Friday, June 27, 2008

Summer At It's Best

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
This week was a week of firsts for my boys. Especially Benny. He got to see all the best things about summer, and he was loving it. They all were.

We found a fabulous park right behind my dad's nursing home complete with a merry-go-round! The boys had never even seen a merry-go-round before because some all-wise-power-that-be decided to take them out of all the public parks. Such a disgrace. I was so excited to find this one. We all jumped on and I taught the boys one of my favorite park games from my childhood. Dropped it, got it. Do you know it? You all lie down on your bellies on the merry-go-round, spin it around, and take turns dropping a stick on the ground for everyone to try and grab. The person who grabs the stick off the ground is the next one to drop it. You try and drop it way under the merry-go-round or far enough out to make it really hard to reach. Doesn't sound like much, but it is a ton of fun.

Joey loved to be the pusher and then jump on when it finally got fast enough. Grandpa was just off camera sitting at a picnic table laughing and enjoying watching the boys. It was a great day and now the boys want to go visit grandpa all the time. hehe

This week the weather finally got warm enough to set up the pool for the first time. It was also the first time Ben was able to play in the pool. Last year he was too new. I think he liked it.
And it was the first time the big boys were brave enough to dunk their whole bodies into the cold water. It really didn't take too much convincing.
This week was the first time all three boys went to the zoo together. We were able to meet up with my best friend (since first grade!) and her adorable kids and we all had a blast. The kids liked seeing the animals but loved playing in the huge play area.
The only way I could tear them away was to promise them a ride on the train. A very small train, I might add. While we were on the train Tommy announced, "This is my first time on a train!" Another first for all of my boys! They were so tuckered out from playing at the zoo that they all fell asleep in the car in about two minutes and remained asleep for almost the whole two hour car ride home. Another first! This week Ben decided to slide down the slide all on his own for the very first time. I even managed to capture the moment with my camera!Climbing to the top. Sitting down. Letting go! And touchdown!

It was an amazing week. I was even able to maintain the go-with-the-flow attitude (although discipline is definitely still on the menu- can't have sassy kids, ya know) I've been working so hard at. I was the kind of mom I wanted to be. I just hope I can keep it up.
And there was no time for melancholy. I was too busy having fun and making memories.

43 comments:

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

You guys sure have been busy. Looks like a lot of fun!

Kathryn said...

Lots of first, lots of fun! Your boys are adorable!!

imbeingheldhostage said...

Awww, I wanted to say it was a first for me to be first, but I was on the phone and missed it.
What a great summer of memories you're making for your boys-- along with pictures.
I am living through you since we really haven't had summer yet STILL. Today I needed a jacket to walk the 100 steps or so to the school :-(
Get those boys some drinks with umbrellas in them for that pool!

Unknown said...

What fun!! Things do seem to run smoother when everyone is having a good time doesn't it? Too bad life has to get in the way sometimes. :)

Homegrown Tribe said...

looks like so much fun! love all the pictures

brittany

Molly's Mom said...

Your little dudes are so, so cute! That park near your dad's nursing home looks great...shady, etc. I always wondered why they have to put playgrounds right in the blazing hot sun! We live right by the elementary school and, surprise-they have 2 merry-go-rounds! I can't quite believe it, since the school is only a couple years old. I have some occupational therapist friends who say that kids actually need to spin; it regulates their sensory and vestibular systems somehow...

Tonya said...

So many firsts! What a big week you had and sounds like a lot of fun!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Making memories is the best.
Wonderful post! YAY for no melancholy!

Lisa said...

Looks like a great week, Kathryn! I just love Ben's pictures on the slide. Too, too cute, I tell ya! Keep enjoying these amazing times we are blessed with!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Oh Kathryn those are the PERFECT summer shots(and you should totally enter this into the PSF mr. linky). I LOVE that kangaroo one - hilarious!

Momisodes said...

Sounds like such a wonderful week :) So glad to hear it's been fun, warm week full of memories and firsts!

Hope it carries on into the weekend!!! :)

Anonymous said...

Remember that post in the dead of winter where you laid in the sunlight from the window? This is what you were dreaming of, isn't it? What a great week!

Brittany said...

Looks like such a FUN week!! :)

EatPlayLove said...

We recently had a park completely revamped in my neighborhood and they put in a merry go round, to my delight. The catch is it super hard to turn and doesn't go very fast. So, it's always a bit of a disappointment for the girls and a work out for me!

Looks like a great week of Firsts..

lime said...

oh this post makes me smile. thank you so much. makes me happy to know you had such a great week. and i soooo want to go to that zoo so i can climb in the kangaroo pouch! yeah, i may be 39 but i'd totally do that!

Roxy Wishum said...

You have very cute, happy boys! I am glad they want to play where they can make grandpa laugh.

Kellan said...

What a great week - how fun!

Have a good weekend - Kellan

Anonymous said...

there are so many wonderful memories captured here! but my fave would have to be the Kanga photo - too adorable for words!

dawn klinge said...

I miss those merry go rounds! It sounds like such a great week and your boys look so happy. Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Great story and photos! I love the little one sliding...what a doll.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Wendy said...

Oh, I love summertime fun! I also miss those merry go rounds...How on earth did we all survive such dangerous childhoods? Merry go rounds, metal lunchboxes, see saws, diving boards on pools, etc.

Mary Beth said...

That is such a cool way to spend the week! Your boys look like they're having such a good time - especially Ben in the pool. What a face!

Cyndi said...

He looked like he had a lot of fun this summer! What a grin!

Kristen said...

Oh I am just loving summer with you too now. Those are some fabulous pictures and so glad that you got Ben's first slide. Again great pictures!

And what ever happened to merry-go-rounds. I have never thought that I haven't seen one till you mentioned it. Glad your dad is enjoying time with the kids outdoors. I am sure that that your time spent together is food for everyone's soul!

dianna said...

How fun is that*?*

Always nice to feel great about your Mommy~ness...we doubt ourselves entirely too much as Moms I think.

( You'll need that go with the flow attiutude if your Joey's preminition is true :0 )

Unknown said...

So much joy in all these pictures Kathryn. I love it. Glad you are takin' the laid back approach. Wish I could do the same more often.

Love the pics of you and the boys on the train and the kangaroo one - that made me laugh. Have a great weekend!

Cecily R said...

Summer pictures are my favorite...such blissful lazy happiness!

Thanks so much for playing PSF with us...this was a perfect entry!!

Kelly said...

What an awesome week! I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying yourself and making some wonderful memories with the boys~

just jamie said...

LOVE these moments. Thanks for sharing them. I want to set up a baby pool now (yeah, AND crawl into a kangaroo pouch).

Mary Beth said...

P.S. I left you something on my blog today:)

david mcmahon said...

So much joy in your post, Kathryn. God bless your family.

(Impressed with the Aussie touch - the kangaroo. Did you post that just for me? !!!!)

Bren said...

Oh, Kathryn! How awesome is it that you found a park near your dad so he can enjoy watching the boys play?

I love the pic of you in the train with your boys and also the slide series. Very cute!

Anonymous said...

Oh so much fun! And I'm thrilled that it is so near to your dad and that he was able to be a part of the day as well. That's got to be extra special.

I get really annoyed that parks no longer have the "real stuff" like they did when I was growing up. I mean, yes, I get it that kids can get hurt, but it does seem to have gone overboard in my opinion. Yay for a merry-go-round! I'd never heard the game, but I bet it was fun!

Tiffany said...

Great pics - I love enjoying the summer through the world of children - they look like they are having so much fun and good for you to be making amazing memories!

Hilary said...

What a great day! That shot of your little one in the pool, holding the cup of water. . his face is priceless. Same with the second to last shot on the slide. Great stuff!

Everyone is commenting on what happened to merry-go-rounds. It occurs to me that it's been forever since I've been to a playground. Time to remedy that!

Rose said...

Kathryn, I'm glad you added this to Mr. Linky! What great summer firsts for all the boys. It is a shame that all the merry-go-rounds are gone from the parks. I loved them, although they made me very motion sick and I couldn't ride them for very long - at all.

BTW - I love your music and that you have it set to random play so that I never hear the same first thing when I pop over to visit.

Natalie Jane said...

I just thought I'd let you know that my dad was the lawyer behind removing the merry-go-rounds in all parks. Not kidding.

I won't tell him about this one. I miss them too.

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

I LOVE Merry Go Rounds. Such fun pics!

Steph

Anonymous said...

Looks like a great week of summer fun. I love it when everything just comes together. What a blessing.

And the merry-go-round? My daughter loves it. I get queasy just watching her go round and round.

Cynthia said...

Love the pic of you and the kiddos on the train! We tried to ride the train at the zoo, and they wouldn't let me ride...so the kiddos chickened out...ah well:)

JEWELGIRL said...

Merry Go Rounds like those ARE the
best, you learn to HOLD on after
the first time you fall off, I know
I fell off! Boy they are growing up so fast, they'll be text messaging
before you know it!!! LOL

Stephanie said...

I wish I could have had your week. Looks way more fun than mine was. Those are fantastic pictures!!

And good job with maintaining the go-with-the-flow attitude!!

Scrappy said...

I just can't get over how adorable your children are. :) Great pictures! Looks like fun!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson