Summer Fun...Backyard Camp Out

   If any of you other parents out there read Disney Family Fun Magazine, you'll know what I'm talking about when I mention their new activity of earning badges for the next year.  For those of you who don't, here's the low down (haha!): The magazine is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, and is offering ways to earn a badge and enter contests in every issue.  This month's issue was a Backyard Camp Out Badge.  We didn't sleep in the backyard, but we did have a good time earning our badge!!

Summer Fun...Fishing at the Reservoir

   On Saturday, we had planned to take the kids out to spend the day at Lahontan.  But, according to the weather, doing such would mean braving up to 60 mph gusts with 4 children.  Yay, well, you can guess that we changed our minds on that one! So, instead, we spent the bulk of the day at my grandparent's house, visiting with my uncle who came to see us from Battle Mountain, and had a tasty BBQ.  Very nice!!
   When the day cooled to evening, and Mother Nature was absent the ominous gusts we feared, we loaded the children up and took them to Harmon Reservoir for some evening fishing, a nice scenic drive, some very smelly bug repellent (no DEET!) and a ton of family fun!!  It was wonderful!!

Michael and Alex fishing

                              Yup, that's Drake trying to start the truck...T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!

Anthony loves anything involving dirt!!

                               Our beautiful Leelah Jo walking in the sunset.

Summer Fun...Finger painting!!

   Our next activity?  Finger painting!!  Of course, this amazing adventure was had on the back porch, and it's a darn good thing since I had to hose Drake off in the shower afterward.  In his usual curious manner, he did sample a bit of the paint, but it was apparently not to his liking because he didn't eat anymore of it.  Some days, I am so happy that things like finger paint are non-toxic these days!  Anyway, after a half hour of giggly mess, we had two very painted boys, one stained mama, and 3 master full works of art!

Summer Fun...Free Fishing Day...

   So I have decided that this summer is going to be an active summer in our household, full of fun and new adventures.  It is the beginning of the summer, and these plans may fall by the way side before the close of the season.  Only time will tell. 
   We're off to a good start, with Free Fishing Day on June 11.  We gathered up the boys, bought some sand toys, and headed to the lake.  We were joined by my grandparents, aunt and uncle, nephews and Alex's best friend AJ.  It was a fantastic day!  Oddly, the only ones to fish were Alex and AJ, who already have fishing licenses, and Anthony, who doesn't need one.  LOL  But we ate some junk food, I sunburned one arm, and we kicked summer off in a FANTASTIC way!!

Drake was pretty much this filthy all day, and he LOVED it!!

He is always so happy in the dirt!

  

Learning to Sleep in the Little Bed

    For some time now, Anthony has referred to his bed (the bottom bunk on the set he shares with Michael) as his "little bed" and to our bed as the "big bed".  He has come to our bed in the middle of the night and fallen asleep in it for most of his three-year-old life.  The problem?  His baby brother Drake has picked up this habit now as well, and there just isn't enough room for the four of us in the big bed.  There is always a foot in some one's face or back and somehow it's always Mommy that ends up moving to the couch.  No more.  I love my babies, and I love to snuggle them, but there comes a point where the big bed must return to being Mommy and Daddy's bed, and our sweet, sweet Anthony and wiggly little Drake must learn to go to sleep in their little beds, just as my not-so-little Leelah and Michael did not so long ago. 

    Tonight I tucked my boys in, and Anthony asked if he could go in and go to sleep in the big bed.  I told him no, that he had to stay in his room with Drake and sleep in his little bed and show his baby brother how to be a big boy.  It broke my heart and nearly brought me to tears when he started to cry and Drakey followed suit.  I know that this is what's best for all of us in the long run, but I have to say that it's nights like these that make me  really appreciate just how hard it is to be a parent.  And so my heart goes out to all those little guys learning to sleep in their little beds, and to all those Mommies and Daddies who, for the sake of sanity, must take back their big beds.  Sweet dreams to you all.