I am at the end of a marathon with the finish line in sight. You see, I don't care for hot weather or children with too much time on their hands, so summer is not my season. At least this summer the weather was on my side, 70's and breezy until recently, when it's turned hot just to further my excitement for fall. I am ready to retire my position as Summer Activities Director. This week my two oldest sons start school and fall is around the corner, which is to say, I've made it. I've made it.
As a special treat, and because I love to-do lists, here is the one I made at the beginning of summer. I'd like to remind you all that I have a new baby but also an ambitious 2 year old.
Scratch that! Who really wants to read my to-do list? It was only exciting in the beginning of summer. Instead, I'll give you what you really want:
Baby Photos:
Violet soaking up the sun.
Hanging out with her BFF.
The day I was taking these photos at the park (not the beach, I totally fooled you!), BFF came too and her mom just happened to have a newborn swimsuit with her in the car and I just happened to have an extra blond wig with me. I think at first her mother was -skeptical (repulsed?) by the idea of her precious daughter in a wig, but I think they were both happy with the results.
Next to show up was the girl's (beefy) friend S.W. He knew just how to position himself.
I am including this last image, that an (innocent) bystander snapped. I love how two moms are desperately arranging wigs on their newborns.
Funny, a new mom came to the park that day. She seemed ...surprised (impressed?) with babies in bikinis and wigs on a chilly day. "I didn't know they made wigs for babies..." "They don't!" I retorted, "they're medium sized dog wigs!!" (Thanks for the tip Juli.)
Recipes:
What says 'summer indoors' more than a Smore Cookie? First my friend Melinda made these and then I had to copy her like it was my original idea. They are so good it's dangerous. I can't say enough about how delicious they are. I find regular smores too sticky and frustrating.Recipe from Martha Stewart.
Gossip:
My sister Niki came for a visit. The one you've heard about. Pictured with her is her (3rd) husband Randy. We really liked him and hope he sticks around! (Niki- call me! I forgot how to text.)True story: her daughter Viv came too. She's six and wears Lee Press On Nails. After she left we found tiny painted finger nails all over the house, like her own little calling card.
Advice on How to Live Better:
To cheer myself up and to keep nutty busy this summer, I threw several lunch get-togethers. I won't go into the details- that's a whole post just waiting to happen.Reality Check:
Here's where I rant about my efforts to be a fun mom and how boys don't seem to appreciate it.
Every year I buy my school age boys a new wardrobe. I consider not just how I would like them to look but their individual tastes, what is in style for their age, and what their needs will be as far as climate and comfort. And do they thank me for my efforts? Of course not.
I have been told stories of little girls who eagerly try on their new clothes with rapture and thankfulness. This year I was rewarded with a tiny morsel. When I laid out their piles of new clothes, Davy showed a little enthusiasm and even said thanks. That sentence was pay off enough to keep me shopping.
Also, I saw this great Back to School idea on ohdeedoh.com.
Perfect! I will do this the night before school starts and start a new family tradition. The kids will love it.
This looked cuter in person.
I think this (lousy) photo shows just how excited they were. They didn't even notice. Okay, again Davy did notice that 'the placemats are everyone's favorite color', but that's it. Sure there was only one written up menu, that's because both Violet and Whitman were crying. Jana tells me that when she puts any effort into setting the table her girls eww and ahhh over every detail. What would that be like?I did a bunch of other stuff to, but it is thankfully done and over till next year. Hooray for fall!
How was your summer?
8 comments:
I really enjoy reading your blogs, keep them coming!
I love it, Alisha! :-) You made me smile. Remembering. Some days I am very happy to be a grandma standing back watching you girls exert all this effort. Your boys - and girl - are beautiful children and I have no doubt that all your efforts - verbally acknoweledged by your kids or not - are paying off big-time in the security and love your children feel in your home. I'm proud of you (and can't wait to see you next month!) Love you!
1) loved the wig pics to the max. funny - the beefy baby
2) Hey! I wanted to see your to-do lists. how dare you deny me? You insist on seeing mine and whether I completed them.
3) yah, my girls have all had their fill with lee press-ons for years. they get them almost every christmas. And then I vacuum them up. I wonder if they make little press-ons for dogs? aka babies.
4) as for the boys not being impressed. It's like their world is painted red and everything in it is red and then you lay a red table - why would they notice? It's always red. get it? whereas when I lay a red table in my world of ...gray...then people sit up and take appreciative note.
I can't believe there are only three of us who ate this up. For shame!!
Dog wigs? What a great idea! If I had a newborn I would supply her/him with a new wig everyday of the year. it would be all the rage.
The pics are too cute for words.
Wigs, bikinis, trashy books, a beefy guy...sounds like my dream summer at the beach. Lucky Violet.
I love how you always have such a vision and I was impressed with your effort as activities director this summer. It's not easy with a new baby to entertain busy boys. I don't always do a lot with my kids but I take lots of pictures of what we do so that when they are older they will think I did a lot.
that is so true and so funny, rebecca. I don't feel like we do a lot either, but my photo albums tell a different story and that's all they'll see. ha!
"oh sweetie, you're remembering it all wrong, see? here are the pictures, we had plenty of fun!"
BFF loved the dess up and their first sleepover. The charm necklace is waiting.
The lunch parties are lovely. Sorry I flaked out on you. I don't know how you do it. The effort is overwhelming.
Your Grandma Ethington notices, and brags tons about you to others, so you do get lots of kudos. Girls notice and appreciate this stuff way more than boys, usually, and the boys/men that notice usually have a more sensitive and/or creative nature. That's why Davy notices. I am wowed by the effort you put into your beautiful home.
And I really want that cookie recipe.
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