Weekend

Friday:
I left work a little early...  picked out an outfit for Cora's 4 year pics.  Then home...  I went out for dinner and to the movie, Bad Moms, with a couple volleyball friends of mine.  The invite started for just us volleyball girls - 5 of us, then after about a week, the invite turned into like 12 girls.  Ehh... it was fine, glad I got to see a few of the girls.  And the movie was hilarious, so good.  

Saturday:
We spent the morning at home... cleaning, prepping for Martina and the kids to be here this week.  Then we went over to Niky's, she was having a yard sale.  Kayson and Duke played a bit, and Niky literally let us take a bunch of stuff --- books, swim trunks, shoes...  tons of stuff for nothing.  Crazy lady.  ha.  We grabbed lunch, then back home.  Cora took a rest... I did some errands.  

Saturday night we decided to go down to Indianola to see the balloons.  It was a beautiful night for it.  We always just find a gravel road or open space to park and watch them...  we never stay long, but it was nice to watch them for a bit.  Then we hit up A&W, YUMMO.  :)  

Sunday:
A busy day for us.  Church, home to change, then back to church.  We were hosting the Family Fun Fair.  Basically, it's a free event (bring a canned good for the Waukee Christian Services), and enjoy an afternoon of face painting, cupcakes, obstacle courses, a bounce house, fire truck & ambulance and more.  We didn't have many kiddos show, but it was great fellowship.  Our kids were EXHAUSTED.  No nap for Cora, and they literally ran/bounced for about 5 hours straight.  

We got home around 5:30... they had cereal for supper, baths were taken, and bed.  Cora couldn't keep her eyes open at 6:30... we layed her down about 7:15, but she tossed and turned til about 7:50, but unfortunately she struggled to fall asleep... Lots of crying, moaning.  She complained her ear hurt, which it may.  She just has been restless.  Kayson was in bed about 8:00.  

Nice weekend...  always bummed that it's over...  and hoping Cora is okay.   

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. 

volleyball girls

Helping the magician at the FFF - Kayson found him hilarious!  Us too!

Kayson in the Sheriff car.  Uh Oh.

This & That

• It's been a long week...  already.  I'm tired, a tad crabby... and really just want to be home alone right now.  blah.
• Kayson was supposed to have a friend over tonight to play/hang out...  but it got cancelled last minute, and he was SO bummed.  I was too.  Bums me out that Kayson was bummed.
• Cora threw a large fit this morning when I dropped her off at daycare.  Like the kind where she clung to me, dropped to the floor and screamed bloody murder.  It was awesome.  Not.  And completely ruined my day.
• Kids and I have been playing more downstairs this week, which is great - and so much better for them.  They actually play.  It's crazy.  But it made me realize that we need to do some organizing... and cleaning.  We'll have guests (Martina & kids) next week, so I better get on it.
• I need a vacation.  So since I don't get to actually go on a vacation - like to a beach, or to another state with my husband, I'm just going to take some time off.  I have some time planned off the week before school starts - be with Kayson, and have a day to myself.  
• I look at the calendar and realize that Kayson will be back to school in about 4 weeks.  And from now til then, we are busy... he's busy.  The time is going to go fast, and it bums me out.  He's so enjoyed his summer and I know he'll be sad to actually go back to school and have to start learning again!  
• and another thing that is crazy --- once he's back to school, it'll be Christmas before we know it.  YUK!!!

"Love your Spouse Challenge 2016"

Over the past couple weeks, there has been a 'challenge' on Facebook --- "Love your Spouse", to promote love and marriage.  Some people think this is so dumb...  and it does seem silly, but I made the best of it (as I was tagged to do it!)

Anyway, I dug for some older pictures of Ryan and me...  wedding, dating, silly ones...  I thought it was fun. 

Here are the few that I posted. 

2007 - wedding

2007 - Honeymoon, St. Lucia

2008 - Pregnant with Kayson

2008 - Honeymoon

2013 - Family pics

2014 - San Diego

2013 - Long Family reunion

Honey Creek Resort 'SHORT Vacation'

Awhile back we were visiting with our friends Jess and Lex...  talked about taking the kids somewhere (water park type of fun).  We both didn't want to drive far, especially since they have littler ones than us... and we knew we could just do one night due to our busy schedules.  So really short trip. 

We landed on Lake Rathbun - Honey Creek Resort.  It's about an hour a half drive...  indoor water park, 'beach' at the lake, playground, etc.  

We headed out around 10:00 Saturday morning... got there, settled in, then grabbed some lunch.  We then got our suits on and had a blast at the water park.  The kids played hard...  it was so fun there.  Jess, Lex and their kids arrived about 2:00.  We continued at the water park, so they could play...  it started to get really busy in there, and started to get 'owly'.  Cora was tired (no nap), so were the other kiddos.  The attitudes arrived!  ha.  BUT we made the best of it and the kids did fine (it's just a lot!!), somehow got out of the water park (with little fight) and got changed...  We then just walked around outside a little.  Super hot weather, so that wasn't all that fun, but we needed to do something!  

We grabbed dinner at the restaurant there...  and then Jess, Lex and their kids headed back to their room.  The four of us walked around a little more, then went to the playground for a bit.  I took Cora back to the room about 7:30... and Ryan and Kayson hit up the beach a little, then the arcade.  It was definitely a busy day...  glad we could spend some time with the Orfanos', but we also had alone time too.  I think it worked out well.  

Sleep...  well, it was ok.  Cora kicked me about a gazillion times.  Ryan shook the rafters with his snoring.  So I slept well.  ha.  

This morning we did breakfast, then we all hit the water park again for about an hour.  All the kids were wiped out...  so it was a quick trip, then we got packed up and headed home.  There were definitely great memories made, and it's a great place to take your kiddos.  The water park was perfect for our kids' ages.  And was super great that it was there cuz it was so hot outside!  

We got home about 1:30...  unloaded, groceries have been bought, laundry has been started, and our Sunday will be over soon.  I'm tired!!!

Love this pic... and the background is awesome too!

Thank goodness for this slide!  He went on it 1,000 times!

Water babies!!

Cora & Presley

Kayson & Dax (K does really well with Dax)

Kayson - Busy, Hot, Tired

Summer is awesome, especially for Kayson.  He gets to play literally all day, with some structure, and gets to attend at least 3 field trips a week.  Awesome. 

Well, when the Iowa weather heats up to highs of 90s, AND you have a field trip AND you have swim lessons (yes, we did another session of lessons), it catches up to a kid!  

Today when I picked him up for swim lessons... he was hot, red (from the sun and running around), and tired.  

Bedtime was at 8:00, and I believe he was asleep within minutes. 

Weekend

Friday:
Both Ryan and I got home fairly early Friday...  well, before 5:00.  Ryan mowed real quick, then we got some supper.  Home... and bed for the kids at normal time. 

Saturday:
Up and at 'em...  The kids went with JeanAnn and Mike to the Farmer's Market.  Happy Birthday Papa Mike!  ha.  Ryan and I did a few errands, then just sat for a bit.  We then met the others for a birthday lunch - yummy food, then back home to just hang out.  Cora took an awesome 3 hour nap.  All that walking did her in!  Once she was up, we went out to the church.  Ryan needed to work on money there... so the kids and I just played.  We played in the play room for a bit, Kayson played with some trucks/tractors in some dirt, and Cora wanted to swing on the playset.  It was a good hour or so...  then we grabbed supper out.  

We played a little outside once we were home... then bed.  Again, I've been so exhausted... I just can't get over that???

Sunday:
Church, then the kids and I got groceries (the WORST job in the world!!!), home to eat an easy lunch... and Cora is resting now.  Kayson is on his iPad under a made-up tent.  Ryan went to the I Cubs game with some of the men from church.  I'm glad he's getting to do stuff like that.  However, it's super warm now - so they are probably HOT!

That's it... that's our weekend.  It was nice to have a few random things going on, but I needed this afternoon of quiet and just relaxing.  

Keeping Busy

This is the first week (in what seems like a long time) that Ryan was traveling, overnight.  Gone til Thursday.  We always have an adjustment period when he's gone.  I sometimes get a feather up my butt and think we need to do all these things, or just keep fairly busy...  then I end up even more tired than normal.  Nice.  ha. 

Art time.  My kids love art.  Always have.  And I love that.  Cora is really into it, just like Kayson was at that age, but I was also able to get Kayson to sit too.  One full hour of art.  :)

Tuesday we met up with a few old friends (from daycare days) of Kayson's.  About every 4 months or so I hear from a mom of a friend of Kayson's... and she wanted to try to get the kiddos together again.  We just met up at a park near by and let them play.  The dynamics are a little different now - first, they don't see much of each other at all, so they didn't 'jump right back in' and second, K is a boy with two girls.  Different.  BUT they did fine... still some giggles and running around.  It was nice to visit with the Mom's as well. 

Riley, Ella and K

The kiddos are really into Murphy... which I love.  I also ache a little inside knowing he won't be around forever, and the kids are loving on him...  they'll be broken when he does pass.  Anyway, they both sat with him for a bit the other night. 

Dinner out tonight... Kids did well.  

It's been an ok week.  The adjustment is always there... and I've hit my wall for the week.  Not necessarily with the kids, but just life.  Work is so busy and I'm just having trouble focusing!  SLEEPY too.  :)