Summer Bucket List 2.0

Last year, our first ever Summer Bucket List was a glorious success.  We had so much intentional fun with each other; it made the days easier to organize, and it ensured that we were out and about in the glory days of summer.

Well, this year, we're going to have to start earlier if we even stand a chance of knocking off the majority of our list.  I learned some key lessons last year, mainly about myself (I'd rather go "do" something than stay at home and "make" something), and while I don't want to busy our summer away, the list provided such structure and adventure that I can't imagine not having one ever again!

So, with some repeats from last summer and some new fun thrown in... here's our bucket list for summer 2014.  Even though we hit 91 last summer, I've lessened my expectations this year, as summer is even shorter.  Some are total gimmies (make homemade pizza and go to the library, as we do those weekly)--but some will take some work (hang gliding, anyone?). If you are in the area, come join us!

1. Go hang gliding
Go camping
Go fishing
Go canoeing
Go geocaching
Visit a statepark nature center
Visit a zoo
Visit a children's museum
Visit an indoor play park
10. Visit a science center
Go on a road trip
Go on a roller coaster
Go on a picnic
Go to a play or musical
Go see a 3D movie
Go on a hike
Go on a train ride
Go to the library
Go down a waterslide
20. Send soliders boxes
Take cookies to the firestation
Take cookies to the police station
Shoot bbguns
Shoot bows
Build an archery field
Build a zipline
Splash in a creek
Watch a movie from the 1950s
Watch a movie from the 1960s
30. Watch a movie from the 1970s
Watch a movie from the 1980s
Take diving lessons
Go to Boy Scout Camp
Eat candy for breakfast
Read 10 books each
Have a homemade raft race
Build a dam in the creek
Go to a splash park
Visit an inflatable park
40. Go bowling
Master addition and subtraction facts
Visit Daddy at work
Visit a military museum
Visit a famous house
Visit an art park
Visit a new playground
Swim in a lake
Cannonball off a diving board
Ride a bus
50. Play miniature golf
Visit an Indiana Food Festival
Build a sandcastle
Search for shells
Jet Ski
Boogie Board in the ocean
Visit a famous ice cream shop
Visit the state museum
Watch a Civil War reenactment
Have a bonfire
60. Use a telescope at night
Go to a baseball game
Go to a parade
Watch fireworks
Have a cookout
65. Visit the Rhythm Discovery Center
Fly a kite
Find a new treasure at Goodwill
Purge unwanted toys
Go to a Lowe's workshop
Go to a drive in movie
Have a sleepover with friends
Get face painted
Attend a cultural celebration
Make Jared Boxes for chronically ill kids
75. Plant a garden
Make survival kits for home
Find and write to a pen pal
Learn how to play a new game
Play in the sprinkler
80. Go to a farmer's market
Go roller skating
Bury one's body in sand
Eat Chinese food
Eat Japanese food
Eat Greek food
Eat off a food truck
Play at an arcade
Make homemade ice cream
Make homemade pizza
90. Explore a cave
Visit a waterfall
Feed ducks or chickens
Visit a farm
Go to the Pet Store
Visit a different state capital
Visit the City Market
Make a meal and delivery it to someone who needs a "pick me up."
Pay for the person's food behind us in a drive thru
Jump on a trampoline
Practice typing

Even though school has another month (or more--darn snow days!), I am opening the start of summer bucket list season.  Game on!

Updates

First off, when your only birthday picture is this, you know you are the third child.  In my defense, he is having his little party today, and I plan to get actual photos then.  But, still.  It's a wonder third children have any pictures at all!

Now, as for Trent, he can be so very funny.  He has a lot of words and phrases, can count to 10 and sings a special version of the ABC's (like skip every fourth letter but still keep time kind of special).  He still loves his momma more than life itself, but he will settle for a sibling if he must.  He loves trains, beep beeps, airplanes and other classic boy ventures.  He loves to play outside, which is very different than last summer when he was afraid of the grass and the ground.  He has an opinion on everything, including whether he thinks you should be talking, looking at him or holding him.  You've never heard a kid say: "don't, stop it, leave me alone, and no" more than this kid.  We've got our parenting hands full.

He's progressing with his sensory issues, but we've had a bad few weeks lately, but we've seen such progress over the last six months.  He HATES saying he is sorry--the will on this one could bend steel.  We've recently found out that he has some major thyroid issues, which might explain why he is so very, very small.  He's on the chart, but he only chimes in at the 10th percentile for height and weight.  We'll see a specialist soon, and we hope to get some meds to help regulate him a bit.

He might be small, goofy, and hard to handle at times, but we are thankful beyond measure that we get to be his parents everyday.

Now, as for Miss Grace.  She just finished off her dance season.  She loved dance, and I loved that we picked a little home studio that didn't cost a fortune.  She also just learned to ride her bike with just two wheels, and she couldn't be prouder.  And, to be honest, neither could we.

Grant just finished his first wrestling season (half a season really), and I think we might have finally found his sport.  He likes it, is good at it, and--here's the kicker--it doesn't seem to flare his asthma.  So, I'm glad he has found something in which he can be athletic, all without frequent trips the ER.  He, unlike Grace, has not quite mastered the bike, but he's planning on being a pro by the end of summer!

SB 2014

What do you do when Daddy has to spend over a week on the road over spring break?  You go with him!  It might not be a glamorous spring break, but we squeezed as much fun as we could out of the Embassy Suites!

Day 1 and 2

Swimming and hotel fun

Trent's "mad face"

                                             

Best big sis ever!

At an outdoor mall one evening, there was a short train ride.  Trent was in HEAVEN!  

We decided to surprise Grace with something she's been wanting for some time: pierced ears!  She did great through the first one, but the tears started when the second ear became a reality!

After ear piercing reward: trampoline jumping at the mall!

Day 3
US Space and Rocket Center

Day 4
Bowling Fun

Day 5
Sci-quest (one of my favorite small museums!)

Day 6
Yeah!  Birmingham!  The best part of the trip was hanging out with our cousins and family!  We hit Asher's baseball game and went out to eat.

Day 7: the zoo with Aunt Karen!  The kids loved it, and it was HOT (such a welcome feeling after this winter!), and they were able to ride a camel!  Finish it off with swimming with cousins, and the kids declared it the "best spring break ever."

Day 8
McWane Science Center

Grace and the bed of nails!  Last year, she wasn't happy about this experience.  This year, she was a champ!

 Grant and Grace holding each other tight in the hurricane machine!

We were so happy to go some place warm and with such loved ones near by!

Airports

This week finds me in airports in Atlanta, Washington DC, Charlotte, and Dayton. By Friday, it will be a blur of angry parents and sock footed elderly people trudging around the various security installations through which I'll have passed.

This afternoon, I was able to catch an early flight from Charlotte to DC, so I jumped into the "TSA Pre" line to bypass security in hopes of making my flight. I had my carry-on suitcase with me, containing two suits, an extra pair of shoes, and all of my toiletries. Needless to say, it was stuffed to capacity. I threw my bag on the conveyor, passed through the metal detector, and all was looking good, until I saw two TSA agents carefully eyeing something on the X-ray screen in my bag. I immediately knew what it was -- a full sized bottle of contact lens solution.

Recently I've switched to using a hydrogen peroxide solution to soak my lenses, and since I've passed through security without issue with multi-purpose bottles of contact solution, I didn't think the new cleaner would be an issue. "Is this your bag sir?" "Yep." "Mind if I open it to search it?" the TSA agent inquired. "Nope." As she began to unzip the bag, I blurted out, "Oh be careful...when you unzip it it will explode."

Not good. She immediately hopped two feet back from the bag, and as she looked ready to draw her non-existent weapon on me, I said, "Oh...no. I'm sorry. Terrible choice of words. The bag is really full so it may, uh, expand dramatically as you open it."

Having narrowly escaped cavity search #1, she pulled out the solution and said, "I'll need to test this." As she sprayed the hydrogen peroxide on her "shoe bomber detection science kit" test strip, it turned a bright blue. She again gasped and drew away from me. She started yelling "I NEED A SUPERIOR. NOW!" Luckily her superior was calm about the whole thing and informed me that while normal saline solutions are permitted, the hydrogen peroxide is not, unless you have it in a Smurf sized container. No sweat.

As I walked away from security, I could feel the screener's eyes examining my shoes, jacket, etc. making sure she hadn't missed anything. The only thing she probably couldn't catch would have been my belt buckle, as even I can't see it at the moment.

One Special Little Thing

Grace was one of four kindergarteners selected from her school to have her art work displayed in the Community Art Show!  Her cat, in the upper left, is based on the work of Gustav Klimt (one of my personal favorites!).  She was so proud... and so were we. 

But, I will tell you, I have never been more proud of this little thing than I was today.  A parent in Grace's class, who happens to be her doctor, told me the most amazing story.  She said that her daughter was upset one day, to the point of sobbing.  And as she was sobbing, Grace, who had just been able to cash in all her "good behavior tokens" for a prize, came up, grabbed this friend's hand, started talking and walking with her, and gave the little friend her hard earned prize.

In the words of the parent, "What five-year-old does that?"

I know one.  And I thank God every day that He has a hold of her heart and is molding her into a selfless person who considers others before herself.

Updates--the bad Mommy edition

I'll blame it on the feet of snow piling up around my house.  I'll blame it on the polar vortex.  I'll blame it on being really, really busy.  Whatever the reason, our poor blog has suffered.  And, what's worse--I have taken like 12 pictures in the last two months--shameful.  For what it's worth, here's a quick update: 

Grant:

Our seven-year-old had his first friend party in which he invited all of his classmates.  We had it at a local dojo, which was perfect.  The kids were able to run around like mad (after being cooped up for weeks), had pizza and cake and a tae kwon do lesson.  This momma had to do virtually nothing!  Best. Mom. Decision. EVER. 

He also competed in his first Pinewood Derby.  His car came in a consistent 5th.  Not the worst.  Not the best.  Loads of fun if you're seven.  Not loads of fun if you're not. 

Grace:
Grace continues with dance class with her big recital coming in April.  Other than tearing up kindergarten (she's the kid who LOVES school and homework), she is the best helper ever!  Trent adores her; I rely on her--she's a gem!  Here's a recent picture of her from our cousin tubing adventure 2.0!  Yep, that's all I've got for 2 months... and I didn't even take the picture!  Thank you, Mary Hawkins!

Trent:
Trent has TURNED THE CORNER, ya all!  We are thankful beyond measure for answered prayers!  Trent has been in therapy for half a year, and we were just told by his therapist that he can move on to less therapy!  He still pretty opinionated and struggles with a variety of sensory issues, but he is no longer violent.  Did you hear that?  No more hitting.  No more head butting.  He's starting to trust more and freak out less.  He's making huge strides, and this momma is thanking the good Lord everyday!

 More to come.  I swear.

How?

He's gone and done it again.... turned another year older!  How is it possible that this little guy...

turned into this seven-year-old guy?

His "big present" has yet to arrive (thank you, polar vortex of doom), but he was pretty happy to open a few little gifts today with the big one (a real live, shoot 'em dead crossbow--I ain't raising no city boy, here) to come any day now.

Love this kid.  To. Pieces.

Polar Vortex

I enjoy when my kids are out of school.  Like last summer.  When we tackled our list of 100 summer bucket items.  Great times.  I remember them fondly.

But, there's something about my kids being out of school and being stuck in the house for five solid days that has me pulling out my hair.  In fact, that seems like more fun right now.  As does poking out my eyeball with a fork.  The pinterest worthy mom showed up for day one with games, loads of baking, and creative indoor solutions.  On day five of being snowed in, it's a mad house.  Like Lord of the Flies.  Only worse.

Want to watch TV for 12 hours?  Sounds good.  Play video games until your brain oozes out?  Why not?  Want to eat frosting out of the tub for breakfast?  Good plan.

I have never more needed to go to Target or get my oil changed or, heck, visit the obgyn.  Really, anything seems like a better option...

Views of the peaceful outdoors:

View of the not-so-peaceful indoors (forgive my half painted walls and messy kitchen and radiators without covers):

I should tell you that I am thankful that we have heat, that our pipes haven't burst, and that we have a fully stocked fridge or three.  And I am.  But, I'm begging for some warmer weather... or heck, for school to start back up--whichever comes first.

Catch up...

This is what's happening today.  It's all that's happening.  This view, out to our front yard, is just the start of the largest snowstorm of the season (or seasons, really), which would be fine... except that the coldest front in over 20 years is coming too, and it's just a matter of time before our power goes out (thanks to being at the end of a country line), and we'll be looking for shelter.  Don't be surprised, indy friends, if we end up knocking at your door!

                                      

Just a few pics from Christmas, while I still remember, for the sake of posterity only... well, and a cute one of Trent.

Christmas morning tradition: opening stockings in Mommy and Daddy's bed...

Grace enjoying her new Kindle Fire....  

My favorite gift I gave: sitting unopened on the floor amid toy unwrappings.  Seriously, if you have a son, this is the book of childhood...

Trent... who loved, loved, loved opening presents

Grace's gift from Santa: some kind of messy craft thing Mommy will have to scrape off her new countertops!

Watching the shrinky dinks shrink... still fun even decades later!