I love summer!

I have had two of the most deliciously wonderful relaxing days this week already!  I've been able to do a little bit of everything I love in these two days with beautiful weather and cooperative kids :)  That rarely happens - you can decide if I mean the weather or kids!

I've scrapbooked with a friend, went to the pool later in the afternoon because baseball is finally done, the pool was not crowded, am reading a terrifically scary and suspenseful book, worked a bit in the yard (maybe I just watched my hubby work), had a nice juicy burger from the grill, and have been able to have the windows open and fresh air in the house!

Now that's what I call the good life!

A mama's heart

I

MISS

MY

BABY...

I can't wait to pick him up this afternoon and plant some more kisses on those cheeks!

Time Machine II

I might have told Carter there was no such thing as a time machine, but I'm really wishing I could find one right about now!  I figured rather than listening to Austin tell me how bored he was and not know what to do with himself while his brother was gone, it would be a good time to have his kid birthday party.  That translated into a sleepover party for 5 boys.  What was I thinking?

I'm not going to post this until the morning, but right now I am trying desperately to get them to settle down and get some sleep.  Aaron's off in dreamland right about now.  I want that to be me!  I'm not the late night owl of the family.  I turn into a pumpkin pretty early.  However, since it's technically still Father's Day, (oops...not anymore!) and Aaron has to work tomorrow, it's my job to make sure they are asleep!  Who am I kidding, it would still be my job even if it wasn't Father's Day and he didn't have to work tomorrow!

I think they've had loads of fun...basketball, bean bag toss game (that turned into some kind of dodgeball), playing at the park, riding bikes and scooters, roasting marshmallows, playing Rock Band and Wii, the new aquatic center, jammin' out in the van, plenty of food and drinks...but I'm exhausted.


I have no idea how my parents and my friends' parents seemingly handled it so well when I was growing up.  I remember girl birthday party sleepovers with more than 5 of us that didn't seem bad at all.    Hmmm...eating pizza, giggling, watching movies until the wee hours of the morning, giggling, playing truth or dare, giggling.  Yeah...it didn't seem so bad then!  Oh yeah...I was a kid and didn't require as much sleep.


Maybe I should look a little harder for that time machine!

Time Machine

My "baby" couldn't wait to pack his bag...

for

his

very

first

time

at

camp!

He was beyond excited!

Sunday morning before church he asked me if time machines were real?  I figured his brother was trying to pull a fast one on him with something and told him they weren't.  His little face was crushed, and he let out a big sigh. I was quite confused until he told me he wished that they were so he could move ahead to 3:30 so he could check-in at camp! He couldn't get there fast enough and asked countless times throughout the day what time it was.

He wasn't the least bit hesitant to go off on his own - well with 3 of his friends - and leave his mom behind!  I thought maybe he would be a little nervous - and need his mom!  NOT AT ALL...he couldn't wait to get on with this adventure!  I have a feeling this is going to be the child of mine that freely spreads his wings to fly.

Happy Father's Day!

The boys and I have been blessed to have amazing fathers in our lives.  All three of us are who we are in part because of the important role these men have played in our lives.  In honor of Father's Day, here's a little question and answer session I had with the boys telling me about their dad and grandpa!   

What is dad good at?

A: fixing things, but when he starts a new project it takes him forever, like with my loft

C: putting up HaRVy our camper and making French Toast

What is your favorite thing that you’ve done with dad?

A: when we played a trick on mom that we planned for a long time

C: going to Minnesota, Omaha and St. Louis

What do you think is dad’s favorite color?

A: red and blue

C: yellow, green and red

How would you describe dad?

A: well…he can be lazy at times, he’s strange, active and likes to borrow things from the neighbors

C: he likes meatloaf, drives a Malibu and is crazy

What do you think dad’s favorite food is?

A: meatloaf

C: meatloaf

What’s the funniest thing about dad?

A: he teaches me German – “Pitman Floydiman Stit” (a whistle under a donkey’s tail)

C: he fell out of the camper and someone took a picture of his butt with a big bruise on it

If dad could do anything all day long, what would he choose to do?

A: eat meatloaf and drink beer

C: eat meatloaf, drink beer and talk with the neighbors

How are you like dad?

A: I am Aaron Junior, aka A.J.

C: I’m a boy and I fart a lot

Why do you love dad?

A: he’s my dad

C: because he takes me awesome places and buys me ice cream

 What is Papa good at?

A: hunting

C: hunting and making “camping” eggs

What is your favorite thing that you’ve done with Papa?

A: when he took us turkey hunting

C: going on four-wheeler rides, camping and hunting for turkeys

What do you think is Papa’s favorite color?

A: green

C: green, red and blue

How would you describe Papa?

A: nice, active, energetic even for a 60 year old man with an odd limp

C: awesome, he hunts a lot, has a bad leg, and lives in the country

What do you think Papa’s favorite food is?

A: pork burgers

C: turkey, deer and ice cream

What’s the funniest thing about Papa?

A: he’s always falling asleep

C: if we don’t finish our ice cream, he always asks to have it

If Papa could do anything all day long, what would he choose to do?

A: go hunting

C: go hunting with his friends, sleep a long time and watch basketball on tv

How are you like Papa?

A: his name is my middle name

C: I like to ride on the four-wheeler and watch tv a lot

Why do you love Papa?

A: he’s my grandpa

C: he lets me drive the four-wheeler and shoot my gun

Happy Father's Day to you both!

Hopping Critters

I DON'T LIKE THESE HOPPING CRITTERS!  

They scare me - screaming like a sissy girl scare me!  (Yes, if you heard a sissy girl screaming about 3:15 this afternoon, it was me!) Something is not right with a green critter that hops, appearing out of nowhere while I'm driving...such as in the pockets of two boys' swim trunks on the way home from the pool!  It's a sheer miracle we are all still alive!  Four of those little hoppy critters found their way to my house from the aquatic center!  One was temporarily "lost" in the van for a short time. Ugh...I think my paying job is sometimes easier than my summer job :)

Heartbreak

I love my boys with all my heart. They make me giggle, smile, swell with pride, worry, fret, cry and feel every other emotion under the sun!  The positive emotions are great, but they're not the only ones that accompany this title of "mom" that I love. I hate it when one of my little guys hopes and dreams are dashed, and I feel my protective "mama bear" instincts kick in. I realize that's life and truly don't want my children to think life is perfect and be overly protected because someday they'll realize life is not fair.  At least in little doses along the way, you learn life lessons. However, as a mama I don't have to like it one iota! Unfortunately, one of those heartbreaking/life lesson moments occurred last night.  What's a mother to do when her son's heart has been broken (not by a girl yet - thank goodness) and she has to take on the role of cardiologist?

Here was the "Clayberg Cardiologist" recipe for heartbreak healing last night...

1 Casey's cheese pizza (son's fave)
1 pop of choice (at 8:30 pm at night - needless to say - caffeine filled...ugh)
1 crackling fire in the fire pit (which dad insisted couldn't be done because all the wood was wet from all the rain until heartbroken son reminded him of dry wood in the garage!)
1 brother letting the heartbroken brother have choice of seat in the van
oodles of mama kisses, hugs, and reassurances
dashes of dad wisdom
1 little brother trying to understand wisdom imparted from parents and add his 2 cents in
a pinch of dad humor
1 hour of extra staying up to play Wii and talk with little brother
1 mama lovin' at midnight when heart was still broken and he couldn't sleep

I'm not sure how well the recipe worked, but today is a new day and at least the tears weren't flowing this morning.  I'm not an officially licensed cardiologist, but my diagnosis is the heart is still wounded, but on the mend.  Just say some prayers for no setbacks!

Sneak Peek

QUICK!  Hop on over to Captured by Heidi and check out the FABULOUS job she did with Austin and Carter today.  It makes me giddy just to see the ones she has posted from our photo shoot this morning! I can't wait to get the cd with the rest of the pictures of the boys.

Heidi is MAGNIFICENT! She was able to capture the boys' personalities and keep a smile on her face the entire time.  Since she did so well keeping her composure with my little stinkers, I think maybe she should take my kids for a few days :) When she emailed me that the pictures were posted, I quickly hopped on to check them out and then promptly started crying - yes crying!  (I know some of you are NOT surprised!)  The pictures simply took my breath away - they are perfect.  

If you live in the area, you really need to get an appointment with Heidi so that she can capture your family!  You definitely won't regret it.

Photo Shoot

I can't even begin to put into words how excited I am for my sweet friend Heidi to photograph my darling angels tomorrow!  This was supposed to happen a while back, but there was a glitch.  So, tomorrow morning we are off to visit Heidi and her camera!  The boys are excited because I told them Heidi was taking them to an area that has a creek and they get to be "all boy".  Hmmm...if you could have seen the gleam in Austin's eyes!  Look out Heidi :)

Heidi will try to tell you she's NOT a photographer, just a teacher.  I have so many things to say about that, but I'll leave it at BALONEY!  She's BOTH and so much more. She's an amazing friend with so many talents.  She has a heart of gold and you would be so blessed to meet her!

Jump on over to her newest blog Captured by Heidi and check out the MAGNIFICENT photos she has been taking.  You'll see why I'm so excited to have her take the boys' picture tomorrow!  She still has some available summer dates available if you are interested in having some photos done.  You definitely won't regret it!

We made it!

Sing it with me now...   SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER…

I LOVE SUMMER!!! I’ve had so many worries during the last 2 months of school it was ridiculous.  I am officially done and am turning those worries all over to God (tried to awhile ago and just wasn’t very successful with it) and will tackle the new “worries” of summer all by myself – I’m pretty sure I can handle these J 

What will I feed the boys for three different meals a day?

Will the weather cooperate so we can go to the pool?

Do I go for a walk in the morning or later in the day?

Do I have to mow the lawn today, or can I get away with waiting until tomorrow?

Which park should we go to?

Which day or night is available to scrapbook with my friends?

Do I need to buy more sunscreen?

Do we have baseball again tonight?

Which neighbors will be around to play with today?

Will we camp this weekend?

Do I shower this morning or wait until after we’ve been to the pool?

Where’s my make-up?  Oh yeah…I don’t wear any in the summer!

Is it cool enough to open the windows?

I wonder how many of my friends will show up at the pool so I can socialize to the best of my ability?

Did I apply the sunscreen to everyone, including myself?

Which book should I read next?

Yeah…I can take care of these things.  The other stuff belongs to Him!  It's good to finally get my head on straight!