Salt Springs/ Suns Game

Summertime is here...let's go to the Springs! Summertime is here....let's go to a Suns game!   I say this every year. Since Billy has worked six days a week and ten hour days, it's never happened.
This summer greeted us with several changes. One was Billy's schedule now that he is working for RaceSmith. After a very long week working Billy mustered up the energy to continue our (my) summer bucket list and we conquered both the Springs and the Suns game.

Things we learned at Salt Springs:
1. The water is perfectly clear, has lots of fish of various sizes, and is ALWAYS 72 degrees. And 72 degrees is cold.
2. While traveling with our minivan full of kids, know ahead of time you need to pay per head. And know ahead of time you need to bring flotation devices so the gang isn't using you as a flotation device.
3. Walking on algae covered rocks are slippery.
4. The boil is the giant hole where water comes out of the ground. Kids will want to swim over it. And if you are brave enough to hide behind a kid, you can put on kiddie goggles, cling to the rock, and stick your face underwater to see this amazing sight.
5. Try to hike miles through the woods in 95 degree weather BEFORE going in the 72 degree spring.

Things we learned at the Jacksonville Suns Game:
1. 50cent Family Feast Night means hot dogs for everyone. It's time to try out how fun it is to crack open peanuts. And by the time we are ready for dessert, the Moo Bars will melt, and possibly, no probably land on the ground and Liam will try to grab them.
2. We should bring a pads of paper and pens for the girls. What was I thinking leaving home without that stuff? They were entertained by Daddy's quizzes about the players and the game. They had fun reading stats. No, seriously.
3. No matter how many babies you see falling asleep as the innings go on, Liam will not be one of them. Mommies walk around the stands with strollers and peaceful babies. Liam sat up in constant wonder high-fiving all the guys watching the game.
4. Realize that Billy will leave early if the game stinks, but if the game keeps him on the edge of his seat, like this one, we will stay for. the. entire. game.
5. Don't worry about Eric being fidgety. He will stay seated for all 9 innings in hopes of getting a foul ball. Thank you No.9 from the Chattanooga Look Outs for giving that ball to Eric after the game.

How could I forget to mention the crazy man at Salt Springs "playing" with the alligator who was swimming near us? Only in Florida.

The end of July

1. Papers with kids drawings, sticky syrup from pancakes, the contents of little girl purses, baseball cards, guitar picks, craft supplies, over ripe produce, fort supplies galore, piles of pool towels, library books, friendship bracelets, flip flops, far less house work time, much more learning and fun time.

2. Laid back schedule: Liam gets to nap when he wants, pretty much. Kids still sleep in with an occasional 7am appearance.

3. Half hour of screen time has been upgraded. Now the kids get some extra time for Mario Super Sluggers and Just Dance. As long as they are sweaty, it's okay :)

4. The kids play in the pool. When told. Not so much like in the beginning of the summer when they would play for hours and hours and be forced to get out.

5. We are trying to cram in the last of the summer bucket list adventures: The Springs, a Jax Suns Game, Aunt Amy's house, Orlando Science Center, more beach, more cookouts...oh the time crunch!!
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6. You know that Sunday night feeling in your gut: Monday is coming. I must get ready, but-I-don't-wanna. That's the end of July. August is coming. School is almost here.

7. School supply sales. My thoughts: The children use a fraction of what we buy. Some are given to others students who run out and then the teachers give some back at the end of the year. Like partially filled notebooks...guess who's ripping out those pages and sending them in a second year...this mom.

8. School shoes. Oh what fun it is to go shoe shopping...yeah right. Too expensive, too fancy, too gawdy. I usually scope out resale shops first...but try to find the right size and style is like playing Where's Waldo again. Thankfully we are the warm season so no new clothes are needed until November.

9. It's starting to occur me to that for the first time EVER, I will be home with a baby by myself. Still trying to absorb that. The kid doesn't even talk yet. LOL. Seems to me that it's a good time to start researching middle school curriculum. That's right. We are going to that strange homeschool family in couple of years.

10. <Home Video>. (Okay, here's where you imagine the video the kids and I made on my Kindle. ~We sing "Summertime Blues" with sounds effects and everything.~ I have no idea how to upload it to my blog. I'm ashamed to say I tried for almost an hour to no avail.)

Basics

When Billy and I were married, we lived in a one bedroom apartment in Lynchburg, VA and we shared a Sam's Club membership with his college buddy. That was stupid.
Last month after being married for ten years and after having five kids we got another Sam's Club membership. That makes sense. Oh how that kids eyes lit up touring each aisle. The giant sized cheese balls impressed the girls. No we didn't get them. And Eric was under the impression that bulk sized junk was our only mission while we were there.
Most of all they loved the pizza and ice cream. And we loved the cheap prices for our dinner-dessert-bulkshopping adventure.

The next day we went to the farmer's market and got loads of fruit. And then with all five into tow we moved onto Publix for odds and ends and weekly sales. So we should be stocked up on food. For now.

After all that food shopping I come away amazed at the blessings of God. Both necessity and luxury. We have so many choices down each aisle. The cold food is cold. The packaged food is well stocked.

At Publix Eric counted six people who pointed out that fact that I had five kids with me. And yes, they are all mine. Mixed reactions though. Some shuttered. Some told me how blessed I was. I believe those people.

Children and food to feed them. With daily frustrations and challenges. Jesus, help me not to complain. Simple bounty overflows here.

My mom told me in H.S. when I had writer's block, JUST WRITE

{To the tune of Ten Little Indians} January, February, March, April, May, June... these are all the months I didn't blog. ...July, August, September, October, November, December. These are the months of the year. And these are the months I hope to continue this digital scrapbook adventure. Sure, believe when you see it.