{"id":549,"date":"2011-07-01T23:46:00","date_gmt":"2011-07-02T03:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/friday-july-1-2011\/"},"modified":"2011-07-01T23:46:00","modified_gmt":"2011-07-02T03:46:00","slug":"friday-july-1-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/friday-july-1-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Friday July 1, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

I should be heading to bed. But it’s Friday night. Who cares about bedtime?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>


We have been having so much fun this summer. I’m working on a project for the kitchen wall by the table. The easy part is done. As in, buy a whiteboard calender at Walmart, figure out what size everything is going to be, and hang it on the wall. Check. The other part is taking a little longer. I want a chalkboard and a memo board … or whatever you call those things that let you stick pictures and papers on them. I headed to the shop with David one day and under his step by step instructions cut the plywood base for both and started making a frame including (drum roll please) a rabbit groove and mitered corners for the frame. The chalkboard is painted. The frame is only half glued together and sitting in the basement awaiting the appearance of a brad gun. Not that I actually have any idea what a brad gun is. I just know I need one. Maybe sometime before September I’ll get to finish the frame. Then again, judging by the stacks of half finished projects around here, maybe not.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>

But wait, I was going to talk about fun. The boys love being able to see what is on our agenda. I’m thinking maybe this winter I will use it to help Liam notice the weather. He could draw a sun or snow (I did NOT just say the “s” word, did I?) or clouds or rain on each day. But for now it is event laden and color coded. Adam thinks it is so much fun to cross off the days as they happen.<\/span>

Last summer just disappeared in a blur. This summer I purposed to be more intentional. Unbelievable as it sounds, summer can just disappear and we never did all the simple little things that make summer feel like summer. I’m also being intentional at keeping the boys occupied well. Last summer was just a little much. A little too much rambunctiousness in the house. A little too much arguing. A little too much of a lot of things. This summer there are more jobs … like picking bugs off the plants and feeding them to the chickens. This summer Adam can read. This summer Liam is three, not two. This summer is like a slice of heaven. Well, except for the missing pool. <\/span>

About a month before school let out, I began concocting a list of activities. I knew from the beginning that we wouldn’t nearly do everything on the list, but there it is. A constant reminder of things to learn, things to play, things to teach, things to keep us moving, happy, and enthusiastic about summer. As though we needed the last part. <\/span>

Now it’s July (STOP!) and we’re not quite halfway through the list. Is it a little bit sad that I have to have a list to remind me to do fun things? I thought so.<\/span>

Just for kicks, we did a daffy supper the other night. It was one of those spur of the moment brainstorms (and actually not on the list). The boys giggled and giggled and giggled until I felt even happier than my regular Vitamin D happiness level which is saying a lot. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

<\/a>

This week Adam did the big one. He planned a menu and cooked supper. His very first words when I told him what was up? “Ok, but I am going to have dessert.” Punctuated with a ton of emotion and emphasis. Yes, sir. While the idea was cool, in retrospect, I wish I’d have started with one item. He already fixes our salads whenever I think about getting him started early enough and does a great job of checking the vegetables for bad spots and chopping everything. But as it was, I spent nearly the entire day in the kitchen. The morning went ok, but by 4:00, I was pretty frustrated. Everything took so long and it was too much of a stretch for his attention span. But we did get it pulled off — in spite of him getting burned as he carried Liam’s serving bowl to the table which sent the entire bowl and contents spinning to the floor — and his food was deLICious. Somehow I have got to learn to be more patient with time-consuming projects and mess. It’s not his bad. It’s mine. He is actually very careful for a seven year old and he listens to instructions well. He just has trouble sticking with something that doesn’t take his full concentration and he never moves quickly. Liam and Adam are polar opposites in almost everything. I love the way it helps me to appreciate things in each of them. When Liam is seven, he will be quick. But I predict he will also be messy and not care. <\/span>

<\/a> <\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n


I’ve been learning all over again that when I start feeling frustrated with the way things are going with the boys, it is usually my fault, not theirs. Sometimes it’s because I stretched them a little too far or expected too much of them. Or because I’ve lost too much sleep. Or because all of us are starving and it’s an hour past lunch time. Other times I feel bombarded with the realization that I have not been consistent with boundaries. Or the fact that they are being boys (their job) and I’m supposed to be teaching them and showing them the way (my job). But I get things switched around and just expect them to be little adults. Just like I expected to have a lush, green lawn with only weekly maintenance (snort, snicker in this part of the country). <\/span>

<\/a>

That’s us. Living life imperfectly, but loving the ride. I think this summer will get recorded as one of the best summers yet. Except for the pool issue (and I wonder where the boys get their whining from? Go figure.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is part of our list:<\/p>\n