Summer Plans

I prepared an awesome list of "summer plans" way back in May - before school was out.

I was inspired to not waste another summer and teach my darling children

to organize, learn, accomplish, and love.

I've reflected on this a bit today.

A few of my summer goals:

Have the kids read a minimum of 20 min. a day

Work on math and reading comprehension each day

Have Tyler figure out his eagle project and get going on that

Organize the under the stairs closet

"Detail" a room each week (deep clean)

Get Rydge to bed by 9 and big kiddos by 10:30

All get up around 9 and do a half hour of 'clean up' to start the day

Maddie and Tyler practice piano daily

Once a week teach a child to cook a basic meal/dessert

These seem attainable - yes?

How many of these simple items have we accomplished you may wonder...

NOT. ONE.

Here is a typical day in our house.

(If i make it rainbow pretty - maybe i won't seem like such a loser)

NO ONE wakes up before 10 am. Tyler - closer to noon.

Nickelodeon is the first sound anyone hears.

Nickelodeon runs ALL DAY.

Maddie is a multi-tasker. She can play Nintendo DS AND watch Nickelodeon.

Kids eat breakfast around lunch time.

Rydge can multi-task -too. It's hotwheels and Nickelodeon for him.

MAYBE, if I'm lucky, we get the dishwasher loaded.

Start hearing complaints of boredom or begging for friends by 1pm.

(Or in Kyle's case - the moment he wakes up)

At anytime past noon the house usually contains 1-4 extra little people.

While I make RS calls or visits the kids watch tv/nap/sit in the hot tub.

Usually skip lunch - just eat chips/ cookies - whatever.

Friends hang out until dinner - which is around 8pm.

We pick up the minimum amount of clutter to give me semi-peace.

Start a movie around 10. Watch until midnight or after. Yes - Rydge, too.

Then the madness starts all over the next day.

I'm certain I'm receiving nominations right and left for 'mom of the year' award.

Don't envy me -it takes a special gal to run the tight ship I do.

Guess where?

Guess where we're going tonight???

I'll give you a few clues...

Good Mom/ Bad Mom

Irony abounds at the Halliday home.

Am I a good mom or a bad mom? You decide.

All four kids had dentist appts yesterday.

Spencer and I were seriously plotting whether

or not we should secretly ask

the dentist to give Kyle a "fake" shot for a

"fake" cavity just to make a statement

and prove what we've been preaching:

the importance of good oral hygiene.

I don't care who you are.

Brushing twice a week

just ISN'T enough!!!

~Is it wrong for a mother to pray that her kid will

have a cavity at his check-up just so she won't be

proven wrong AGAIN?

Here's his 'Hygiene Report Card':

Good brushing! No Plaque? No Tartar! Healthy Gums?

Are. You. Serious???

My teeth brushing threats hold no credence whatsoever.

My next great mothering moment:

Tyler went to Philmont Scout Ranch for two weeks.

We sent him with the best of supplies - or so we thought.

When the boys arrived off the bus, every leader

that was in his group asked me

"Did Tyler show you his feet?"

Turns out the boots that Spencer purchased in the hiking

department, that Tyler had mowed lawns in for months,

had gone on a weekend camp out with and were

totally broken in were

STEEL TOED WORK BOOTS!

***NICE***

~not so good for hiking apparently~

Bishop sent this pic to me today just to rub in

the 'you fail as a mom' feeling.

The picture was taken on day 4 of their hike.

He had blisters, a rash, small cuts, and swelling.

Did he complain? No- he's a BEAST!

He ended up wearing tennis shoes for the

remaining 6 days of hiking.

Good mom/ bad mom...you decide.

Cool Tubbin'

"Singing in the rain..."

Audrey and Maddie cooling off in

a TeXaS rainstorm

in the hot tub I refuse to heat.