Ahh... the Dog Days of Summer

We have been really enjoying some down time lately. After all the running around we did with our various activities throughout the school year, it has been really nice to take things slow and just relax. Even though our school year has officially ended, we'll continue to work on our reading, writing and math throughout the summer along with some other fun yet educational things that the kids enjoy. Without a doubt, for us summer doesn't mean put the books away, it means hit the library and stock up on some good books to read. We recently finished Charlotte's Web, and now we are reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. In math, repetition is the key to them learning all of their math facts so we'll keep on it, not every day, but most days. We try to make it fun though. Today for instance, we played a game that for every fact that they got correct they got a cheerio or a skittle. I started with the skittles but soon realized that I was going to have some majorly sugared up kids and knew I definitely didn't need that, so I decided to rotate every other one with a cheerio. Thankfully my kids are catching on (or maybe it's just that I'm scaring them) with the fact that too much sugar = getting sick, and we know getting sick = not playing with friends. So... they decided completely on their own that it was best to just have a few skittles and put the rest away for another day. Yes! They are finally catching on! As far as writing, Colton was so excited when his new cursive book came in the mail back in April which was planned to be for 2nd grade, that he started it and has nearly completed the entire book! I am amazed how quickly he caught on to it! Then on days where we're home I fill in the "mom, I'm bored" time with science activities, weekly readers, art projects and other fillers which I have so many of. Our day goes by so much smoother if we fill it with activities like these instead of sitting around watching tv or whining that they have nothing to do. They're having fun and learning but they don't consider it to be "doing school". Other than that stuff, we've been filling our days with swimming, catching frogs, playing ball, painting, painting and more painting (an activity my kids never seem to tire of) and just trying to take every opportunity to relax and have as much fun as we can.

My little swimmer has been doing great in the pool. He still needs to work on kicking and scooping better, but he definitely knows what he's supposed to do and certainly is determined to master it. I have honestly never seen a 1 1/2 year old be so brave around water. Even after having episodes where he is clearly struggling in the water, I help him get out and within seconds, splash... he's back in again. Never any tears or crying unless when I keep him from getting back in the water that is. Then today he would act like he was going to jump to me in the shallow end then sike... he'd run to the deep end and splash! Boy do I have my hands full with this little one!

As far as sleeping goes, he's been giving us quite a hard time lately. He never, ever used to cry at nap time and now he has been screaming every time we lay him down, day or night. Last night when we knew the crying was no where close to stopping, poor Colton and Gracie were so exhausted and just wanted to sleep but obviously couldn't so when they begged us to please... get him, well, we gave in. Fletch wound up sleeping the entire night with us. Go figure, once in our bed, he slept fantastic!

Tonight he screamed and cried MAMA!!! DADA!!! no, No, NO!!! DADA!!!!!!! Even though his door was shut and Colton was trying to sleep in Gracie's room, not only was Fletch tearing my heart to shreds, both C & G said "PLEASE... just get him mom!" So... I went and got him. When I went into his room, he had his pillow, blanket, lovie, doggy, horsey, and moo moo all out of his crib and on his floor! He must have been really mad! I picked him up, he put his head on my shoulder and didn't pick it up again. After rocking him for about 5 minutes, he was sound asleep. For now, he is peacefully sleeping in his crib. I know what most of the books say... "let him scream it out", but gosh is it hard to. I fall somewhere in the middle ground about how I feel about this. When it comes to parenting, I've always just done what feels right in my heart, and no where in my heart does that feel right but I do understand the experts explanations for doing so. As much as I try and tell myself that the right thing to do is leave him alone to scream out my name until he passes out from exhaustion which will teach him to self soothe himself to sleep, plain and simply, it just doesn't feel right. I mean, I'm certainly not the mom who jumps at the first fuss but you know when your baby has had enough. All I know is that I've already had two sweet babies who have gone through the same thing, and in the end, look at them now. Peacefully sleeping in their beds (okay, both in Gracie's bed because of Fletch), but now they are growing up and past all of that.

Okay... he's up again. Did I just possibly jinx myself? This calls for a prayer request!!!

***pictures to come.... gotta go, he's fussin' ; )

*** update with pictures (the morning after)***

So this is what I woke up to this morning lying next to me...


Yup, after I got him out of his crib and brought him to our bed (again everything in his crib was thrown on the floor), he immediately snuggled up with Daddy and drifted off to sleep where he slept soundly until morning time. He didn't even bother me once! I think he knew better ; )


"yea mom, I'm ready for the library"... This is what happens when I don't drain the bath water immediately!



"Is it time for our sleepover at Aunt Kelly's yet?"

Colton and Gracie are having a sleepover with their cousins Ava and Kaya and so are their cousins Lauren and Abby who just arrived from Texas. The ages of the children are 8, 7, 5, 4, 4, and (almost) 3 years old. Aunt Kelly and Uncle B. are brave, brave, brave!!! Have fun guys!