Five whole
years ago, I started (what would become) my annual Camp Mommy schedules with Banner. During the summers, we try our best to get out and try new things, go on new adventures, learn and grow, and lift our boys onto the next level in many ways. I remember Banner's first summer of "Camp Mommy," I wanted so badly to be the first person to teach him things before his official first day of school that fall. I wanted to show him how to cut, to teach him to glue, to watch him with paint for the first time, etc. As my boys' first teacher, I truly enjoy being the one to help set them up for success in school and in life - as most moms would. And taking them to experience new places and new ideas is the highlight of my summer. I know I'm weird that I love creating their summer calendars months in advance, and at the conclusion of each May, I am giddy with excitement as the school year ends and our summer adventures can begin! I work hard on these calendars for them of course, but mostly, to keep a sense of structure for my anxious self who can feel the summer slipping away long before it has even begun. I need to know I'm making the most of these fast weeks!
This year was no exception, but it was the first year I truly enjoyed my OWN time. When I say this summer was truly a Camp MOMMY, it really was. It was MY time three mornings a week, and I used them so wisely. As the summer comes to a screechingly unwelcome halt, I can reflect on it and know I have done a great job balancing my time this summer. I had a list of summer projects that needed to be accomplished, and not ONE of these items went unchecked. I had a goal of getting more active and eating better, and I've absolutely followed through. I developed a great routine for me and the kids, and even though I have no idea what will really happen to that once school starts, I am hopeful we can continue it!
This summer was also the first summer Knox has been well past needing more than one nap, so our mornings were completely open to enjoy activities and outings. It's so fun to be able to have that one-on-one time with him, and I'm excited I'll still get that once a week once school begins. But, enough with how awesome this summer has been... let's move on to the details and pics!
JUNE:
So, I guess I'd say our first official day of Camp Mommy began the afternoon that Banner finished first grade. We joined our dear friends who were visiting from Colorado at Play Street. The next day was Ella's birthday party, and the day after that was Damon's first birthday party. June continued with a day at Gymnastics Place for Banner, a special date at Six Flags just us, a celebration dinner for our preschool boys, and a new camp (Summer Institute for Gifted Students - SIGS) for Banner. Once the little boys finished their school year, our fun continued with puppet shows, play group at Palaestra, Banner's birthday party, an annual visit to Klyde Warren Park, a splash park birthday party for Landry, more My Gym for Knox, an outing at Color Me Mine where we made Father's Day gifts for Sam, a visit to Jungle Joe's, swim lessons, naps at Grandma's, lunch dates with friends, and a special date day for Quinn, Sam, and me. Knox started camp three days a week for the summer, and once Camp Gan Izzy started for the big boys, I had my own agenda to get those projects done! Working out was my top priority this summer, and I surpassed my goal on that - much to my own surprise and delight! June also brought Jets soccer games, a fun Father's Day weekend, a great performance by Sandler in
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a well-check for Banner, Hayla's 2nd birthday party, Monster Yogurt, an evening at Jillian's pool, speech classes for Quinn, and a fishing class for Banner. Also in June, I introduced Banner to cursive, he learned to tie his shoes, we pushed math facts, and Quinn's reading really picked up! The only big downfall of June (and July) was we missed our usual summer sleepovers with Brycen and Nami since Nami had surgery this summer.
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| Ella's birthday party |
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| Damon's party - awaiting the piñata |
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| Cousins |
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| Mommy's home from her last work day! |
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| Last day of school for the littles |
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| Klyde Warren Park |
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| DMA - with the Marrone boys (can you spot them all?) |
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| Landry's party |
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| Sick Banner |
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| Play Date Co. |
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| Zoo Date with Quinn |
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| Jungle Joe's art room |
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| B gets his Switch |
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| Cousins ready for the lake |
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| Waiting for Quinn to finish speech class |
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| Nose to Nose, Toes to Toes |
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| Fishing Class |
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| With Jillian |
JULY:
We started off July at Little Elm Beach - a family favorite since last summer! Then, we did Crayola Experience, battled a flat tire that ruined our plans, celebrated the 4th, visited a couple church playgrounds, Menchie's, Little Humans Big Fun, Heights Pool for an early evening swim and dinner, Kids Castle, and a garage sale. One Sunday, the big boys got to go fishing with Zaide, and then we enjoyed the rec center pools. We did a post-dinner story time at the library, tried out the new Play Street, enjoyed Practice & Play at My Gym, saw
Mary Poppins Jr at Plano Children's Theater, swam with the Marrones and had a delicious dinner with all the boys, celebrated Sari's 2nd birthday, tried out The Ark in Coppell and later in the same week Oak Hills Splash Pad in Carrollton. We had an impromptu play date at Aunt Kira's house and had a hard time leaving! We also had a breakfast play date at Hat Creek for Amanda's birthday, catered to Banner's nausea and vomiting, and then once he was better and back at camp, Knox and I wrapped up our month at The Coop following a My Gym class, a lunch date at Country Burger, and then play time at "Mommy's Gym" with all the boys after camp.
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| With Plano police chief at the July 4th parade |
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| Ready to go fishing with Zaide |
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| Friday Family Film Fest |
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| Little Elm Beach |
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| Up on the roof at Aunt Jacque's for fireworks |
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| Church playground |
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| Tree Fort at Watermark |
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| Campbell Green splash park |
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| at My Gym |
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| Little Humans Big Fun |
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| Heights Pool |
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| Kids Castle |
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| Play Street in Allen |
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| Swimming with Marrone boys |
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| Sari's party |
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| Hanging by the pool at Grandma's |
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| Sick Quinn |
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| Silly Quinn |
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| At Oak Hills Park |
AUGUST:
The very unanticipated, much dreaded month came all too quickly. But just because we were not excited about August appearing doesn't mean we didn't continue to enjoy our time off. The boys enjoyed more camp up until the 3rd when they ended with a camp carnival, and when Daddy came home early that night, he surprised the boys with a trip to Chuck E Cheese. We also enjoyed dinner with Lorie & Kimberly and kids, celebrated Isaac's 2nd birthday, went to Frisco Water Park (a definite favorite!), had a fun play date with Michelle and Charlotte, and flew our way through my back-to-work week - a time that is ultra-hectic without a typical childcare routine. Thanks to Grandma, Aunt Kira, Amanda, and Daddy, we make it all work out so we can all get done what we need. This last week, the big boys attended PowerKids, Young Chef's camp, and Gymnastics camp, while Knox stayed with either Grandma or Daddy. The boys enjoyed an impromptu overnight at Grandma & Papa's house. I was able to take everyone, including Levi, to Oak Hills splash park again, and just today we went to see
Christopher Robin while Knox napped at Grandma's.
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| Science Experiments with Daddy |
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| Relaxing at My Gym |
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| Lunch date for Mommy & Knox |
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| Camp Carnival |
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| Oak Hills Park Splash Park |
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| Pizza delivery to the park! |
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| Christopher Robin at Studio Movie Grill |
Whew! What a summer! We didn't go on any trips. We didn't do anything extravagant. We didn't visit family or friends from far away or get any special visitors. But, we had FUN - and we soaked it all in! We got in LOTS of swimming time at Grandma's house! We continued our Friday Family Film Fests - with movies like
Because of Winn Dixie,
Indian in the Cupboard,
Akeelah and the Bee,
Yours, Mine, & Ours, and
High School Musical (1, 2, and 3!). We started new chore charts, we are trying out FitBits, we organized and helped with a garage sale, we each took turns being sick and cleaned up lots of vomit and poop off floors, toilets, underwear, and carpet, sat through many indoor soccer games, and we started planning Quinn's birthday party. Like I said before, this summer was a turning point for me on so many levels, and I am mourning its ending just a little - okay, a lot. I have a plan to carry it with me, but I will miss my ME time. Tomorrow, we have all three boys' Meet the Teacher events (bright and early for Banner!). Tomorrow signals the end of summer with only one weekend left before homework begins, before the early morning rush ensues, and before our summer of freedom becomes a distant memory. This mama who sure does love her down time with her sons is in much mourning, but I know we lived it well this summer. And, hey, there's always next summer! But first... let's plan Winter Break! ❄
