1st week of summer, Arlington style

Although we've done a lot of playing this summer with our big trip, it hasn't felt like summer until now.  When we got back, I had two weeks to get everything ready for cub scout day camp.  We finished up with day camp last week and now it feels like it's time to play.  I started by getting the calendar out and scheduling some fun.  I started with the Saturdays since that's when Dode can play too.  We're having a family party on August 7th and a party for our ward family two weeks later.  We've got a few family hikes scheduled and a trip to Sucia Island in the Puget Sound on the boat.  Next, I chose something fun to do each Thursday.  Woodland Park Zoo, 3-2-1 Bounce, Jetty Island, surfing and hopefully a trip to Oak Harbor to see the cousins.  That didn't feel like enough playing yet so every Wednesday evening is boating, rain or shine!  Lastly, it still didn't quite feel like a full schedule so Mondays are "park" days. We've got lots of fun parks within a 30 minute drive from home so we'll be making the rounds.  This Monday it's Forest Park in Everett where the girls can wear their new swim cover ups I made them after playing in the spray pool, pictures to follow!  I love to do fun things with the kids but find it's so easy to talk myself out of it due to low energy, errands, projects at home, etc.  When it's scheduled on the calendar, I'm much better at feeling "obligated" to play ( I know that sounds pathetic).  All that playing begins the week of July 25th, this week was for getting stuff done.

I hadn't done true grocery shopping since getting home from our trip and some of our staples were running low.  (We'd gone through six containers of peanut butter on the trip and had used up the rest since getting home.)  This week it was time to fill the cupboards.  I felt very frugal Tuesday as I did my bargain grocery shopping stacking coupons and hitting the jackpot of marked down meat, hit Rite Aid for the rebate items, stopped at the bread outlet, stopped at the fabric store to pick up some patterns on sale for 99 cents, then walked over to Value Village to look for some new church dresses for the girls ($3.99 each).  All that on the way to pick up newspapers in order to save gas by doing it in one trip.

Then, on Thursday Miriam had to get a filling at the dentist which she was dreading.  It made it a bit easier for her to handle because she went to spend the night at Millie's after the dentist.  Dode had made plans with Jacob to take him and his friends out boating after work so once he got home, he grabbed the boat and van and was off.  It's the first trip for the boat this season.  Dode managed to let everyone have a great time and get them all home safe and sound.

I ended up babysitting for Sheri as a last minute emergency.  We don't have any little ones left at home but Seth and Ellie didn't seem to mind drinking Aunt Stephanie's special milk concoction of fat free milk with a shot of whipping cream.  Seth is a fellow of few words and it's hard to know what he wants.  I figured out he really likes cantaloupe after he and William finished off an entire melon just the two of them.  I don't know that Ellie enjoyed her first sleep over.  She went to sleep just fine (after the to be expected fussing) but was up a few hours later wanting her mom.  She didn't know she was among the enemy until I turned on the light to offer her a cup of milk.  She looked at me, did not like what she saw, and started leaning into Dode who was holding her, until she turned and looked at him and saw another strange person.  Then the tears really began.  We couldn't give her what she wanted and she cried herself to sleep, heartbroken.  She woke up a few hours later to repeat the cycle.  But, morning came and with it the return of mom.  Neither Seth or Ellie were ready to leave.

Friday we had Elizabeth's 10th birthday party. 

It's over a month late due to our trip but worth the wait.  The girls decorated sparkly foam visors,

 beat up on a huge pinata,

and spent a lot of time splashing in the pool. 

We did a Hawaiian theme since that's what we had stored in the garage

Birthday parties are not among my favorite things and I used to limit the kids to one every other year.  When I saw with Jacob how quickly they outgrow wanting a party, I decided to throw caution to the wind and let them have yearly parties.  I have to force myself to schedule them and carry them out but it's a gold star feeling to have the party complete.

William enjoyed repurposing the pinata as a giant silly hat.

Saturday after our produce responsibilities were done, we went to Kyak Point to enjoy the nice weather.  The camera was left at home.  The park was really busy but Dode was kind enough to drop us off down at the beach and drive up the hill where the overflow parking is.  The kids enjoyed swimming in the Puget Sound and playing at the playground.  When everyone was played out, we headed back home for dinner and time in the pool.