You Know It's Summer Break When...

#1 You go to Dollar General with three kids to purchase flip flops (for your child that just broke her pair) and leave with TNT Pop Its and NO flip flops.

#2 You spend Memorial Day weekend at the lake with extended family and find yourself reflecting on all the fun times you had as a child growing up at Nolin. I'm thankful my kids are having the same experiences--minus the sunburns and poison ivy outbreaks.

#3  You have birthday parties for very special stuffed animals.  Isaac and Jerry Deaton have been inseparable for years.  He always let's us know when June 1st is coming because it's Jerry's Birthday.  This year he even made a special invitation for his party.  I bought cupcake mix/frosting, some Dollar store gifts and party blowers.

Isaac and Jerry have always had such a special bond.

#4 You have more projects than you can count.  We have a few painting (ugh) projects in the works.  We decided it was time to switch the kids bedrooms.  Our two boys share a bedroom, but Karson's bedroom is larger (especially her closet).  I've wanted to switch them for some time but knew what all that would involve.  However, Matt and I got the itch on Tuesday and switched everything out.  It took a lot longer than I thought it would.  Once we got everything in place, I decided to get to work on the boys room--aka PAINT.  I brought home paint swatches with blues and greens.  After talking with the boys, we settled on green.  I coaxed my mom into helping me paint because Matt had to work on Wednesday, and I was ready to get started.  It only took us about two hours to put the first coat on.  I did the rolling, and she did the trim.  The second coat took a little longer because I did it alone--it ended up taking about 3 hours.  The room looks great, love that green!

Karson's room will take a little longer because she needs a new comforter, and I may have to refinish her furniture again.  Her room will involve a lot more effort.  We went comforter shopping yesterday and found one she liked at Kohl's (pictured below).

Seriously, Kohl's always has the BEST deals in town.  Since we were directly next to Home Depot, we went ahead and picked out our paint as well.  Looks like ROBIN EGG blue for Karson's room.  I'm not sure how soon I'll tackle that project--probably towards the end of next week.

 #5 You eat blue raspberry snow cones at the water park until your tongue looks like this. My neighbor Jennie and I tackled our five children at Russell Sims Thursday.  It was the PERFECT day to go to the water park which is normally slammed with people.  I guess all the day camps aren't in full swing yet so the park wasn't crowded at all.






#6 You realize how badly you need a facebook hiatus.  I have found myself locked into a facebook warp zone.  Although it has lots of great positives, it has an equal amount of negatives.  It like an addictive virus that steals my attention with very little relevant information.  It's become a waste of time for me, and I want to change that and focus my attentions elsewhere ESPECIALLY in the summer when my precious kids are home.


#7  You make an endless supply of snack backs because if you don't, your children will be CONSTANTLY hungry.  I wish I could find this motivation during the school year.  I would save myself tons of time and money.


# 8 You know camps are coming.  Karson is our camp attender and wants to participate in lots of them.  Her line-up for the summer includes:  SWHS Spartan's Basketball Camp, WKU's volleyball camp, SKyPAC's theater camp and a Saturday clinic at SWHS for volleyball.  She is also considering attending Greenwood Park's church camp for the first time.





# 9  & # 10  -- These go hand in hand.  You know it's summer break when you go to bed late and sleep in.  I love not having a rigid schedule to maintain. Rest is such a blessing, and although our summer has just begun, I already feel a sense of peace from not being in a hurry all the time.