I can’t think of a stretch of days where I have been able to enjoy my kids more than I have this last 8 days. Without this break, I’m not sure what shape we would have been in come end of the year! Knowing we’re headed into baseball AND softball season, added to the dance and AWANA we already have, plus a new day of chess for Josh and drama club for Andrea … It makes me feel like I need to get into my fighting stance from Tae Kwondo days.
So here’s a quick break down of how the break treated us–and an excuse for why you haven’t heard from me in so long.
[Total side note: One of my pet peeves years ago when I first started reading blogs was bloggers apologizing for not posting. OK, if you’re on to apologize, then maybe you have time to drop one poignant, yet hilarious, thought on us, right?? And now here I am doing something similiar. Is it as annoying to you as it was to me? ‘Cause all you have to do is say so and I’ll never apologize for slacking again!]
FRIDAY: The weekend kicked off to a wonderful start with a OMSI field trip with Josh’s class. Highlights included seeing the scary T-Rex skeleton (Samson), the group of inquisitive boys I was assigned to, and running into two high school friends (one of which I hadn’t seen for 15 years). The only lowlight was driving back across the bridge to the school to get the other kids for our trip to Hermiston. I knew I could beat the traffic if I left straight from OMSI, but I wasn’t sure how to explain to the Berry grandparents that I’d only brought one grand kid.
Going a bit crazy on the bus.
Oh, and Andrea started exhibiting flu-like symptoms as I tucked her into bed that night.
SATURDAY: A fantastic day with the out-laws. I am amazed every time I go back at their expressions of love and caring. I appreciate them more as their ex-daughter-in-law than I ever did while married. It’s extremely important to me that the kids see them as often as possible, too. Grandparents are horribly hurt by divorce and I want to support their right to know the kids as much as I can.
They hid plastic eggs filled with quarters on the lawn while I kept the kids busy inside. Then, as the kiddos searched outside, they hid early Easter baskets inside for them. Made for happy kids and a happy momma.
SUNDAY: The drive back went quickly and arrived home with enough energy to unpack, vacuum out the car, and weed all the flower beds. The kids played bubbles, helped weed, and planted tomatoes, cucumbers, and wild flowers in their own little plot.
MONDAY: A eight-stop errand run didn’t seem to slow us down. When we got home with hostas, verbena, snap dragons, petunias, dusty miller, begonias, and marigolds, the kids got right to work in new garden gloves–their idea of being spoiled–and planted just as many as I did. The flower beds should look lovely for the home buyer who’s surely coming within the next months, right?
TUESDAY: Rockaway beach with Josh’s best friend and his mom. Though it was a bit windy and cold (57), we enjoyed it immensely. Of course, the stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for ice cream didn’t hurt.
And here, folks, is BIG NEWS. I’m posting the first picture of “Angel” on here.
Like I said, it was a bit windy. 😉
We also stopped for a potty break at Footbridge Trailhead off Hwy 6 on the way home and the kids played in the river.
WEDNESDAY: Uh-oh. This is getting waaaaaaay too long and picture happy, so I’ll save the rest of the break for a part two.
Hope you all had a wonderful time enjoying your friends and family!
sounds like sooo much fun! So glad you were able to let them see the outlaws 🙂 What a blessing for both I am sure! You look so happy and refreshed! Hope we get to see the newly planted flowers!
Blessings
Loren, I wanted to put pictures of the kids planting, but you could see my “Angel’s” face, which isn’t allowed until the adoption is final. 🙁 Maybe I’ll have to go snap a new picture when the rain stops!
Sounds like you had a good ‘break’.
You are such a fabulous Mom! Can I borrow some of that energy?
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
What cute knees your “Angel” has!! That is a great pic!:)
Have a great day, and I’m glad you were refreshed this last week!
What great photos! I’m sure you had a lot of fun enjoying yourself and your family.
Kudos to you for keeping the grandparents in the loop, and setting a wonderful example. The kids will thank you for that when they’re older.
Christi
Hi, Christina! Glad you had a good spring break! I don’t mind when bloggers apologize. To me, I want to know why they were “gone” for so long.
Keep up the good work, in ALL your areas!!