Summer To Do List- Fun!

Lately I've been feeling like I'm in a rut of sorts.  Nothing major, but we've been so busy with showers/weddings and more baseball than I thought possible I feel like I've slipped in spending intentional time with my family b/c at the end of those long days all I want to do is curl up on the couch on in the tub with a book or go to bed early!  None of those things are bad, but I also want to remember to be intentional with the relationships I have with my hubs and our boys. 

Plus, it's summer and summer calls for spontananity-- which if you know me-- you know that I'm NOT good at being spontaneous!  So yesterday while I was at work, but bored out of my  mind b/c we're very slow lately I was browsing my pinterest boards b/c I"m guilty of pinning and having ideas, but not carrying through with them.  I came across two things that really caught my eye.  One was a list of suppertime questions and the other was a summer fun to do list. 

I printed out each... added my own to some of the summer fun things-- tweaked it a bit. Cut little strips of paper for at least 30 min. and ended up having a ball with my boys last night.  Seeing B's eyes light up when I told him what was going on was priceless. 

Don't get me wrong- I know that one good quality I have is that I really do try to carve out time to establish routines and spend time with the boys. In the winter we play lots of board games in the evenings before bed, but as warm weather and sports took over this fell to the wayside.  We read a couple of chapters in a book before bed, we pray, we talk, and we do fun things as a family, but being spontaneous is not usually something that is high on my list of things to do!  And B loves surprises.  I knew this would fill his love tank and give us some memorable summer fun!  Corbin is happy as long as he's hanging out with us and being involved so he's pretty easy. 

I really thought that Ryan would think I was crazy, but he hopped on board and thought it was a great idea- what a happy surprise!

I know that we only had our first night of doing this and it was an off night with no ball or other activity so that made it easy, but I really do want to carve out this special time each night.  I printed off enough activities to do one per night until school starts. 

I put the cut up questions in a glass jar and the cut up "summer fun to do" activities and put those in a separate jar.  When we sat down at the supper table I set them in the middle and waited on B to ask what in the world they were.  When I explained it to him his eyes lit up.  He chose a question and we answered it... and then an activity.  He drew the activity "organize a dodge ball game".  Well since it was 107 outside I told him we'd have to play in the basement and he said, "YOU MEAN WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TONIGHT?!?!?!"   Even he knows good ol' mom usually only goes by a plan and isn't spontanous. 

After we had cleaned up supper we headed downstairs and just used one of those big green rubber balls like they sell in the big containers at walmart.  Our dodge ball was far from organized and we basically just tried to hit each other, but the boys thought it was wonderful and we all were cracking up laughing.  It wasn't the activity that mattered, but the fact that we were being intentional in how we spent our time together. 

I don't have any pictures b/c I was too busy trying to run from three boys who were coming after me with a big green ball (can we say pick on momma?!), but I did want to share because we enjoyed it so much and I thought it might be an idea for someone else. :) 

I know that we are going to have nights (like tonight when we have a ballgame at 8:30) that it's hard to get it in, but we'll try and even if we don't make it happen every single night I think it will still be a success :)

Closing Day-- Baseball

Saturday we had "Closing Day" for baseball.  Normally we have opening day with a parade/ceremony and the first day of games, but this year it was cancelled due to rain.  I don't think the turn out was very good with it being switched due to a lot of people being gone, but we still had fun -- even though it was 93 degrees!

 Corbin & Jessa waiting on the parade to start

 B throwing us some candy during the parade :)

 Lined up waiting for their trophies

 My little man and his trophy

 C def. thinks he is part of the team-- he loves the big boys!

 The men in my life :)

Team Picture (minus Gabe)

 Funny picture!  If you click and enlarge check out B's funny face- it's great!

 Waiting on the game to start!

 Getting his trophy (got out of order!)

 Bat Boy :)  He thinks so anyway!

look how blond his hair is now!

We had a great season.  The teams were pretty even and we won some/lost some and I think everyone had fun. I know B did!  Proud momma moment on Saturday- B was up to bat with two outs and we were down by two and he hit a triple with the bases loaded to win the game for us! :)  It was a great hit and he was one happy boy-- actually happy doesn't begin to cover it- he was on cloud nine! 

Now on to all-stars :) I'm not sure what we'll do with all our free time when baseball is over! 

Liv & Nate's Shower + Wk/End

Saturday morning I spent the morning baking  & we left that afternoon to go to Owensboro for Liv and Nate's couples' shower.  I made smores bars and cupcakes.  The smores bars were made into individual "favors".  Erin (Liv's older sister) hosted the shower at her house.  All the decorations were so cute.  It was a fun relaxing evening with my hubby and some sweet friends (old and new!). 

Card/Gift table

 Back yard all set up

 table decor

 food wagon

 drinks

 Boys-- chatting :)

 the jets from the air show flew over... super cool

 newlywed game.. this caused a lot of laughs!

 erin, myself, liv, and jordan

 lol who knows?!  i grew up with these girls. love them.

 katie jo and i... old friends

 birdie (little sista) and i
she is watching our boys one day a week this summer. they are loving it and she sure is learning a lot! lol

 liv and nate opening gifts

 backyard all lit up :)

lights in the tree and mason jars w/ beans/candles in them. it looked so good!

We spent the night at Erin and Matt's and stayed up talking into the wee hours of the morning.  I was dead yesterday (and honestly still am today).  I'm not a night owl!  But it was so fun to stay up late and talk.  The boys spent the night with my parents. It was only the second time I've ever left Corbin over night.  He doesn't mind at all, but it's hard on me being away from him!  B just rolls his eyes at me when I ask if he missed me lol!  

I'm sure they didn't miss me much because they were busying doing this... :)

Corbin is such a fish swimming around by himself (with his puddle jumper) and jumping off the side etc... he has no fear (which is kind of scary!).

We got up yesterday morning and had cinnamon rolls and got our stuff together and headed home.

We went and got the boys and Ryan mowed the yard and we headed to Princeton to Rural King to pick up our goat fencing... lol!  They will be coming to live with us SOON.  The boys can't wait! 

Friday night we had a 3 hour all-star practice- thankfully it was nice outside.  B loves it so much and when practice was over said, "Man I wish I had practice tomorrow too!" lol.  I wish I had his energy!  Corbin loves being at the ball park thankfully! 

The weekends go wayyyy too fast!

More May

 Corbin made me this sweet flower/cards at the sitter for mother's day-- I LOVE our babysitter and so does Corbin-- he calls her Mamaw too :)

He kept pointing at the car and saying "See me hands?!"

 He wants to help water it ALL the time :) lol

That's my 5.00 yard sale find table for rmy porch! I'm going to repaint it b/c it's kinda rough looking, but I'm glad to have it :)

 B lovesss catching hoppy toads and he does ALL the time! 

 I had to go to Evansville to get fitted for my bridesmaid dress for Olivia's wedding  with my "sisters" :)
I missed the memo to wear black apparently!

Liv, me, Erin, and Jordan

 After ball game snow cones and laughs :)
Peyton, B, and Braden

 His faces crack us up!

 Love his cute little smile :)

Uncle Joe got to come home for one of B's games :)

Corbin enjoyed sitting and talking to him!

(Corbin's hair is turning a lot blonder!).

 My brother and I! Love him!

 On first- looking to daddy for some instruction

 Playing third base (his normal spot) :)

Up to bat!  He isn't a hard hitter, but is very consistent and gets on base pretty much every time.

The last weekend of May we had Jordan's wedding in Owensboro- it was outside on the river and gorgeous!

My mom, me, and Marsha

 My brother and I

Thankfully their program was a fan!

B waiting for the wedding to start (it was SOOOO hot!)

 Corbin coloring to keep himself entertained

 Mr. Elliott (Hunter) waiting to walk down the aisle

The gorgeous bride and her daddy walking out

 Liv & I at the reception

 Birdie and I :)

Tuesday I had to have an endoscope done (I've been choking a lot)... anyway it's all taken care of now (I had a webbing growing over my esophagus!)... but Vanessa wanted to come visit me that evening at B's game and check on me.  Ty had a game that night (he plays on a different field) so they stopped by and watched the end of B's game.

B & Ty

 trying to make the little boys pose, lol!

Zane and Corbin (Corbin is huge lol!)

May was busy of course and June is going to be even busier for us.  We now have regular ball plus all-stars (Go B!) plus all the wedding activities/prep for Liv's wedding (I'm the matron of honor), plus 4H projects to get ready for (one of those includes baby goats coming to live with us--aghh!) Father's Day & my brother and Ryan's bdays.  I'm excited about all our activities coming up-- lots of memories to make!