Ten on Tuesday – 10 Things You Want To Do This Summer

School for my girls only ended last week so it’s only now that I’m finally feeling like it’s really summer. We started it off by finally getting to the pool. It was so nice and Miss M really loved it. Not only that, she kept intentionally putting her face in the water. This is good since she starts swimming lessons later this week. Finally it feels like summer is here.



As always, I have ideas about things I want to do.

1. Go to the pool a lot – I equate pool with relaxation. I read, paddle around, and generally chill out there. I’d like to think that there will be lots of this in my summer.
2. Take Miss M to the park – we have a great one in our neighborhood so ideally I’d be walking down there with her so that I can get exercise and she can play and we can both meet families with little kids.
3. Knit – I have fallen off the wagon again and I must fix that. The yarn keeps coming but the needles are quiet.
4. Plan college tours – so exciting and so scary at the same time.
5. Read – I’ve read so much already this year but there is still so much that I want to read. I guess that maybe there are just a bunch of good books out there lately or I just found them.
6. Make lunches – I’m trying to spend less (haha) and eat better and both of these would be accomplished easier if I bring lunches more often.
7. Finish a few home projects – putting up curtains, painting a mural, hanging pictures.
8. Ride my bicycle – I really want to ride a little and one of my girls would like to join me. Yes exercise! But first the kid needs to learn to ride. Parental fail!
9. Enjoy some family time – sadly these days this requires quite a bit of coordination between all of our schedules.
10. Plan our winter vacation – cuz that’s what’s next.

ECF - "I Jump!" Edition

It's been a good week and there is som much that I could share but this is the picture that I can't get out of my mind. This is Miss M having a blast her first time in a moonbounce. Even though you can't see her face, which must've been covered with a huge smile, you can just feel her joy at jumping around.  I can't believe that I managed to catch her at just the right moment.



I can just hear her telling my "I jump!" Yes she does.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Times You Felt Grateful Last Week

I just had one amazingly exhausting but wonderful weekend.  What better time for a list like this?

I am thankful for...

1. Stinkerbelle's crazy sense of style - Friday night was the 8th grade dance and although I offered to get her something shiny and new she opted for a simple cotton sundress... and matching Converse hightops.

2. That my crazy girl has friends to join her funky plan. It always makes me feel so happy to watch my girls with their friends.  Their laughter is infectious.



3. Getting Stinkette's grade from her Civics SOL.  She rocked it!

4.  Finding the time to read a little.  I've been on a tear lately and some of the books have been really good.

5. Getting to see Third Eye Blind at the Fair with DQ!  They were a last minute replacement for the B52's who cancelled Thursday due to illness.  You've got to love a band that flies across country at the drop of a hat to fill in and does a kick-ass show. DQ is great company too.


6. Getting to take Miss M to the Fair for the first time.  It was so much fun to see her seeing new things (like the dragon she's petting in this picture) and getting to jump in a moonbounce for the first time.



7. The  big win by Stinkette's softball team on Sunday.  I was sad that I missed it but so happy to hear about it.  The girls have been playing so hard with very little reward. A win is a very good thing.

8. DQ's big hit!  It turns out that she was a huge part of wh the team won.  My girl got a triple with bases loaded. She gave that ball a ride!

9. Finally finding the time to squeeze in a trip to the grocery store.  Sometimes it's the little things.

10. The cast and crew (that includes DQ) of Robinson's production of Hairspray that won 8 awards Sunday night.  Including Best Musical! Way to go!

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Favorite Ice Cream Toppings

It's Tuesday again and today it's all about ice cream.  Yum!  I love ice cream.  Not only that but it has all kinds of wonderful memories and associations for me.  So this is a topic I can really get into.  The trick is to write the post without running for my freezer.  I think I can do it.  Can you read it without needing to grab a bowl?

Here are my favorite toppings for ice cream.

1. Fudge
2. M &M's
3. Chocolate Chips
4. Strawberry topping
5. Heath Bar bits
6. Caramel
7. Whipped Cream
8. Sprinkles - rainbow please!
9. A Cherry on top
10. More ice cream