Safety and Fun

Being the parent of two beautiful children, there is always that fear in the back of my mind that someone, somewhere is out there lurking that would do them harm. Mix that with my prior occupation and working with cops for many years and I clearly know more horror stories than most. So this weekend, taking both of the kids to the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Family Shoot, it was really fun to see Shelby take an interest in shooting a gun. Cole has been shooting rifles, pistols, throwing hatchets and knives for awhile now and he is REALLY good. He is extremely accurate at very long distances and I am very proud of how safe and careful he is with a gun. He always takes his time and is very careful around others. This was Shelby's first experience and I really thought the noise might bother her, or the gun powder, but it didn't seem to! She was excited to sit with her daddy and shoot just like her brother. Both kids walked away with prizes, Cole's were mostly 1st and 2nd place awards.  I think I will suggest to all of Shelby's first dates that they go to the firing range. That way they at least know she's a good shot before they embark on a real date. I call that dating safety!

Football Season

It's been hot. Stupid hot. Like 95 degrees heat index of over 100, thighs melt together as soon as you walk out the door kind of hot and my son is out playing football in full pads and a helmet and loving every minute of it.

My daughter, and dog who are clearly more like me spend the days inside and barely stick our noses out the door before deciding that indoor activities are much more our style. Shelby has been hanging with Nana during football practices due to the heat. 

Shelby and I have been doing preschool at home and she seems to be enjoying the activities at "school" it doesn't hurt that as she and Joy are the only two kids in class that we change gears often! Joy is enjoying movie, nap and story time! She actually moves to see the TV when Sesame Street is on. Here are some photos of Cole on the field, can't you just smell the sweat and Axe body spray dripping. Yuck!

The Last and the First

We just had to squeeeeze in the last few activities before summer vacation was "officially' over. I had hoped to go to the park, zoo or something fun outside, but it was heat index of over 100. That meant indoor activities. Cole's choice was to play Monopoly, Shelby wanted to cook and play Rock Band.  I wanted to see Toy Story 3, so we caught the movie at 6:30 and ended summer vacation on a high note watching Andy in Toy Story drive away to college. Pretty fitting.  Staying home this summer has been one of the best times of my life. Other than when Shelby was non-verbal, I have never had the opportunity to stay home with my kids and just enjoy them on a daily basis. I am so lucky that I have had this opportunity. Thank you to my wonderful husband for letting me do this. By far, I am probably the worst stay at home mom ever, my house is messier than when I worked, there are projects half finished everywhere, my kids eat candy, chocolate and all kinds of things that I would never think a day care or babysitter would feed them, but wow we have had fun. I have so enjoyed lying around in our pajamas in the morning while daddy goes off to work. I have enjoyed taking the time to listen to my kids talk to each other, ok ok, they argue more than they talk, but sometimes, if you listen closely, you hear the rumblings of what I hope will be brother sister talks for long to come. It's been a good summer. I look forward to what the school year will bring.

That backpack did not go to school that heavy!

Cole, please listen to her, she ran all the way out to meet you at the bus!!!

The last few days of freedom......

School starts in three days. The locker has been located, school registration is over, all supplies have been purchased. New shoes are already dirty. We have been hoping to squeeze in a few more days of fun before the end, but there has been so much extra drama around the house, that life hasn't exactly gone as planned. We took the kiddos to the State Fair today and yesterday, Shelby hosted a tea party for her bestest friend. The wonderful thing about having a girl is tea parties! You just can't have that kind of fun with boys. SOOOO, next week, back to school, football, and routine. I hope. I so need routine......
I need to establish normal.