summertime...and pushing out of my comfort zone...

 

I am a sucker for a schedule.  A planner by nature.  Type A...first born...likes to be in control.  As the years go on however, I am learning to push out of my comfort zone.  To let schedules shift a little and leave days open for adventure. 

 

Our after dinner/bath/story time routine is where have learned to deviate from.  While I will NEVER let them go without a bath...we opt for playing more after dinner in lieu of stories.  Snacks are drippy popsicles eaten outside while playing in sand.  After dinner bike rides in the bike trailer swapped out for extra stories.  My house is often not as clean as I would like it to be.  Small kids (and me!) go stir crazy when kept inside too long.  Pop over and my breakfast dishes may get done in combination with lunch dishes...but I am learning to be ok with it.  It's a work in progress...I am still Type A...first born!

 

 

 

 

                                     I rode my bike with both kids in the bike trailer to Town and Country this morning.  It was a workout to say the least!  I figure I had 90ish pounds behind me!  We decided to stop at Kirk Park after our few groceries were bought.  I had packed a lunch and my camera.  When the kids asked to take off their shoes and walk around in the stream, my answer was "heck ya!".  They splashed and played for a while.  Mud mushing between tiny toes.  Dirt all over newly tanned legs.  And a certain 2 yr old that daily pushes me out of my comfort zone, falling into the water and then stripping down to her panties to continue on! 

 

 

My over planning-stick to a schedule self will return once the fall arrives and our new life with a Kindergartener begins.  But for now, I will enjoy the summer and all the impromptu adventures we can have.

wrap up

Just like that T-Ball is over.  It seems so summery to head out to a ball game.  Pushing bedtimes and getting dirty later at night than normal.  It's been nice to have something to do after dinner however T-Ball is already over.  Cash had a great time this year.  He seemed to hit harder and work more to field the ball.  We are looking forward to next year when he moves up to the next division which is the 6, 7,8 yr old coaches pitch. 

 

The second to last game was Ryan's last.  The boys played back to back.  We decided that a picnic dinner would be pretty fun.  The boys watched each others games in between playing on the playground.  The black clouds rolled in swiftly during Ryan's game which was last.  The weather held out and the game went on as scheduled.  We ate our dinner that Saralyn had made and enjoyed a game of freeze tag in the park.  It was so fun and I think we may need to make it a summertime tradition!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My new favorite picture of these two!!!

 

 

{the start of summer}

It seems like the wait for summer and warmer weather gets longer and longer every year.  Cash is becoming aware of seasons and the difference in weather for each.  He often asks what season it is, and when it will be warmer.  Although he says his favorite is Fall, since his birthday is in fall "when the leaves change colors".

 

 

We patiently (or not so patiently!) wait for snow to melt and sunshine to kiss our skin with warmth.  The first few days it was warm enough for t-shirts, these Montana natives of mine had swimsuits busted out of drawers and were begging for a pool to swim in!  The days when it wasn't nearly warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt let alone a suit, were spent inside with bathing suits on and lunch eaten on beach towels in the living room. 

 

Low and behold the warmth and sunshine make their way up to Montana.  Much earlier than usual I may add!  My favorite kind of summer day is the one where we head out somewhere on a whim, usually with a packed lunch and always with my camera.  The fun and pictures rarely disappoint. 

 

Last week BJ called from Butte and said that he needed his passport but forgot it at home.  We met him halfway for the exchange and headed back for home.  I had seen the sign for Headwaters State Park on the way over and thought a drive thru to check it out was in order.  I hadn't ever stopped before and I am glad we did!  We blew dandelions, climbed fences and threw endless amounts of rocks in the river.  I hadn't packed lunch that day, however, my sub par car cleaning skills came in handy when the kids got hungry and I managed to scrounge up enough food in the back of the car to feed them :)