Summer’s here, y’all.
We are officially six days into summer break and I have broken up approximately a zillion fights, retrieved countless balls from the neighbor’s yard, and uttered the words “Find something to do to entertain yourselves!” more times than I can count.
I’ve made goop and I’ve been invited to a tea party. That took place at 7 am. And there was no tea, only four plates of cookies.
We’ve colored, watched Full House, played outside, done watercolors and played with PlayDoh.
And by we, I mean they have done all those things. While I was watching in awe of the fact that they accomplished all of this by 9 am.
And then at 9 am I had the thought that IT WAS ONLY 9 AM. And what in the Jose were we (they) supposed to do now?
Kids, man. Where do they get that manic, frantic, unstoppable energy? I’d kill for just a fraction of it!
We’ve had some good days and some lock-me-in-the-crazy house days. Through all the days I’m determined to hold on tight and remember.
Here’s to a fabulous summer. Let us all not kill one another. Let me not feel the pressure of unattainable Pinterest crafts beating down upon me like the fire of a thousand suns. Let us love one another and just be. Let me not feel envy when I see “magical summer” FB status updates. Let me realize that I’m not the only mom reading those updates whilst watching my children poke each other in the eyes.
Cin Cin and Felice Estate, y’all.
xo
We are living the same days on different continents! Love your final paragraph-every word rings true.
Oh man just lolled at work – I’m with ya! I’ve having to hand my two over to a childminder this summer as my mil who usually looks after them is having a small op. The childminder is my neighbour and I fear by the end of the summer she may have moved!
I am actually longing for those days of insanity cause we’re still in school! Summer doesn’t start until next Wednesday and I can’t wait! I agree that I wish I had a bit of that energy. Hang in there, hang onto the last paragraph and remember a glass of wine at night will make it better!! lol
Right there with you!
I feel you. We’ve been on break since the end of May and had to take an unexpected road trip. Lots of fighting and yelling, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Have a great summer!
I hear you! Although it’s slightly different for me here….I just finished my job (we get the summers off because I am part of the school system here) teaching 0-5 year olds….sometimes I have a class of up to 40+ kids and their parents so it can get pretty busy…and keeping them busy is a daily challenge. Their energy is endless but once you get into a routine, and they know what to expect…it helps somewhat….all I can say is….”hang on and enjoy the ride!!!!!” A glass of wine in the evening always helps too ;P
You are definitely NOT the only Mom reading those while her kids are poking eyes out or worse 🙂 And, Harper’s shoes are so cute… Where did you get them and do they come in adult sizes?
Happy summer!
Love how the Cate and Lucy have paired up with the sister they most resemble!
Oh my gosh, YES!! Total recognition here. Thanks for verbalizing so well what I have been feeling. You seriously made my day with the line about Pinterest pressure…I will be laughing about all day.
Yep, we’re on day 6 and I’m exhausted. 2 of my kids are older (10 & 12) so in a way that makes it easier. But we took a trip to Disneyland the week before school got out. Came home to 4 days of cleaning like crazy, the end of school & having company in town. So now that it’s all settled down a bit they’re driving me nuts cause they’re “bored”. Hello??!! Mom just busted her hump for 2 weeks!!! haha Not to mention it’s been cold & rainy the past week…crazy WA June!!! I’m hoping to have some sort of summer list done by next week cause we need some sort of plan!
I would give anything to have those days back again…my girls are 23 & 25, on their own now and miss them so much!! Wish I was your neighbor to help you out:))) your girls make me smile every time I see your posts about them…simply adorable. I know how difficult it can be though and you are doing a fabulous job!!!
Ditto and amen. You always say it exactly how it is. Love that!
Oh, honey! Four girls in one room or two is something else! I know a bit of what it was like when I had a hand in raising 8 kids. His, mine, and ours. Fortunately, we lived on a lake for part of that time and it seemed all the neighbor kids would swim with ours or play with ours. I guess I learned to tune out the chaos.
Love your stories, your travel adventures! Keep it up!!
This photo had me roaring with laughter!!! The faces! The theatrics! The sheer chaos they exude with their expressions! Oh Steph! The summer you will have with these four “characters”! ROFL….
What a cute picture – love their buckets! The little girls look so much like Harper. Sounds like they are so busy! I have 3 girls, and I always thought girls were always so busy and full of energy to practice for when they are a wife/mother and they need to be doing 5 things at once all the time (haha!). My kids were always so good at entertaining themselves until they started school. After they started school, they always needed “help” from me in finding things to do. I miss play-doh! We had all the fun play-doh toys and now that my youngest is 11, we don’t have play-doh in the house anymore. I miss the days when they were little. They loved every idea I had for summer fun. My 14 and 16 yr. olds just want to play on their phones all day. Boring!
Have a great summer!
Oh my! I love reading your blog because I feel like we are living such parallel lives and it’s nice to hear another mom with the same issues. My goal for the summer is survival! Lol. And for my boys to not spend every waking moment on their ipads watching videos or blowing each other up in Minecraft. Who knew that you could actually still fight with your siblings while simultaneously playing on an electronic device? The tears and screaming of “give me back my wood! Mom!!!! He stole my wood” “Mom!!!! He just blew up my palace!” Yikes. I can’t imagine how much more challenging it might be to have summer vacation in another country. Thanks for sharing!!!!
Monica
you are NOT alone, that’s for sure! 🙂 the “heat from a thousand suns” line had me laughing.
and i love the combination of your Southern & Italian greeting!
I feel your pain – my 16yrold grandson & his friend are here for 2 weeks. This is only day 4. We dropped them off at the beach, praying they will really use the sunscreen I sent. My husband is taking a nap & I’m enjoying the quiet. By the time I finish tidying the kitchen from one meal, they’re looking for something else to eat. They have more energy than the eveready bunny & are always wanting to do something. My husband is already marking the days on the calendar until they go home – then I’ll miss him again like crazy!
I’m laughing about the unnattainable Pinterest crafts, you have such a way with words – perfection. We’ve got three weeks or so to go until the summer holidays. With three boys there will be a lot of fighting here too, but like you, I shall be holding on to it all. How wonderful all of that energy is. Wishing you a very happy summer Stephanie. CJ xx
sadie is officially the best face maker in the house! she rocks it!
my kids have already started the “i’m bored” status. I am like, uMMM NO!
my mom didn’t entertain me in summer, she kicked us out in the back 80 acres and called us in for dinner lol!
xoxox have a fun summer steph!
tara
p.s. I have dropped mine off at the local pool, but they ask for money for food, so it’s maybe a few hours of peace for me, but it costs me money LOL!
tara
Ha! Right there with you 🙂 Yeah (both shaking with fear and also excitement) it’s summer!
Hi, mine are freshmen/ freshwomen now. Just had their final testweek, I thought things would be easier once they turned 13 and moved onto grammar school. Well, they’re not. It’s just different, but the same challenge. And yes, they sleep a little later (wake up at 8 o’clock something), but then again they’re the ones who would like to turn off the lights at night, and don’t understand why it has to be me. And still trying to enjoy every minute of it, although young adolescent behaviour sometimes brings out the worst in me! Hang on and enjoy, throw in the odd Disney DVD for some you-time!
Ok. So this is going to sound weird.. but I found high school days to be even crazier. The difference is that I could take a nap. Ha! That is before I had to transport the kids (and their friends) to 10 different events or extra-curricular activities in one day. And have every weekend full to the brim to the extent that we never even had time for a family vacation. I mean even in the summer. To the complaint of extended family. Sigh.
Their facial expressions are hilarious! Enjoy your summer and try to stay sane at the same time mom. 🙂 My girls are teens now so its a whole different world of crazy at our house now. I hope you get a few minutes to yourself daily!