Summer Evenings

Summer evenings have included dinner outdoors, lounging in the hammocks, pushing the limits of bedtime, and treats. While the youngest boys were excited about their summer treats, I think it pales in comparison to the excitement delivered via UPS for the biggest of all the boys. 

Summer bucket list, continued

We knocked another playground off our list today.

Camp

Our utter lack of camping in 2015 has us determined to get outside in Summer 2016. Friday I spent a good deal of time pulling together camping gear and being as organized and prepared as could be to head out into the woods as soon as mr. Bejos arrived home from work. 

Truck loaded, we headed to the woods only to be disappointed and discouraged as predetermined spot after spot, in the woods just up the street, turned out to be occupied. And then the prescribed burns had forced closures left and right. Moment by moment our enthusiasm waned.  Verdict? We headed home to spend the night in our own beds. We refused, however, to unpack the truck. Mother Nature validated our decision by ushering in a wicked and unpredicted thunder storm that night, complete with high winds and lightning. 

Saturday morning we awoke with a new perspective and renewed vigor to find the spot. And it paid off! We discovered a new little spot in the woods, a mere handful of miles from our home, but seemingly a world away. 

Making Lists

As we work on school skills this summer - I know, I know, but it's the teacher in me - I'm looking for meaningful ways to practice what the eldest needs to know. 

His first grocery list.

He took notes as I dictated our needs for today's trip. 

Chocolate chips

Ritz 

Half and half

Os

Sausage

Yogurt

Eggs

Pool snacks 

Peppers





The little one was in on the action, scribing his list too. 

Pool!

The boys and I just rejoined the gym, all for the summer pleasure of romping in the outdoor pool. We are apparently a bit rusty in pool preparations, as I forgot to pack both snacks and water bottles. Oh the horror, the tragedy, the complete thoughtlessness of this unprepared mama. And let me tell you, I paid for it in the moodiness and narrow aversion of a complete breakdown on the way home. 

Lesson learned.

Unexpected Visitors

The last week of school is always a bit crazy. Teacher gifts, theme days, a wicked case of spring fever, and a glimpse, finally, of some summer weather. 

In the midst of all that we had two out-of-the-blue correspondences from people in our lives who we had not seen in at least 2 years. One was my cousin and one was some friends who have been in and out of our lives depending on where their jobs takes them around the globe. 

Each was in town, for one night only, and wanted to spend it with us - how lucky are we?!

For some reason we didn't get the camera out for our second visitors, but we did remember for our first set. 

Both visits were such welcome breaks from our normal schedule! 

Summer bucket list

Summer vacation has officially begun.

Wahoo! 

Today was off to a slow start, with this mama unpacking and rearranging odds and ends that took a back seat during the last crazy week of school. 

But we were able to give our summer bucket list some attention this afternoon. These Bejos boys want to visit all the playgrounds in our town this summer, especially the ones we we have never before been to. 

And although we were the only visitors at today's playground they were happy as can be playing on new equipment and avoiding the imaginary alligators that apparently were crawling all over the grounds.