Thursday-Monday Days 17-21, I think

Another fun-filled weekend. Since I'm posting Monday I can't even remember what we did Thursday. Friday we went over to Jeri's pool to swim, then off to the cabin for boating and dinner. Heather, Matt, and Claire Sandy and the Ebelings went with us to It's on the River for pizza and a dinner cruise on the pontoon. Then we went down to the slough to swim. Stayed over at the cabin Friday-Sunday...swimming, boating, hanging out at the beach... Matt, Claire, Ben, Maddie, and Oscar on Saturday; Cales on Sunday. Jake has a bit of swimmer's ear now. Can't keep him from jumping in and going underwater! We cut the grass at the cabin and cleaned up, reminding the boys that you should always leave someone else's stuff better than when you found it. Happy Joe's for dinner, baths, books, and bed by 8:30!

Monday was uneventful. Went to the doctor to get an Rx for Jake's swimmer's ear, then Frosty's at Wendy's after lunch. The Frosty's were from free certificates for being "caught" by the DNR on the River wearing lifejackets. Well done!

Day 15 and 16

Wow, it's hard to keep up with this everyday! Tuesday I had my class and the boys went to the cabin with my parents. They are getting braver and braver. Jake jumped off the dock alone (with a lifejacket on of course), following his brother, Calvin. Cal would help push him back to the ladder on the dock when he asked for it! I'm so proud of them. It makes me a little nervous to have them jumping into the Mississippi, however they know the rules of no getting in the water or even on the dock for that matter, without a grown-up present.

So, Wednesday we took a break from the cabin after being there for 5 days in a row. Jake was very crabby. I think he was absolutely exhausted from so much swimming, playing, sun, etc. I mowed the lawn and trimmed some bushes, we had lunch, ran over to Aunt Kelli's house and then chilled for the afternoon. Dinner was ribs at the Circle. Yum. The boys went right to bed when we got home about 7:45!

Days 11, 12, 13, 14

Wow, what a weekend! The boys and I went to my parent's cabin on Friday afternoon. My mom's side of the family was coming in for a family reunion. We spent Friday afternoon, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday boating, playing on Princeton beach, eating, chatting, and catching up! All of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins on my mom's side were there at one time or another (except Mike who had to work). It was so fun to watch my cousins children and mine play. Check back for a picture soon.

Who was there?
Pat and Nancy Mitchell (my dad and mom)
Joe, Jonell, and Sophia Mitchell (my brother, sister-in-law, and niece)
Ryan, Stacie, Calvin, and Jake Jantzi (my husband, me, and two sons)
Char and Steve Jones (my aunt and oldest cousin)
Dusty, Heather, Blake, Hailey, and Caden Jones (my cousin, his wife, and their children)
Dyan Hoover, Nikki Wilson, Dakota and Cheyene, Aaron Wilson and Nena (my aunt, counsin and her two kids, cousin and his daughter)
Greg Hoover, Matt Hoover, Steph Hoover and Tateum, Kate Hoover and Jason, Ashley Hoover (my uncle, cousin, cousin and her daughter, cousin and her finace, and cousin)
Carol Vee -aka Scooter- and Ryan and Nora (my aunt and two cousins)
Julie, Alan, and Trey Tucker (my aunt and two cousins)
I think that's everyone...

Day 10 Thursday

After yesterday's busy, busy day I chose to keep the boys at home. I cleaned and they played with Legos most of the morning. There were several thunderstorms so it was a good day to stay home. In the late afternoon it cleared up and we saw the Blue Angels flying over our house. Cool!

Day 9 Wednesday

Today was my oldest son, Calvin's sixth birthday. I can't believe he's already 6! We had a fun filled day. It began at the donut shop with Papa and Maga (my mom and dad). Then we went to the farmer's market for corn on the cob. Next we ate lunch at Happy Joe's (a local pizza place) where they sing a "Happy Birthday" type song and give the bday boy a free sundae. Yum. After lunch we went to Splash Landing and swam for about 2 1/2 hours. Jake fell asleep on the ride home of course. After Cal went to his swimming lesson at 5:00 we had both grandmas, grandpa, Uncles Joe and Jay, Aunts Jonell and Kelli, Cousins Sopia, Mason, Joey, and Aunt Mariellen over for BLTs and corn on the cob. Yum. The boys and I had a great day! Happy birthday, Calvin.

Day 8 Tuesday

Oh, I haven't updated in a while. The boys and I went to the library and registered for the summer reading program. Then we shopped for BLT fixens for Wednesday night. Finally, I golfed with my mom, and friend Marilyn. Yeah, adult time.

Day 7 Monday

Monday was fairly uneventful. We met Aunt Kelli, Mason, and Joey at Target to buy Maga (AKA Grandma) an iPod Shuffle for her birthday. Then we ate together at Chick-Fil-A. Next was a long nap for Jake while Cal and I attempted to put together a Lego motorcycle. Yikes. There must have been 100 steps.

In the evening we went to Kelli and Jay's to have Cheesecake for Maga's birthday. Now my job is to download good, fast, exercise worthy music onto her new iPod (and mine that I got for Mother's Day). I predict I'll have it done by the weekend!

Comments for discussion - What music do you like to exercise to? What toys games do/did your children/students like best?

Day 6 Sunday

We spent the day on the River with my parents, my brother Joe, his wife Jonell, and their daughter Sophia. The boys and Soph got covered in sand on the beach and jumped into the river many, many times. We finally got back to the cabin around 6:30 and took off for home and bed! Of course we needed a Whitey's stop first.

Comment question? What is/was your favorite summer time activity?
As a kid we went to a lake nearly every weekend called Oak Run. My brother and I swam and water skied, and played at the park. I'm hoping to give my boys those kinds of outdoor experiences...

Day 5 Saturday

In the morning I ran Race for the Cure with my mom. We took it at a slow jog (about 12 minute miles) and we were proud to finish without having to walk! We've done it at least 10 times in the past. It's our tradition each June.

In the afternoon we had Calvin's birthday party with some buddies from school. I made a scavenger hunt where they had to read simple clues (like Dad cooks outside here. - the grill). The kids read them (they all just finished kindergarten), went to the place where small prizes were waiting, and then got the next clue. We also had races outside, ate cake and ice cream, opened presents, and drew on the driveway with chalk. Two hours is a long time with 5 and 6 year olds!

Finally, we took off for my parent's cabin on the Mississippi River, just north of LeClaire for a bonfire! Busy Saturday.

Comment question? What's your favorite birthday memory?

Day 4 Friday

Okay, I'm catching up on Monday...
Friday we finished getting stuff ready for Cal's birthday party. Then my hubby, Ryan, and I took the boys to a River Bandits game. (We had free tickets from the reading program at school). They loved it. We left after the 4th inning, stopped for ice cream, and got the boys to bed at a reasonable time due to the busy upcoming weekend.

My question for comments: The ballpark is growing more family friendly by the day, but why must they charge so much for food and drinks. We had 3 free food coupons for hotdogs and a small pop, but still spent $20.00 on water, nachos, and tacos. Yikes!

Summer Break Day 3

Oh no, my third day began around 4:00 A.M. hovered over Calvin while he was throwing up. Yikes, this lasted about two hours until he finally dozed off again. When he woke up around 8:00, he was fine! We played around at home, I cleaned the bathrooms and did some laundry. Then we did a little birthday party shopping and returned the printer ink. Yeah, they took it back. Hooray for Office Max. Cal went to swimming lessons and then we attended Big Truck Night. It was at our Mississippi Bend AEA sponsored by Parents as Teachers. The boys had a blast with their cousins - Mason, Joey, and Sophia - climbing into firetrucks, garbage trucks, school buses, etc. I'll try to post some pictures.

So, classmates of The 23 Things...not much of a discussion starter, I know, but I guess I'm using this for a journal for the future! I've decided it's a neat way to get myself to write about our summer. A great memory builder for my boys.

Summer Break Day 2

Well, today wasn't too exciting. The boys and I went grocery shopping this morning. Then we unloaded and went back out to Office Max. I needed printer ink and a new connection cable for my camera. I got both, but my printer is not compatible with my new laptop. Great, I hope they'll take that $60.00 ink back. PBandJ for lunch at home, then a great nap for Jake. We're getting ready for Cal's birthday party with his school buddies on Saturday. I can't believe he'll be 6 next week. Stay tuned for Day 3...

First Day of Summer Break

I am taking a class to learn about all these great programs I can use with my fifth graders next year. My assignment this week is to create this blog. So, here it is. Staying with my blog title as Summer Stay-at-Home Mom...here is my first eventful day of summer break. My boys played in the backyard this morning, filling up jugs with water and emptying them into tubs; then sitting in the much too small tubs. I think they're ready to hit the pool. Maybe tomorrow if it doesn't rain. Next we got McDonald's and headed to a school playground for lunch and playtime. Of course my three year old needed to go to the bathroom within the first 10 minutes of lunch. Moms, what do you do? We headed to a nearby park that had a restroom and resolved the problem without incident. To end my afternoon I mowed the lawn while my three year old pushed his bubble mower around; and my five year old watched TV inside.

Okay... I am planning to eat at home this summer (less fast food) and plan activities minus TV. My excuse today? It's our first day, let's celebrate and do what we want!