Life Is Beautiful

Our first week of Summer vacation was awesome!  I wore the kids out with walks and trips to the park and we ate pizza and grilled PB & J's.  Our flowers are growing, we did a craft and even had a day of epic naps. This weekend was pretty busy.  David and I swam on Friday night while the kids enjoyed Grandma's house.  It cracks me up when we go to get them...they are constantly eating over there!  Saturday morning, David and I left for an early bike ride.  We made it about 10 miles when disaster struck with Dave's bike.  I back-tracked home while he walked to the nearest store and hung out until I could come back with the car. When I left, he said "Don't kill yourself getting home!"  Of course I heard "Ride, Andrea.  Ride as fast as you can!"  I went 20+mph down the bike path to "rescue" my love.  :)  Burn, baby, burn! When we got home I made some bacon and pancakes, showered and we went to a Family Carnival at David...

We are kicking off the Summer here in Nebraska!  The kids are done with school and will be home with me and on the constant prowl for food and entertainment for the next 12 weeks. Maintaining order (ie. sanity) is hard.  One thing that I have found is a must, is a tentative schedule.  Not so much for activities but for EATING!  With some kids that can get their own snacks and some who can't it never fails that you end up with a big kid eating the last of the _______ at 1:00 in the afternoon while one of the youngers looks on in over dramatized jealousy. MOM!!!! So I set down rules of what can be eaten and when.  I find that also reduces the constant questioning as to when and what we are eating.  Breakfast and snacks are a little more lenient and include some of the same things -- fruit, yogurt, toast, granola. Lunch and dinner are on the table about 11:30 and 5:30.  I write on the fridge white board, a list of the meals I will be making that w...

Here are a few things that every time I use them I think "Wow, this is totally great!"  I thought I would share them with you - AND - I would love the inside track on what you consider some of your favorite things. Continuous spray sunscreen!   I am a simple girl, and I don't usually buy into the latest and greatest thing.  In fact I am about 90 years old at heart.  If I haven't been using it "forever" then it's not worth the extra bucks to try.  Well, I was wrong about this one! One of my daycare clients brought a can of this to use on her little one and now it's ALL we buy for the kiddos.  My favorite sunscreen isn't available in the continuous spray (yet).  I love how well it covers and how FAST it goes on.  I am running around after the kids and spraying it on at the same time!  Oh, I'm gettin good... Yes, it's a multi-tool.  After using David's several times off of his bike, I asked for my own.  They are ...