The weeks are flying by! I still remember the rush of the first day of summer vacation. I swore we would all sleep in and instead we woke up at 6:30am, like every other day of the school year. Here are a few of the things that made me happy this week.
:: On Monday we didn’t do much, which was great after so many days of walking and spending $30 on three churros. That picture is from the Safari Wild Animal Park in Escondido. They are Impalas, I believe.
:: The boys went to the pediatrician on Tuesday. Nicholas got two shots, clung to me like a crying koala bear, and asked me to sing him his favorite comfort song while he sucked his index finger. I loved every minute of it.
:: The kids spent Wednesday in Andrea’s pool. Afterwards, Mikey and Andrea’s daughter, Taylor, sprawled out on their towels face down to warm up. After collecting enough heat from the sun, they sat up on their elbows and I overheard this conversation:
Mikey: So, what grade are you in?
Taylor: 2nd.
Mikey: I’m going into 3rd grade.
Taylor: Cool.
Mikey: Yeah. I totally know cursive. (Hah! Remember when he didn’t?)
:: On Thursday I read to the boys The Chronicles of Narnia. Actually, I did that all week! Mikey and I love it, but Nicholas is afraid of The Witch. Maybe he’ll like the story more if I make him some Turkish Delight?
:: After so much activity this week, I’m looking forward to a quiet Friday at home. The boys want to go swimming. Something tells me we’re going swimming.
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about this weekend. We’re going here!! I know, probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I can’t wait.
Happy, happy weekend, everyone.
I just went back and read the Emma/cursive post and can’t stop laughing!
P.S. I love natural history museums. My first job at 16 was in the vertebrate paleontology lab at the UF Museum of Natural History – still my favorite job of all time. My younger daughter (since she was 4) has refused to go – she passionately believed even back then that “things should be left where nature put them” – even after lengthy discussions about research and knowledge.
Going back to read the Emma post again as it is too good!
Your daughter sounds so wise!
Thank you for the comment about that old post. It’s one of my favorites.
I think the Chronicles of Narnia is an excellent choice i read the L,W&W as a child and then all of the books as an adult and I think my kids would enjoy them. I wonder about getting an audio book version for our commute.
Also the Museum of Natural History looks fun. when you come to the east coast :) you must block off time to spend at the Smithsonian, my son must visit the National Museum of Natural History (and the Air & Space Museum and the Spy Museum a new one for him this year) every single year. We are sick with museums over this way LOL
Are you kidding? We have a dream family vacation centered around the Smithsonian! We can’t wait to go. You guys on the east coast have the best museums. :)
A happy week, indeed! Love the poolside conversation–what can we say? The boy’s got skills. And the National History Museum? What’s not to love about DINOSAURS! Although, the thought does make me break out in a cold sweat a bit. It reminds of the time my friends and I were driving to Texas for college and decided to make a stop at National History Museum in Utah. They had an exhibit where you could play paleontologist and sift through sand for dinosaur teeth. I wasn’t sure what they looked like so the mother of a young boy kindly pointed to the tooth her son found. I picked up the bag and said, “Oh look–here’s one!” Only there wasn’t. The boy had only set it on the bag, not in the bag. He started crying and I started laughing . . . it was total nervous laughter. I felt awful, but looked worse. Sigh. I’ve since gleaned natural history from the internet . . .
I believe you mean he has “skillz.” ;)
Oh, right . . . my bad! :)
just read the Mikey and Emma post – don’t forget to post some of those goodies, sometimes, Jules!!!
forgot to say that you and WM are linked today on Turning Pages blog!
It’s so interesting that you made this comment. I never know what is cute to me and what will bore people to tears. Of course, I also worry now that the boys are getting older and so many moms from school read this blog. I don’t want to offend anyone.
What a fantastic mix of activity and relaxation!
Ooooh I am jealous! The Natural History Museum is my faaaaavorite! I could spend HOURS in the rock and gem rooms – but the dinosaurs [especially the stegosaurus] will always hold a special place in my heart! Have fun!
I’m excited to see the stegosaurus!
Have such a good time at the Natural History Museum! I love it as much as you do/will :) Especially the dark halls. Reminds me of my childhood!
I know, I can’t wait! Having never been there, right now the dark halls only remind me of Mad Men. ;)
you know they filmed that episode of Mad Men at the LA Natural History Museum right? Not the one in NY? Makes me proud ;)
Yes! You told me that, actually! And I think their office building is in LA, too. :)
My kids still woke up fairly early this summer too, but thankfully not before 7 a.m.
Have a great time at the NHM! I haven’t been back in something like 5 years, when both my kids were just too young to appreciate much. We need to return soon!
They got over the early morning thing in late July. They’ve been getting up around 7:30 lately, which is a-okay with me. That I can handle.
Eh…My kids prefer the ScienCenter, particularly Ecosystems. Great to cool off in the Arctic room and warm up in the Desert and witness a flash flood (and get wet). Getting wet in a museum is fun!
I hope my kids like it more than eh!
Totally unproductive day because I got my copy of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Thanks a lot. ;-)
My copy has been sitting unopened on my shelf for over a month! I’m telling you, nonfiction…
No, it may be nonfiction, but it really is fabulous. It sucks you right in, to such a different time and era, you are not bored at all (at least I wasn’t!). And I thought she wrote the science part really simply and clearly. This book had some of my favorites: historical (non)fiction, genealogies (following characters’ families through time so you really get to know them) and science. I majored in biology (along with Elm. Ed.) because of my interest/fascination with genetics, so all the science was right up my alley. I have much more to say, but I’m saving it for Sep. Hubby is reading it right now! Read, read, read!
I love the Natural History Museum, especially the rotunda. It’s so beautiful. And I bet the entire place is great now. When I went last year it was still in the midst of the remodel and there was construction everywhere. I think it’s done now.