also got out some of Grandpa's wrenches and created a bike repair shop in front of the garage. 

 

{they rode bikes forever} 

I hadn't played Yahtzee in a long time, and my shaking skills haven't gotten better, watching my mom and the kids play was priceless.  The week we were there we didn't do anything particularly exciting, in fact I didn't spend a cent all week except for gas. 

Slumber parties are the best!  My sister's boys stayed over grandma's house two nights in a row (my kids begged for them not to go!) and they all had a blast.   

There was some baking time. 

The girls got involved  in the grating process.  Zucchini shreds were all over grandma's kitchen, but she did her best to not clean up during the process.  

{ 1, 2, jump!}

 

We even went swimming in the pond which hadn't been swam in by the family for years. 

It was surprisingly not slimy and no fish attacked us.  After feeding fish at grandma's for years the girls were worried they were going to bite.

On Saturday we headed to Columbus to spend the day with our bride to be, Brooke.

The day was beautiful and the setting gorgeous. 

 

{the bride and her mother} 

{Lil Miss cozied up to her Aunt Beth and her baby bump}

 

{My brother's beautiful family}

Can't wait to celebrate with my niece at her wedding. 

Glad to have made these memories so I can look back and

cure my summertime blues. 

Better get to bed.... gonna have some excited kids tomorrow morning.

This momma better get some shut eye.