Summer days

Has it really been nearly 2 months since I last blogged here?

I've hit a rut.

I think about it at least once a day, but something ... else ... always gets in the way. Or I open up a new post and stare at it, waiting for something to come. But nothing does. Which is crazy because it isn't like we aren't doing anything. We have been on the go more than we are home lately.  Homeschool is finished. And I feel like THIS



Al and I have managed to get out a little bit. I had almost forgotten how nice it feels to spend some time without the boys in tow here and there.

 

We hosted a 6 boy sleepover a few weeks ago. Um ... we might be waiting for our next - bigger - house to host one of those again ... but the kids had a great time! (Right up until they finally fell asleep at 2am.)

 

 

The boys spent an afternoon with some friends helping to feed the homeless last weekend. We were so proud of what a great job all the kids did.

 

 

The boys and I have been hitting up the beach. Three times in less than a week ... and I wish it was more. Hello Summer! Love my little surfers.

Even though it was cool outside this morning I was ready to pack the car, call my sister in law, and drag them all down anyway ... till the boys revolted and decided to stay home. Um, who are these kids. They can't be mine because I could spend Every summer day beaching it.

Instead we stayed home (minus the trip to the market to order the twins cake).

There is something that is breaking me down. The twins turning 7.

For more than a few reasons I feel like I have not been able to get out of my own way lately. Being in limbo over the house being sold, where the boys will be in school for September, backup plans for everything ... I even skipped the gym Wednesday night, missing the workout with the girls. And I really look forward to that workout.

As I sat home beating myself up over what was wrong ... it started to hit me. All the things I mentioned are definitely contributing, but oh my god, my babies are turning 7 next week. Officially. SEVEN. How do I have babies that are going to be 7. I don't even think I can take it ... because you know, they were just ....

this big and all like yesterday. Wasn't it?

Right now we are planning for their friend party this weekend, and I am telling myself that I will be OK next week when the actual day hits. Because right now, they are still 6. And maybe I can find a way to stop time over the next few days.

I have also been struggling a little with what exactly to Put in this Space of mine. Once upon a time I blogged nearly everything. Very little was off limits. As the boys get older, they have started to tell me what I can blog, Facebook, Tweet ... it's sort of funny.

Put this online.

Don't put that online though. (And so on.)

The more things that happen with their careers as well, I know I will have to re-examine things. No new movies yet, but the Doodle Bop has done a few commercials and actually caught the first one airing last week while he happened to be watching TV.

It's a pretty quick one, but here is the one I could pull from YouTube.



For now, I'm just going to take things slow. Blog here and there, see what comes. Re-evaluate as we go along.

Wordless Wednesday: Moustache edition

Dollar Store fun!

 

 

 

 

Mattel summer fun and giveaway

We have just passed the half way point of summer. 

Who else is starting to have trouble keeping the kids busy during the summer months?  I know it can't be just me. When school got out at the end of June, my guys could not get enough of playing outside in the backyard.  Fast forward a month and my pleas for them to just go play outside are met with actual tears.  They complain that they are now bored, that there is nothing to do.

Being one of those moms who keep the kids pretty scheduled during the school year, makes the extra free time in the summer hard for the boys sometimes.  While I could always get some extra time to write when they were in school for the morning, now I am trying to fit it in during the day while they are home with me.  And that doesn't always go over so well.

I definitely try to take a lot of day trips with the boys - even if that day trip is actually more like just a few hours out of the house.  With the exception of the last two weeks (not so wonderful weather), I make time for a trip to the beach with the boys at least once a week.  Sometimes twice.  That right there is my serenity.

When we aren't at the beach, I try to build something small into each day.  I find I can make a sort of trade off with the boys.  Mommy needs to write for an hour or so and then we can do this...  A play date with friends, an early afternoon trip to the local pool, going to the park or the zoo.  I also love to try and plan things in advance off of our summer list we came up with together.

I am a huge fan of scouring the local websites to see what is going on in the area at low - to no - cost.  Love free kid stuff!  And when all else fails on a hot summer day, I throw the boys in the truck.  We hit the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts so I can get myself an iced coffee and they can each have a donut - and we just drive.  My favorite drive down Scituate Ave in Cranston, past all the farms, my old dream house, and straight to the reservoir.  The boys love the bridge over all that sparkling water.

For the times we can't get out and I don't want the boys sitting like blobs in front of the TV (which trust me still goes on) ... certain games and toys at home keep everyone occupied.  And it is a wonderful thing.  My boys are obsessed with all things Hot Wheels. 

Mattel sent us both the Hot Wheels Wall Tracks they had so desperately been wanting, along with the Double Dare Snare for our review.  Seeing the UPS guy drop that box on the steps sent the boys into a frenzy. 

The Wall Tracks set we received was the Drift Rally Spinout.  The set up quicker than I anticipated and the cool thing is that there are several sets to choose from...you can play with each set separately or attach them.  You know the boys want more to attach.  They loved the flames on the track and the bumps (see towards the bottom of the photo) for the cars to go over. 

What I didn't like, is that the set comes apart easily.  No match for three small boys I'm afraid.  My husband had to put it back together more than a few times and the cars also get stuck going down the wall.  The boys didn't seem to mind the cars getting stuck, only the set coming apart.

The Double Dare Snare I would call the boys favorite, hands down.  Two cars race at one time and only one can win.  You know you have won when you go through the matrix loop and your car is saved by the rescue snare that snaps you up.  That was a huge hit.  Would you believe it even has an ejection ramp that tosses your car off if you start the race too soon?  Hysterical to the boys.  Since we have gotten it I can honestly say that they have spent hours on and off playing with that set.

We set both toys up in the living room initially, but I am thinking about moving the Wall Tracks to the basement playroom.  Cooler down there on hot summer days and I'm hoping it will get them playing with their other toys down there again.  Who doesn't need a change of scenery, right?

So those are my tips for trying to keep the kids busy during the summer.  And yes I am still a fan of tossing them in the backyard and making them play the good old fashioned way.  What are your tips for surviving the summer with your kids?


*** Now for the fun part! The giveaway!!!  Mattel is allowing us to give away prize packs to help your kids have some extra fun this summer.  Just enter on the Rafflecopter below to WIN either a Girls' Prize Pack or a Boys' Prize Pack! Make sure to visit the following sites from RI Digital Media Women (#RIDMW) as well to see their fantastic reviews of Mattel Products! And don't forget to check out Mattel on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Baby Gators Den

Savoring the Thyme

                                                                  Mama Luvs Books

Learning to Juggle
When The Kids Go To Bed
Blush Mamas
30 Something Mother Runner
Stephanie's Mommy Brain
Keekoin

Note:
Your choice of a Girl Prize Pack: (Barbie Dress & Design Studio ($21.99 APR), A Barbie Doll of the World ($29.95 APR) & Barbie I Can Be... Fashion Designer ($13.99 APR)
OR a Boys Prize Pack: (Matchbox Big Boots Fire Truck ($25.99 APR), Hot Wheels Wall Tracks ($24.99 APR) & Hot Wheels Ballistiks ($24.99 APR)
*substitutions may be made by Mattel if product is not available.


a Rafflecopter giveaway