Summer....in a nutshell

Haven't felt much like posting lately.   Feeling down and unmotivated to share anything.  So today I thought...JUST DO IT!  So here I am, pulling myself up by the bootstraps.  Trying to find some semblance of happiness in the every day.  An every day that is drastically different for me without my mom around.

Here's some scenes of summer that make me smile. 

Good friend Michelle and I sporting some of the highest heels that I have ever set eyes or feet upon.  We wore them around Target and picked us up a couple of good-lookin' men  (okay, okay our husbands).

 



 Uncle Extraordinaire JE with cousin dog extraordinaire, Finn.

 Fishing with Grandpa.  You should've seen the one that got away! 

Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park in Cincinnati.  

Mini-golf with the dudes.

Arcade jackpot.....1,000 tickets.  With our earnings we picked out some lovely plastic objects and a small deck of cards.  We only needed 10,000 tickets for Momma to take home a crock pot.  That is a true statement.   One of the prizes that you could "buy" with your ticket earnings at an arcade was a crock pot.  I bet those are just flying off the shelves by your average arcade frequenting 12-13 year old.

Crazy hair boy.

 

T-P ing car innocently parked in front of our house and belonging to dear H-D friends who were visiting neighbors of ours.  Hey, that's the risk you take for coming in the 'hood!! 

 

Will pot.

Riding the coaster bike with determination.

Ben learns to ride a two wheeler overcoming his fears of going "too fast" and "not being able to stop".

Lego museum of sorts.  "Plastic Brick museum" in Bellaire, Ohio.  It was fun and the boys had a blast.  The museum was in an old school house so I felt like we were rummaging through someone's basement and attic.

Braces off lady.

 

 

Kevin and good friend Noah playing basketball with kids.  They had to play using T-Rex arms.

 



 

 

Well, there you have it.  No deep revealing insights into my current mental status (You are welcome.) but at least a small update on our lives.

 

Tally ho.

Rain Day Run

The boys pulled out their running shoes (what training??) and ran for the Rain Day Fun Run.  All three completed the one mile course!!  Will's first run found this assertive four year old sprinting at the starting line and then shouting "So long slowpoke" to the runners he passed by.  His runner partner (aka Daddy) kindly suggested that perhaps he ought to tone it down a little as they may pass him by later on.

Will finished around 25th in a pack of 50...the first 4 year old to finish!  He placed fourth as his category was 5 and under and apparently there are some speedy 5 year olds around.  Ben also did a great job completing first in the family.  He blew his running partner (aka Mommy) away at the end as she breathlessly shouted, "Go ahead Ben.  Run. Be free."  Ben finished fourth in his category of 6-7 year olds.  Ethan brought home the trophy this year placing third in 8-9 year olds.  His running partner (aka cousin Garrett) kept him focused and on track pushing through the pain. 

All in all a positive experience and hopefully good motivator for the boys to continue healthy exercise habits.  I think it is good for them to know they CAN run a mile. 

Go team Maxwell!!

Happy belated 4th

We sparkled.

 We shined.

  We flashed.

  We oohed and ahhed.

  We danced.

 

 

 

And watched our first drive-in movie in our jammas.

 

Good friends = Good times.

Under the Solar Bag

If you take a hot sunny day, lots of kids, sunscreen and popsicles and mix it together with the solar bag, the results are the following...

 



Pretty awesome.

Lego-morial

This is a picture of the lego man quilt square memorial that Ethan, Ben and Will made for Mimi.

Love through Legos.

Pretty cool.

Emotions

It's hard to blog when you are sad.

It's hard to parent when you are sad.

It's hard to do a lot when you are sad.

My mom passed away June 7th.

I am sad.

Update

Mom in hospital again.  Severe edema in legs and is on IV diuretic.

I am too tired to write but thought I'd post a few pictures from the last few months.

Ethan the beekeeper

 Preschool Carnival

 Just hangin' around