Back to school, the half-assed edition

Before we get to that thing that started yesterday, I would just like to say that I think last summer lasted longer because I posted a picture and/or blogged nearly every day. I think I'm going to have to go back to that, even though it's more work for me and is going to require me to really find my camera battery recharger rather than halfheartedly picking things up to look under them now and then. Because this summer went too fast. And I'm usually beyond ready for the kids to go back when it's time, but this year we could have used a little more time. Maybe we'll hit the water park this weekend just to pretend.

OK, so school, and (not coincidentally) my job, started back this week. And in contrast to last year when both boys started new schools the same week I started a new job, it was quite calm around here. Reece was a little clingy at the bus stop, but Greyson didn't even want me to go to the bus stop with him. I didn't even get around to taking a picture until the second day. We've hired yet another new babysitter for after school (only two days a week this time), but we're already very happy with her. Of course, our expectations have been lowered a bit from "Mary Poppins" to "makes the kids do their work without scarring them emotionally and doesn't quit suddenly". Reece is now going to aftercare three days a week, which he's thrilled about because they have snacks. I told him today his sweet tooth is as big as his head, but since he didn't know what a sweet tooth was, I ended up doing much explaining and the joke was lost along the way.

New 1st grader with a new backpack, on the second day of school

 

The other big news is that the boys now each have their own room! Greyson has what was known as the Browns room (and still has the same decor - a benefit of having boys!), and Reece's is being called the Indians room thanks to the pictures that were already in there and a little help from Pottery Barn Kids. It was beyond time for Greyson, although Reece told me tonight in a pitiful voice, "I'm just not ready to have my own room." And then he promptly fell asleep. Their room is now the office/computer room/spare bedroom, and when it's finally organized enough that you can see the floor, I'll post pictures. Besides better sleeping, another benefit is that I found my PhD diploma when we uncovered the top of one of the desks. I now have it framed and just have to have it hung in my office so I can finally feel like I belong there.

Last lazy, hazy days of summer vacation

It's getting to be that time. I officially report back to work on Monday (although I've been doing lots of work all summer here and there), and the kids go back to school Tuesday. Reece is pretty blase about it; Greyson wants to run for the hills but is working his way toward acceptance. We did find out two girls Reece knows (one of whom he considers one of his best friends) will be in his class this year. No word on Greyson's closest friends, but there are so many 6th grade classrooms at his school, since it's the entire district together, that odds are not good and it doesn't really matter anyway. He spends so much time away from his homeroom that he sees them all enough one way or another.

So, how have we been spending our last days of freedom? Lots of time with the cousins, quite a bit on the computer playing non-educational games, and more time watching Netflix than I care to admit. Also, last Saturday Dan went to the Indians games with his cousins, Greyson went to a birthday party and the Browns' game, and Reece and I were left to fend for ourselves. Our choice - Wildwater Kingdom! I cannot recommend the season pass enough if you think you'd go at least twice, because it comes with free parking ($7 otherwise), and coupons for a free admission (1) as well as reduced admission (2) for a friend. Except for Reece (being under 48" tall), it cost the same to buy a season pass as it would have to go two times anyway. So, I just need to take Greyson once more to make it fully pay for itself and then some, since I used the free coupon for Reece last weekend. Have I thoroughly confused you? Oh, well. I would also like to say that it was fun for me to take each kid alone to the park, because we could just focus on what he wanted to do for once. Sometimes, the age difference is a bit of a problem around here.

We spent yesterday at the beach with my sister-in-law and the cousins, and I might take both boys back to Wildwater Kingdom on Friday for a last-ditch summertime activity, and then I fear we're on to feeling like it's autumn even if it isn't. We already did Greyson's supply shopping and are waiting to hear from Reece's teacher about specifics, since when I go with the generic list the school's website provides, I always seem to get not quite the right items and then I have to whine and flop about. We have enough of that going on around here without me adding to the angst.

I'm also following my pattern of not taking pictures, so you only get two today. Reece eating his dessert treat at the water park, and the full-size flag pole our crazy neighbors have put up (most likely without getting any sort of permit, but that's a story for a different day). The pole even has its own lighting but no flag yet. I'm afraid of which one it will be...

I'll be viewing this post daily in February

Last summer, I blogged nearly every day with at least a photo, and that worked great. This summer, I'm barely blogging at all and when I am, it's just to summarize our latest trip. Which is also working great. Now, if only I could jump ahead 10 years to see which one I prefer viewing in hindsight, that would be a big help.

One of the many reasons for the light posting this season is that I seem to always be missing either my camera or the battery recharger or the cord that I have to use to download the pictures to the computer, or sometimes all three. Currently, the recharger is missing and has been since before we left for our latest trip, so I didn't even take the camera along. We made do with our phones and (gasp!) a one-use camera with REAL FILM in it. Between trying to save those 27 shots for "good" pictures and not wanting to take our phones anywhere near water or sand if at all possible, we didn't actually take that many pictures (and I haven't gotten the film developed yet). So, you'll mostly have to take my word for what we did and what fun we had.

So, about this latest trip...we knew going into it that we were completely insane for visiting Florida in the summer. But, we made what we thought was the best possible plan that involved 90% of our time in or very near to water and/or air conditioning. And, for the most part, that worked. It's the other 10% that nearly killed us. If only it were possible to store up vitamin D for six months, we'd be set through most of the worst of the winter around here. We flew down last Thursday (Dan and Greyson on one airline, Reece and me on another - a longish and boring story goes with that), rented a car, drove to our Disney resort and checked in relatively quickly, and then after eating a lovely seafood dinner, Greyson and I checked out one of the resort's pools. The next day, since we had 1-day park-hopper passes, we visited three of the four major Disney parks starting at 9am and ending at 1am, with an afternoon siesta back at our room. Except for the excruciating heat, we really enjoyed the day, got to ride nearly every ride we wanted (some more than once), and Reece didn't fall asleep until we were nearly ready to leave anyway. We even got to eat at our favorite restaurant, the 50's Prime Time Cafe, where they treat you like you're the kids at Momma's house and make you set the table and don't let you put your elbows on the table (oh, and have the best pot roast we've ever tasted). Our server nicknamed Greyson "Sparky" and Reece "Scooter", I was "Snickerdoodle", and Dan was "Daddio". The boys liked their nicknames so much we're still calling them those from time to time.

Reece and I found a store that had lovely fans where we could wait while Dan and Greyson rode a ride. Reece is wet partly from a spray area we walked through and partly from sweat.

This was a fun and fascinating interactive game on saving money at Epcot. Also, it was air conditioned. 

The boys started pin trading this year, which involved first buying some pins to trade, and then buying more. It was actually a fun way to tie the whole day together, and they both developed their own plans for trading methods and what to look for.

On Saturday, Dan's mom and his niece joined us at the resort to spend the day swimming in the pool, which was lovely. Then, on Sunday we spent time at Dan's sister's before we all drove 1 1/2 hours to another resort on the Atlantic, where we all shared a 3-bedroom villa. Dan attended a conference there while the rest of us swam, ate, drank, and napped. The big news was that Reece started swimming! He'd been fighting it for quite a while and even didn't really want to put his face in the water when we first got down there, but as with all things with him, when he's ready, he just does it.

Carly

Reed, fitting perfectly in a nightstand.

We also visited the Castillo de San Marcos and the Pirate and Treasure Museum in St. Augustine, and then the day before we left for home we spent at the beach. I wish we had done the beach twice, because the kids just could not get enough of the waves. Reece even "surfed" using a boogie board and will be happy to tell you about his tremendous spill (which freaked him out at first but now has become equivalent to a fish story).

Reece had just flopped down on the sand like this, so Carly walked over to him to see if something was wrong and I asked her to stay there and pose as if she was concerned (which is why Reece is smiling).

I don't have any pictures of Greyson from the beach because he spent all his time out in the water and I wasn't going NEAR that with my phone. He got quite good at body surfing and boogie board surfing but of course felt he was just getting the hang of it when we had to leave (drama!).

Next week the boys have camp at Kent State so I can be in my office all week catching up on everything I didn't get to while I was nearly dying from heat stroke and shriveling up from all the water contact, then they have one more week of freedom and school starts on the 23rd. Crazy. I think we could all use one more month of summer vacation.