I saw a cute postery-thing on facebook yesterday and I meant to share it, but I couldn’t remember who had posted it, and I forgot to save it. So, here is our summer – Our way!

We sleep in. Every day! (Unless we have an appointment or event) And the boys get up quietly and let their mama sleep. At first it bugged me, but when I asked why they never woke me up they said, “Mama, we know you need the sleep.” Nothing like the conversations we have eating breakfast and planning our day.

I am a night owl. Every night. Hence the above paragraph.

Sometimes, we have too much screen time. You know why? It’s summer! They think it’s so cool when they get to play their games. It’s not 24/7 and it’s a treat in summer, so I am ok with that.

Sometimes we have some wicked board games going. Kirby beats me at Trouble, Rumikube and Yahtzee all the time.

I make them leave the house. We usually have one or two reasons why we need to leave the house each day. 🙂 Most days.

They do get off their screens on their own. (Collective heavenly cry from angels). The 2 of them will get up and go outside for a while to play catch or have batting practice.

I do live with 2 major league wanna-be baseball players.

Kirby is a walking baseball statistician like Punky.

Punky is still playing baseball. Another reason to get out of the house a few times a week.

Hubby seems to get irritated when we don’t go do an activity. It’s summer.

But, yesterday was a fabulous example of what I love about summer vacation! Kirby built the most intricate Geotrax set-up (where the mining tours were open Sunday through Tuesday and the zoo was open Wednesday through Saturday, the school had close access to field trips and the trains could take slow travels through the tracks to relax and see the sights.) Yup. That wast his day. We left for chiropractor appointments at 3:30, but the whole part of his day was building this ornate track. THAT is what summer is all about.

I spent the day looking up gift card balances. We have over $350 in gift cards for restaurants or fast food “snacks” to use along our upcoming roadtrip from MN through WI, IL, IN, KY, WV, VA, PA, OH, and back through IN, IL, WI , and MN.

Punky played PS-4 in the AM, but then he helped me research portable DVD players to order from Amazon (Prime Day). He also brainstormed with me meals we can eat in the car along out way. Our trip will be over 2,600 miles. So, a visit to Costco netted some beef to make homemade beef jerky, Smart Pop bags (especially for Kirby to add white cheddar seasoning to), pork rinds for me, and of course, the boys picked out the Chicago Mix popcorn for Hubby to munch on while he drives.

We will be gone for 1 week and a half.

That’s a crazy long time.

We will stay with our friends, Art and Linda outside of Richmond. The boys are so excited to see Art and Linda again! They know Art has lots of cool old baseball stories, and my kids just eat them right up! 🙂

On our to do list:

• Louisville Slugger Factory and Tour
• Monticello
• Charlottesville
• Richmond
• Norfolk (possibly)
• Powhatan
• Washington DC – lots to cover here!
• Baltimore (tour of Camden yards)
• Hershey, PA
• Pittsburgh (tour of ballpark)
• Toledo
• Chicago
• Home – MN

After our time away, we’ll be home for a few days before the kids and I head back to Chicago to visit with my family for a week.

Summer time sure is flying by…and we are loving every minute!