Pure Summer Randomness

Sometimes its nice to do random posts---its the random stuff of everyday life that I want to remember.  Here are some random things that have been happening around here. 

1.  Sometimes kindness of others just blows me away.  Yesterday I got a call from Emma's teacher's aide from last year's PreK.  Her mom has Celiac disease so she was so wonderful with Emma this past year---always checking the snacks and reporting about belly aches, etc.  I had been telling her throughout the year that I just hadn't found the right bread recipe yet.  She called yesterday and said that her mom wanted to make us a loaf of bread and bring it out so she could talk to me about the resources she has found to live gluten-free.  I was blown away.  How kind.  It litreally brought me to tears.  Well, she came over with pepperoni rolls, buns, bread, and a vast array of resources for me.  She was so great to talk to---she has had Celiac for 15 years and she knows where to find the best stuff. 

2.  Most people know that I LOVE a good book.  I love a book you can get lost in.  I would much rather read than watch TV.If it weren't for football season, Marty and I would ditch our cable.  I'm always listening to what book is popular right now and usually jump on a book if its highly recommended.  I read the Hunger Games trilogy and loved it.  Then everyone started talking about Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and how they couldn't put the books down. Well, I am not a prude about sex by any means.  I think great sex is a key to a great marriage. However, I got about 1/3 through the first book and knew that God was convicting me about reading it. I am a very visual person and I don't need to read about others having erotic sex.  I can't say that I wanted to quit reading it (just being honest here), but I did.  I would like to know how the plot ended though!

3. Marty surprised me by tiling a decorative border around my bathtub while I was in Florida.  He and Ryan worked on it until 2:30 one morning. Its wonderful to have such great friends!  I will post pictures once its grouted. 

4.  Our garden is doing great despite the oppressive heat.  I'm still praying though that we have a late harvest.  I can't imagine canning in this heat!! 

5.  Something that I love about Reese right now:  he is not satisfied with a pat answer.  He is always investigating and drawing his own conclusions about something.   I love to see his wheels turning.   He is always thinking and analyzing everything.  I often thank God for internet when he's asking me all kinds of questions. I am grateful that we can look up stuff quickly in this day and age!

6.  Something I love about Emma right now:  she always has a song in her head.  ALWAYS!!  She will randomly break out into song during any and every activity. She is such a happy girl, except when she's NOT =).

7.  Something I love about Marty right now:  he truly loves others and will help anyone out that asks.  He has been checking on a widow shut-in in his hometown for several months now---bringing his kit and making sure she's doing OK.  No one has asked him to do this.He doesn't tell people about it so that he gets recognition for it.  He just feels led to do it.  I love his heart for others.  I also love his face when he's trying not to laugh when the kids say something funny.  OK, that's a couple things .  . . . . .

8.  Reese grabbed me and hugged me the other day and exclaimed, "I love you Mom.  I wish this summer would never end!"  My sentiments exactly!

9.  I did a  Jillian Michaels exercise DVD the other day for abs, and I was so sore the other day that I could barely walk. Oh . . . . and I only got through half of it.  I always think I'm in pretty good shape until I do one of her videos.  She is brutal. 

10.  The other day Reese and his neighborhood friends got a wiffle ball game going.  I'm trying not to be such a helicopter mom this summer and give him a little independence.  I was folding laundry in his room and watching out the window unbeknownst to him!  It was hilarious.  It was five boys and they couldn't get through a couple plays before they were arguing about the rules.  Then about 20 minutes later I saw them chuck the game and their shirts/shoes and jump in the pool. They did ask the neighbor's mom first so that was good.   Boys!! I'm not sure I'll ever understand these complex creatures. 

11.  I've turned into a morning person.  Don't tell my Mom.  She will never believe it.  When Marty and I were married and we had to spend 6 months apart because of his practicums. I would stay up to 2 or 3 in the morning and watch crime/police shows.  I know . . . . that's weird.  Now, I would much rather get up early and walk, read, or clean before anyone else gets up.  I have absolutely NO energy in the evenings.  Sometimes I leave my house a wreck and go to bed.  I could never do that before kids. It would have bothered me.  Now, I just get up and tackle it first thing in the morning. 

12. After a few days of fighting, I started a summer schedule for the kids.  I think they were having a hard time transitioning from the structure of school to no structure.  We have scheduled snacks and meals. They have some different chores than during the school year in addition to the daily expectations of making their bed.  These must be completed before our special afternoon activity: pool, library, park, board game, etc.  In the late afternoon, upon our return, we have an hour of "quiet time".  They bucked this at first, but now they love it.  I think they need it. They don't have to nap obviously but they have to do a quiet activity in their room. Reese usually reads the whole time.  Emma usually takes some puzzles or a sticker activity.  It is a quiet reprieve from a boisterous day for me, and I usually start dinner.  Now that we've started the hour of quiet time, I'm not sure how I've lived without it.   Even as I'm writing this I'm thinking about how I'm not a "schedule" type person.  Funny how things work out. 

13.  My mom and I took my nephews and my kids to Idlewild the other day. It was a lot of fun even though I'm not an amusement park sort of person.  I do like the water slides though.  We had so much fun.  Then at dinner we were laughing so hard, my sides hurt.  My nephew Zac and my Mom are hilarious and they were also deliriously tired which made for interesting dinner conversation. 

I think that's enough randomness for now.