Play-Learn-Grow-Repeat

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Finally, this week was the big eclipse. We all saw totality photos and videos. But if you ask those people who saw it in person, there are simply no words to describe it. We live a few hours away from the path of the totality, but we had a 97% total eclipse here without driving anywhere. Our kids had school, so we stayed home. Fortunately, we checked them out after lunch, in time for the eclipse.

In a rare moment of foresight, my husband purchased certified eclipse glasses weeks before the retailers ran out. He also made a pinhole camera with a pizza box, which projected the solar eclipse on the ground for people to see without glasses. My kids had lessons in science class to prepare them for the event, and my husband gave a great bonus lecture throughout the event.

We went to our neighborhood pool and watched the eclipse with our neighbors and their kids. It was a wonderful experience for our kids, and even the adults were impressed. The temperature dropped, the shadows danced, and the sun faded to only 3% of its regular brightness. It was pretty amazing. My only regret is that we missed the “totality” only a few hours away. Our friends who made the drive were rewarded with an even more spectacular view. If we ever want to see a totality again we are going to have to drive or fly MUCH farther away.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Jack started a new soccer season this week. I signed him up for a skills camp, like he did last year. The players have practice every night this week, and then play a mini tournament on Saturday. They learn all kinds of new skills and techniques during the week and show them off during their tourney.

Jack loves playing soccer. He has improved immensely over the last few years. My husband and I love cheering for him and his team at games. The games get intense and so does Jack. This isn’t the little Jack who used to stop kicking the ball and wave hello to his mommy anymore. With soccer come speed, aggression, and fancy footwork in his age group.

This season, Jack moved up an age group. When I watched him practice the last several nights, I can tell he is frustrated. He told me the other kids are “so much better” than he is. Jack is definitely feeling the pressure to compete with the older kids who have more experience. We discussed the importance of staying positive and practicing his heart out. Jack is the type of kid who feels defeated if he doesn’t get it right the first time. He is a competitive perfectionist who gets deflated when he isn’t. As a parent, I try to be supportive by encouraging him, and helping him realize gradual improvements through practice.

I hope Jack’s enthusiasm for soccer survives this season. I know he will do well with practice and coaching, I just hope Jack feels the same way. Competition is not easy.  Jack’s hard work today, in stifling heat and humidity, will pay off this season. I just want to see a smile back on Jack’s face sooner rather than later.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Jack and Tate went back to school this week. Jack is in 5^th grade and Tate is in 2^nd. The boys didn’t want their summer vacation to end. However, once they saw all their friends on the first day, and met their new teachers, they were excited for the new school year to begin.

Jack and Tate were bummed they had homework on the first day, but I was happy to see them knock it out as soon as they got home from school. They each had a few “All about me” homework activities, which are a fun way to start the year off. Introducing yourself to your new class and learning about others makes it easier to make new friends.

It is always interesting to watch Jack and Tate grow. My first-born is in the top grade of his elementary school, 5^th grade. Middle school is right around the corner. I can vividly remember his first day of Kindergarten like it was yesterday. The years are fleeting. Tate is already learning that 2^nd grade comes with a lot more responsibility. I’m trying to teach him organizational skills with hopes it will help keep him focused. I think he is up for the challenge of a new grade.

I look forward to another school year. As much as I love spending fun summer days with the boys, it’s nice to be back on a schedule and fall into a new routine. I hope your new school year is a great one.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Jack and Tate have made some great friends in our neighborhood over the last year. There are a bunch of kids on our street. They all get along and play daily. The doorbell rings constantly with kids asking to play. This is everything we wanted when picking out our neighborhood.

Jack and his friends love to have sleepovers. They pack their pajamas and pillows, and they play games, watch movies, make forts and sleep in them. The parents all take turns hosting the boys. They are great kids. My husband was even impressed at how well behaved they are.

The hard part of sleepovers is that Tate feels left out. Tate and his friends are still a little young to really feel comfortable with sleepovers. Most parents feel the same way, which we completely understand. Jack likes to have time with his friends, since they’re older, without having his little brother around constantly. Tate doesn’t like this idea and feels left out. We’re trying to explain to him that his day will come soon enough, and Jack will give him his space. We also try to do special things with Tate while Jack is gone since we get the one on one time.

Our kids are growing up, but Jack will always be three years older than Tate. I’m sure this will not be the last time that age creates conflict. As the youngest of three girls, I know how tough it can be watching older siblings participate in fun events. Tate will eventually come around. For now, I will enjoy bed time stories, hugs, and kisses from Tate every night.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Our busy summer is winding down. We enjoyed our time visiting family over the last two weeks. Now we are home, relaxing for the last few weeks of summer break before another busy school year starts. However, even when we try to relax, we still seem to be busy. I guess we all want to fit in as much fun as possible in the next couple weeks.

The summer heat has finally set in. It is 80 degrees before mid- morning and in the upper 90’s by mid-afternoon, almost every day. The heat is really putting a damper on any outdoor activities. Even early mornings at tennis camp are hard on the boys this week. Their instructor does his best to keep them excited with games, drills, and lots of water breaks.

Afternoons at the pool are a staple in our neighborhood. Unfortunately, even the pool has fallen victim to the heat. The water temperatures are warm now. Unless we get a cool night or a heavy rain the pool isn’t as refreshing as it was a month ago. Even with the warm water temps, the pool is still fun, especially for the kids and their neighborhood friends. If it’s too hot for tennis and riding bikes, the pool is still the place to be. I’m going to enjoy the last few weeks of vacation, even if its 99 degrees out.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
I spent last weekend sharing some quality time with high school girl friends at the beach to celebrate our 20th high school reunion. We had our toes in the sand and talked about our high school memories. We all keep in touch through social media and texting and we visit each other occasionally, whenever our busy schedules allow. We were all thankful our schedules aligned for a few days, and we could all catch up. We were also thankful for the husbands and grandparents that watched our kids and gave us the opportunity. 

I got home from the beach, just in time to say goodbye to Jack and Tate, again. Their paternal grandparents arrived to pick up the boys for few days of “Lake Camp.” Jack and Tate always look forward to “Lake Camp” and all the fun activities they get to do with their grandparents. I can’t wait to hear all about it.

As a stay at home mom, I rarely get a chance to get away by myself. I love the time I spend with my kids, but I can always use a break. I am thankful for supportive grandparents who are happy to help watch my kids. I miss my boys a lot, but sleeping in a few extra minutes and having some time to myself really help recharge my batteries. Once we are all back together, I will have more energy and a better perspective on how awesome my family is. 

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Today is Tate’s seventh birthday. We jokingly call him our “little firecracker.” Born the day after 4^th of July, Tate is our strong willed, big-hearted, silly guy that we love so much. He makes everybody laugh with his funny antics, but his spontaneity will keep you on edge. You never know what you’ll get with Tate, but you do know life won’t be boring.

Over the last seven years, I’ve had a lot of happy moments with Tate and a lot of challenging moments with Tate. He loves to cuddle on the couch and always gives me a goodnight kiss. He also knows how to push my buttons and test every behavioral boundary we set. As much as he can stress me out, this is our Tate and I love him, even when he pushes the limit. He has a lovable determination when he takes on a task. His focus is hilarious, and if he wants something he is a real go-getter.

I look forward to this year with Tate. He is growing up and turning into a big kid. He has his own opinions and ideas about things. He organizes play dates, and selling lemonade. Every day, he surprises me with a new joke, word, or experiment he tried. Tate makes me laugh out loud. I am blessed to have a kid who loves life the way he does. It’s been a great 7 years, and I look forward to many more birthday celebrations.

From Wednesday Mom – Jannelle:
Jack and Tate, like so many kids, are obsessed with the sticky, gloppy, gooeyness of slime. Although it can be messy, mixing just a few household ingredients makes a blob of entertainment that lasts for hours. My kids think it’s the greatest thing, especially on a rainy day.

We stayed with friends last week, and the oldest daughter showed us her personal slime collection. She has a plastic organizer tray with 12 different compartments and 12 different slime recipes. They’re all different colors. Some have glitter and foam balls inside. Some slime is thick and others are extra gooey. She is a serious slime maker, the way every great chemist takes pride in their work.

Before we came home, she helped Jack and Tate make their own batch to take home. We all loved how excited she was to teach us about her slime collection. My kids learned a lot, and my husband explained that they will learn even more in science and chemistry class in the years to come. Fingers crossed our carpet remains slime free.

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Over the last year, we made some minor improvements to our home…basic things like painting and replacing a few fixtures. We decided to splurge this year and install some wood floors and stain the existing ones to match. It is a large task, especially while living in the home.

We scheduled this project to coincide with our vacation, since the strong oil smell requires you to be out of your home. Well, with a moisture issue, and longer drying times than expected, and it’s delayed the process several days.

Our gracious neighbors offered their basement to us until it’s safe to get back in our house. We couldn’t be more thankful for their generosity. They have four girls of their own, so Jack and Tate are happy to be around friends.

I’m feeling a little impatient with this whole project, because all I want is to relax in my home after being gone for over a week. I feel badly about living with our friends for more time than I’d like. I know this isn’t the end of the world, and I’m lucky to have the opportunity to update our house. Jack and Tate, however, are handling the situation wonderfully. They have instant play dates and love the sleepover-like atmosphere. It sure does make my life easier when they’re content.

We hope to return to the house mid-week and carry on with our lives. I want the project to be done right, so I’m willing to uproot our lives for a few days. My hope is this will teach Jack and Tate a lesson that life has many hiccups, and you have to be flexible with the situation. I’m looking forward to new shiny floors and my own bed.

This week, we met my parents, my sisters, and their families at the beach. It is rare that all fourteen of us are together, spending time together. Our schools, sports, jobs, and distance make it almost impossible for us to be with each other as a large family. Needless to say, I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a long time.

The word of the week is relaxation; even with fourteen people under one roof. We are all escaping our personal hectic schedules. It is nice to relax with loved ones and ignore the stressors of day-to-day life. 

Our hilarious nephews/cousins are great together, despite their generational differences. Even if they are loud and crazy, their love is worth the volume. Ranging from a rising high school senior to a second grader, there are only a few times they will all be young together, and this week is one of them. 

Jack and Tate are newfound beach bums. They both have boogie boards and surf skills. Even with a few wipeouts, nothing is stopping them. Tate is on the lookout for sharks, and Jack promised he would scare them away. We’re taking advantage of the beautiful scenery on the bike trails. We even saw a few alligators on our ride. 

I’m glad to be with my fam in such a warm and fun environment. Beach week is a vacation for every generation, and I am happy we get the opportunity to spend it together.