Summer Bucket List

So, after school ended, the kids and I created a Summer Bucket List. The list includes things we wanted to do together before our summer vacation "kicked the bucket" and we were back to our school schedule and activities. We've been slowly working through the list. But, the last couple of weeks have given us the chance to mark some more of the items off our list. To begin with, we invited some of our friends in the neighborhood to join us at the pool for a pizza night. We swam for a while, then ordered pizza to be delivered to the pool. We even had a special delivery boy...TJ! The pool is more fun for Trip in the afternoon because that is when the slide is open, but with Mady still taking an afternoon nap, it's hard to have swim time and still get home to make dinner, so this time dinner came to us! We had lots of fun swimming with our friends and catching up with everyone. Next on our list was going to one of the free library activities. We've missed most of these because I have not been smart enough to remember to grab the tickets the Friday before the event, but this time I remembered and I am so glad because it was a magician. Trip really loved it! And, Mady enjoyed it too, but I still think she has a hard time understanding the humor in all of it. Not Trip though, he laughed his precious head off! After the show, we met some friends out for lunch at the kids' favorite local pizza place...Partners. I don't think this place has changed since it was built. It reminds me of the Pizza Hut we used to frequent when I was a kid. There are video games in the back which keep the kids entertained, so the moms can catch up, which is always nice! Our next bucket list item was a visit to the kids museum in Atlanta. Before Mady turned two, we had a membership there, so we went about once a month, but that expired almost a year ago and we hadn't been back since. Trip remembered everything about the place and he knew exactly how he wanted to spend his time. Mady had memories of it too, but not as specific as Trip's. It was not too busy, so that made it even more enjoyable for us all. We really love going there and have missed not doing it as much this past year. The next bucket list item was completely the kids idea. They wanted to have a sleepover night where Mady could spend the night in Trip's room. So, we combined a movie night with the sleepover night. We rented Babe for the second time and this time the DVD worked, so we got to watch the movie the whole way through. TJ made some delicious caramel corn and milkshakes, so we all devoured that while watching the movie. After it was over, we made a little bed for Mady on the floor in Trip's room and left them to "sleep." It was so funny listening to them play and talk and convince each other to do things they knew they shouldn't. I think they finally fell asleep around 10:30 or so. And, Mady woke Trip up around 7 the next morning. Needless to say, they both needed MAJOR naps the next afternoon. Next on our list...Chuck E. Cheese! I loved this place as a kid, so I get why they love it so much, but ohhhh....it's just not the same when you are in your thirties. Now though, each game just costs one token. I wish it had been like that when I was a kid. My favorite game is skee ball, but trying to teach little Mady how to play left handed is pretty much impossible for me. I am just glad no one got hurt as her balls flew all over the game area. The best part about going with them now is that they don't care much about who has how many tickets. They just both want to pick something out at the end. I'm guessing that won't last much longer, so I'll just take advantage of it while I can. :-) So, now we have gotten through most of the things on our list. We just have a few more items left, but not much time. Trip starts kindergarten in 2 weeks! Yikes! I am not quite ready for summer to kick the bucket, but I know it's not too far away.

During all these fun activities, we also had a visit from Aunt Betsy! It is always such a treat to have her here. We went out to eat lots, swam at the pool, went to see the new Winnie the Pooh movie and had lots of fun with her! It means so much to me that she takes time out of her life to fly down here and spend some time with us! Thanks, Betsy! Now, Trip is in Wisconsin for his big alone time visit with Pitty and Grumpa. It sounds like he is having the time of his life! We are excited to have him back on Tuesday...it's just not the same without him! We have enjoyed our time with must Miss Mady Moo. She and I went to visit Kaki and Grandad for a night, which is always a nice getaway. We swam and played on the playground and had a good 'ol time! Then, TJ and I took Mady on a day trip to the BIG city (Atlanta). We went to the Botanical Gardens. We hadn't been since sweet Mady was in my tummy, so this was a much more fun time for her! She LOVED the splash park; I think she played in the water for over 30 minutes! Then, we went out to lunch for some Southern comfort food at Mary Macs Tea Room. While we were close by, we showed Mady our old condo. And, then we took her for a real Atlanta treat...Krispy Kreme! Delicious! It was a fun, busy day filled with lots of mishaps and memories!