Monday, June 29, 2015

Birthday Festivities

I cringe when I see moms write, "When does school start? I can't handle having the kids home all Summer." Whereas I appreciate their honesty, I think "Time is so precious before my boys grow up and move out and then making memories will be completely different. I cherish this time!". I've loved every minute of Summer with P home and I'm dreading the end of his Summer break. In fact, we've had so much fun that I've actually thought about homeschooling him just so we can keep having fun. OK, not really. I'm start enough to know the difference between Summer fun and School Year work. I am also smart enough to know that, even though I am a certified teacher, I would not be a good teacher for him. Our bond is too strong to have it be muddled with school.
At the beginning of his Summer break I bought a huge piece of poster board and we wrote out a Bucket List, things he wanted to do over his break. We have done all but a couple of the little things to date and I told him today that I just can't justify taking him to one of his last places he wants to go to. (Honestly I'm hoping he forgets about the place because it's boring after an hour and overly expensive for what is offered). We have gone to the water park, bowling alley, dollar movies, splash parks, trampoline place, blueberry farm, fishing and to the beach. But with all that I have never spent more than $20 a week for entertainment. I've tried to keep our fun activities on a realistic budget (Although tomorrow I may break that with a trip to a place we've both been wanting to go to for awhile).
Another thing he wanted to do was celebrate his birthday. (What 6 year old doesn't??) I told him he wasn't getting a huge party because we went to Disney World and have a couple other trips planned this Summer. He was okay with that. But, true to form, I like to make birthdays a week long celebration. So this past weekend we went to my in-laws' to start his birthday celebration week off with a bang (literally!). We spent the days in the pool and then we had a HUGE feast complete with birthday cake and presents before going out on a boat to watch fireworks on the lake. It was such a fun weekend! On the way home yesterday I was thinking about how loved our boys are. We have family and friends out West and in the South that just cherish our boys and lavish them with love. I hope they both realize what a blessing that is and that not every child is loved as much as they are!






Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Humbled and Amazed

At the end of the school year I was becoming worried about our oldest son's behavior. He's a people pleaser and a follower, which can lead to trouble (as I should know). But, in the past month, since school has been out for the Summer, he has reverted back to the sweet, compassionate, thoughtful boy we know and love. He often amazes me and even humbles me with his actions. Today was one of those days. When I woke up this morning, he was quick to tell me that he had already gotten Easton something to eat so I could sleep in. WHAT?? What (almost) 6 year old does that? Then we went to the park for awhile. E was trying my patience so P stepped in and said, "Mom, I'll help him. You can take a break." Again I ask WHAT?? For the first time ever I was able to sit and enjoy watching both my boys play at the park without having to jump up to help one-or both- of them. Before we got ready to leave, the boys wanted to swing but there were only 2 swings available. A boy and a girl were already on them so my boys stepped off to the side to patiently wait for the swings to become open. The 2 kids on the swings started making fun of my boys because P accidentally went in the girls' bathroom while rushing to help his little brother use the potty. One of the little girls on the swings was relentless in making comments about this, as most children are. But, P rose above and seemed to brush it off, not letting it phase him the way it was phasing me (Think Mama Bear with high blood pressure!). Then the girl has the audacity to ask if I'd push her on the swing. I quickly answered a resounding "no!". But my sweet little boy stepped in and said he'd push her. Talk about a humbling experience! My 6 year old was being a WAY better Christian witness than me with his kindness!! When the kids were called to get back on the bus she got off the swing without so much as a thank you. I should've learned from my son's kindness but I couldn't keep my snide comment about lacking manners to myself. Oops! (insert winking emoticon)
The rest of the day he continued his awesome behavior. He constantly asked how he could help me and would jump right in, being the "man of the house" as he likes to proclaim when Rob is working. Most days I'm in awe of my boys (at this stage in life for completely different reasons). Today not only was I in awe but I was humbled by my sweet boy, who has no problem putting others before himself and shows an abnormal amount of maturity in so many areas of life. I'm blessed to be his mom and I hope he can say he's blessed to be my son....even if he has to teach me lessons about life every now and then.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Father's Day

A God fearing Christian. A calm in the midst of storms. A shoulder to cry on. A confidant. A leader. A man of integrity. A voice of reason. A man of his word. An encourager. A listening ear. A friend. A support.
 My dad.

Most children don't have a dad or know who their dad is. Some children live an abusive life at the hands of their dad. Some will spend eternity outside of heaven because their dad never talked to them about Jesus. Fortunately, that is not my life. My dad has been a blessing since Day 1 in this world. He has been a "hands-on" dad since I could remember, making time for me and my brother even when he was exhausted. He has always let everyone know that his family is his #1 priority, right after serving God. I never had to guess where I stood in my dad's eyes because I know. He loves me with every ounce of his being and has proven that time and time again in my life. From little things like reading me books, playing games with me, trying to tutor me in math (ok, maybe that was a big thing!), teaching me how to fix things, letting me talk to him without asking me to be quiet even if my stories were never ending, lifting me up instead of putting me down, leading family devotions, taking us on road trips...to big things like helping me get my first job and my first car, sleeping on the couch multiple nights when I threatened to run away from home, disciplining in a calm voice instead of raising his hand at me or screaming at me, guiding me in major decisions, encouraging me in different avenues of life, giving me parenting advice and most importantly loving me like Jesus does.
Very few, and I mean VERY FEW, people have earned being on a pedestal in my life but my dad is one of them. 2 Bible verses come to mind when I think of him: "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint and a man of understanding is even-tempered." (Prov. 17:27) and 1 Cor. 13 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." You could easily replace "love" and "it" with my dad's name and the verse would describe my dad perfectly. My dad is about as close to perfect as one human can get- at least in my eyes.
I've been blessed to call him Dad, to know that this Godly man is one of my biggest influences in how I parent today. I wish I could be as calm and as even tempered as he is but I'm still thankful for all the lessons he's taught me in life.
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there but especially to the ones who go above and beyond to not only tell their children but SHOW their children how important they truly are! I love you, Dad!!


Thursday, June 18, 2015

Water Week

At the beginning of the week, I dubbed this "Water Week". We started the week at Bass Pro, feeding ducks and playing on the boats. Tuesday I took the boys and P's best friend to the splash pad/park for the morning. Yesterday we went swimming at a friend's house. Today we were supposed to go to the community water park but I didn't want to spend a 3rd morning in the sun/water so luckily Rob saved the day. He asked P if he wanted to take the boat out tonight for some father/son fishing, which thrilled him. And tomorrow we'll top off the week with a day trip to the beach. It's been fun and has made for some good afternoon nap times. The only reason I had my camera out at one of our outings was to mess with a feature I'm trying to perfect so you get the benefit of seeing some of our water week.....





Tuesday, June 16, 2015

P's Go Kart

I got a go kart.

(written by an-almost- 6 year old who had a lot more to say but decided TV was more important)

Celebrating 7 years

7 years ago Sunday I became Mrs. Herrington. In years past, we've taken turns planning our anniversary celebration but this year we weren't sure the weather would cooperate. So we took the boat to a local river and enjoyed hours on the peaceful water. We tried to drive the boat to one of our favorite restaurants on an adjoining lake but I got "seasick" so we turned back around. After the time on the river we drove to the restaurant. Then we ran back to the house long enough to clean up before going shopping (The 2nd time I've gotten my husband to go in a mall with me in the past 8 years we've known each other!) and ending the evening at the movies (Public announcement: don't go see "Aloha". Although it's a clean movie, it is horribly written). We exchanged gifts but I told him the best gift he gave me was spending the weekend with me (and the boys on our actual anniversary) instead of working. I cherish our dates and wished they happened more regularly. Sunday, thanks to some friends, we had a family anniversary date to Rob's favorite restaurant. It was such a perfect weekend!
I'd love to say our 7 years of marriage has been just as perfect as our anniversary weekend but that would be impossible with 2 imperfect people living under the same roof, trying to raise 2 young human beings to the best of our ability. We have a lot of fun times together but we also have our share of disagreements. But through it all we've learned a lot about ourselves and how to make a marriage work. There have been times I've wanted to throw in the towel but, thankfully, my husband has stuck it out, willing us to work on whatever the issue was at hand. I'm glad I have someone who takes his wedding vows seriously, someone who knows it's not always going to be perfect and/or easy but that our marriage is worth fighting for when push comes to shove. I'm blessed to be married to Rob and to walk through life with him.

Friday, June 5, 2015

Here Gator, Gator!

I've been obsessed with getting pictures of gators since first meeting Rob. I have yet to get one I'm proud of...until last night. We took our boat out right before sunset and came across flying fish and a photogenic gator. Rob was having fun casting his bait near the gator and it was having "fun" chasing it. It made for a great photo shoot and some amused boys. I've been told by a few Southerners that it's okay to swim in the water with gators but I think I'll just take their word for it. I'm perfectly happy sitting in the safe boat, taking pictures of them instead. Here are my favorites from last night:

 
 





Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Sleep Differences

Although my boys are extremely close, they couldn't be more different. I've mentioned some of their differences before, but last night I became aware of even more. E has become high maintenance when it comes to naps and bedtime. Whereas he used to fall asleep within a few minutes, it now can take him up to an hour to fall asleep...and he wants me with him until it happens. So, while I laid on his bed last night, praying for him to fall asleep faster than usual, I noted how the boys even sleep differently. When E is put to bed he likes his lower back rubbed nice and slow. P wants his back scratched as hard as I can (which isn't hard since I bite my nails. He always asks me to do it harder). When E is falling asleep, 9 times out of 10 he'll roll onto his stomach, put his right arm up on his pillow and face the wall before heading into his dream sleep. P almost always falls asleep on his back, on top of the covers. P, however, dresses like it's snowing outside and complains he's cold at bedtime. But E sweats to death and likes to be bundled up in blankets. Once they're asleep, P can sleep through anything. I can, and have, vacuumed in his room while he's napped and he hasn't even moved. E, on the other hand, complained that he couldn't sleep because the analog clock on the wall "beeped". So I had to take the batteries out of it just so he'd go to sleep. It cracks me up how different two kids from the same parents can be but like I've said many times, I also appreciate their differences. Even if they are different as night and day. Get it???!! :)