Summer Vacation 2016

Summer vacation 2016 has come and gone.

(WHAT?!?  ALREADY!?!????  HOW can it be???)

It was very, VERY full of activity,

but it was so nice.

I've always said that one of the very best things about being teacher

is that I have the same schedule as our kids.

I still hold this statement as truth.

There's nothing better than having time to play with my own kids!

The play has certainly evolved since they were little, 

but I still love to be with them.

Courtney had a birthday and turned 15!!

She got her driver's permit and has enjoyed driving since.

(We are still working on being safe --and smart--in parking lots.)

In July, Cory and I celebrated our 21st anniversary with a nice date night.

I had a birthday in July.

For my birthday, I asked that my family give me the gift of time.

They completely played along. 

We spent an entire weekend together.

It was a perfect birthday, and I couldn't have asked for anything more!

Corbin finished his Associate Degree this summer!

He had 2 classes to take in order to be completely done.

What a relief for him to get that out of the way.

When he starts school this fall, 

he will be an incoming freshman but will take Jr. level classes.

This Momma is beyond proud of his hard work and accomplishments!

When Corbin's finals were over, Mr. took a day of vacation, 

and we went to Kansas City for 3 days of more family fun!

We filled the time with shopping, movies, and more shopping, 

We played at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun.

We ate some really good food!

We shopped a little bit more and then headed home!

The family time was fantastic.

I can't believe that summer is over.

Wasn't it just yesterday that school was out in May?

I can't believe how big our kids are, either.

What happened to the days of summer play?

Today, as I reminisce, I miss the days of swing sets and trampolines.

I miss the bikes and water sprinklers in the yard.

I miss the sidewalk chalk and bubbles.

I miss the kiddie pools and slip 'n slides that kill the grass in the yard. 

Those patches of dead grass were tell-tale signs of sheer childhood happiness!

I loved the sweet sound of giggling kids as they played in the yard.  

Summer vacation has certainly changed from those little kid days,

but I still love every minute of it.

I'm so fortunate to have the kids I have.

I am BLESSED that they like to spend time with me 

and that I like  to spend time with them.

I love watching them do what they love.

I am proud of them for being their own little people.

They are helpful, kind, thoughtful, fun, and FUNNY!

They will always be my babies,

and I will always look forward to time spent with them.

I'm still amazed that God chose me to be their Momma.

I'm so lucky to have that job.

I'm very, very lucky to have my teaching job 

which has always allowed me to have the same schedule as my kids. 

 It's allowed me the opportunity to spend time with them every summer. 

 Not all Mommas have the chance to play with their kids during the summer.

Today, I'm appreciating my schedule and the time I've been given.

Summer vacation might be over,

 but we've made some very good memories along the way.

I hope you had the chance to enjoy your kids, too!!

Summer is delicious!!!

Summer Vacation in Pictures

Our summer vacation was a blur!

It went so fast.

I still can't hardly believe it's over.

So, here are some pictures,

randomly placed,

and not in chronological order.

 

 

I finally did it.

I let go of my trusty wall phone.

We cancelled our land-line phone.

It was a sad day.

I still can't believe we did it.

 

(Is it bad that I miss sitting and

 visiting on the phone

while playing with the chord?)

 

I can't believe it, but Corbin had his 1st semester as a college student.

He took 2 classes this summer.

 

Cousins at the 4th of July celebration

 

Corbin got this new ride!

Ford Fusion

 

We took the kids on a camping weekend at the pond.

We picked blackberries, cooked hotdogs and s'mores,

and slept in the pop up.  It was a terrific weekend.

We made lots of incredible memories!!

 

 

 

There were several Starbucks stops this summer.

 

Amy and I met for our birthday lunch.

My baby sister joined the 40 club!

 

Did we get enough fireworks??

 

 

Cutie Pie

 

Crab hunting in Florida

 

Friends

 

Getting ready to leave for vacation:

Our caravan met and started the drive from here!!

 

Good little travelers.

It is always fun to road trip with these two.

 

Transylvania???

EEEK!

 

Simply enjoying the day on the beach.

 

The view from our deck.

 

The donut cart.

We walked 4 1/2 miles round trip to get donuts here.

(well...I say "We," but I meant almost everybody.)

 

 

Oh my!  We found this giant Blue Crab.

I still can't believe I held it.

It had pinched a pair of goggles and was NOT letting go!

 

Just relaxing.

 

Friends

 

Friends!

 

 

My People!

I'm so blessed to belong to this family.

Loving Summer

What a fun week!

My niece had a gymnastics camp in town on Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Amy brought her down on Monday, and we were able to visit before she had to go home.

The kids and I had a road trip on Tuesday.

We drove to my sisters boutique ((2 hours away) for some back to school shopping for me.

We got some lovin in and hit the road.  

We drove another 40 minutes to the town where my momma lives.

Granny is being cared for in a nursing home right now.

Se fell and broke her hip in June.

That lady has been through a lot, 

and I am simply amazed at her ability to keep fighting.

We took Granny some angel food cake and strawberry bread for treats.

She felt the love.  Haha

 We had such a terrific visit with her.

Our next stop was a Donors Reception at the hospital.

The Foundation donations have been used to help so many people.

That tour only convinced me more that our annual donations are so important.

(Sigh.  #wishwecouldgivemore)

Following the reception, 

we drove to another little town 

and were blessed to have dinner with Daddy's best friend. 

It was great to catch up and share some old stories and memories!

We laughed a lot.

My face hurt from smiling.

We shared memories for the sake of the kids.

They are starting to forget.

It breaks my heart, but its understandable.

They were only 6 and 9 when he passed.

So...we will continue to tell stories and share memories for them.

(Big smile)

We drove the L.O.N.G. Drive home.

Corbin was a trooper and stayed awake with me the whole way.

That's LOVE!!!

It had been a long day, and it was late.

How late?

We shared the interstate with semis...that's it.

Anyway....

Wednesday we picked up my niece from gymnastics camp and headed to lunch.

After lunch we toured the Candy House.

We put on our little hair nets.

We learned that they make and dip each piece of chocolate candy in their store! 

It was a short but SWEET tour.

When we finished, we shopped for some chocolate treats and then headed home.

The girls played and then rested.

My sis showed up just after dinner.  

We were able to sit on the deck and visit for hours!

I haven't seen her since Easter.

It had been too long.

It has been a nice week.
Time for sitting in my big comfy chair.
Time to listen to my kids playing together.
(video games, but hey...they're still together and laughing.  That's what matters, right?)
Time.
It goes too fast.
Summer vacation will be over so soon.
Too soon.
Summer vacation has always been the best. 
It's simply delicious.
Enjoy every minute, friends.

Summer porch sitting

Summer vacation

I love sitting out here in the evenings.

Nuff Said.

It's delicious, isn't it?

Come on over if you'd like!