Summer time!!!

Well, summer time has arrived! We spent the greater part of May focused on making it through May 25th, which was the last work day of the school year. And, although we weren't sure, we actually survived. We had several things distracting us from the rest of the world: making it to the last day, learning where my school administration would be moving me (I changed teams and subject areas - both things that caused me great stress and a chin zit the size of Everest. For those who know what this means, I am now a Panther. And I'm now teaching math.), getting the kids prepared for their last day of day care until August, getting signed up for summer programs and lessons, and preparing the house and my kids to stay with my parents for a week while Joe and I took a cruise!!

Here's a picture......

Yeah, well, we didn't take all that many pictures, and those that we took were in Nassau and involved me wearing that hat a lot. This was a trip focused on rest, relaxation, alone time with each other, and eating (lots of eating). The cruise took us to a small island in the Bahamas called Cococay one day, then to Nassau the next, and a few days at sea. This picture is of Joe and I at Fort Charlotte. We took a little tour of the island, which took us to Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle, the Queen's Staircase (below), and Atlantis. After the tour we rooted around the Straw Market for presents and tee shirts for the kids.
This shows me how much I need to work on my posture. Of course, I was working very hard at not making eye contact with the sellers who were calling to me constantly. I was attempting to appear withdrawn and not personable. I know - not much of a stretch for me.

We arrived home after 5 blissful days of rest to a house of insanity. My kids were TERRIBLE for my perfect and angelic parents who happily endured five days of no sleep, hissy fits, the kids refusing to eat proper food, and bad behavior. Jacks even attempted to BITE my father one night when dad tried to get him to sleep. BITE. Yes, it's true. After a rough interrogation, he admitted it. At which point I assured him that if it happened again, I would be biting him back. Hard.

My parents left smiling. I don't think they'll ever keep the kids again. Or not for at least another 5 years. That is probably how long it will take them to recover from this trip. I'm sure they are still smiling right now because they don't have to be here alone with the kids anymore.

Oh well, life didn't stop or get any easier while we were gone. So, although we have only been home for 24 hours, we are already back to real life full swing. Luckily, we managed to get both kids properly fed and to bed by 8:00 last night.

Today began with a bang. I have already managed to get both kids signed up for a weekly yoga class, been to the public pool, taken Jacks out for yogurt while Nealy napped, been to Target, Hobby Lobby, and Earth Fare (for free range chicken and natural peanut butter - we all need to get to eating better around here), checked out two new books from the library, and enjoyed a major after nap snack time. Still to come for today: dinner, laundry, baths and books, and bedtime. Tomorrow will involve more pool time, yard play while I work on sewing projects in the basement, another trip to the library, more laundry, and who knows what else. Swim lessons, work meetings, yoga classes, and getting signed up for more Parks and Rec programs are waiting for me when this next week arrives in one short day. Not to mention all the appointments I need to start making - the school year doesn't afford me much time to make regular doctor's visits.

Summer is supposed to be a vacation, right? Ahhh, I can't complain. I got to spend 5 uninterrupted days alone with my husband on a cruise ship in the tropics, I got to watch the sun set and the stars shine over the ocean, we got new I-phones (greatest invention ever), and I get to spend the next 8 weeks with my family with very few work days to get in our way. I am very, very lucky.

And with that, I'm hitting post without re-reading what I wrote. I hope this meandering mess made some sense. I'll have more to report in coming days, which will involve pictures of the kids in their bathing suits, grinning from ear to ear because, hey, everyone loves when school is out.