summer bucket is almost empty

I was talking with Zach and he mentioned that going to Monaco was on his bucket list. A bucket list? What the bleep is that? Seriously, I have never heard of that.I decided to make a Summer Bucket list with the kids. They didn't know what it was either. Just a list of things we want to see or do this Summer, kids!

Here is what they came up with:

Water Park
Camping
Smith Memorial Playground
Blue Rocks game
Washington DC
Temple Trip
CowTown Rodeo
Tubing
Delaware Childrens Museum
Please Touch Museum
Fruit Picking
Beach
Longwood Gardens
Boomers

We have seen or done a lot of things on the list and there are pictures to prove it.

We went to Boomers Family Fun Center in Avondale PA. My kids grew up going here since we only lived about 15 minutes away. They always had so much fun there! Its definitely a must do..if your kids are young. I forgot most of mine were 5 years older and they were bored. Sam obviously found a way to get sweaty. Matthew only had 6 tickets from his game winnings but that didn't stop him from getting a 1000 ticket giraffe from the lady behind the toy counter. Who can resist his beautiful blue eyes and curly hair ?? No one.

 Longwood Gardens is my ultimate most favorite place to go. We have had a membership there for years. I can't help but take a bizillion pictures every time. I love everything about that place.

It was a very hot day at Longwood Gardens. The kids needed to cool off.

Camping at Hanby Outdoor center for the Cub Scout Family Camp Out. We haven't found a camping trailer yet so I was not staying overnight. Zach is great Dad because against his desire to sleep in his own bed he camped with Michael, Olivia, and Sam.

We took the kids to a Blue Rocks Game where Matthew received a foul ball from one of the staff. I tell ya! This boy gets everything! He was in a bad mood that night.

We also got to go to an Aberdeen Ironbirds baseball game. For the past 3 years we have attended this game from the paint supplier Zach works with. The tickets come with a free grilled dinner buffet and seats in the "party" section. Which means we are not stuck in stadium seats. Cara has had a foul ball thrown to her 2 years in a row. Its a game we always look forward to and enjoy.

We went to the Smith Memorial Playground. It was quite an ordeal. Let it be known that there are TWO Smith Playgrounds in Philadelphia. One is in the slums, where I think there was a shooting there last week, and consists of a swing set only. The GPS obviously didn't know this. Upon reaching our destination after being "re-routed" 5 times because Zach refused to listen to the directions (not blaming him as I should of listened to him in the beginning), the kids all stated they were NOT getting out of the van and wanted to go home. In moments like this it is better to say silent while sitting next to a raging driver. After 1 1/2 hours we finally found the real Smith Playground. It was WONDERFUL! Since my phone was searching for a location for over an hour, the battery died, so I have no pictures. Just memories.

Summer is not over yet and we have a few more adventures to do before school starts in 3 weeks.

Summer

It's summer vacation. Kids are home ALL day. I have no time to accomplish anything or even think about being productive. My house is a disaster EVERY day. I don't cook dinner either. After preparing breakfast and lunch for 6 kids each day I figure there is nothing wrong with them forging for food at dinner time. The pool is my saving grace. The Wii is played for way longer than what would be recommended for "good parenting".

trees.... here and gone

This Summer I committed to working on the outside of the house. We have worked over 3 years updating and "remodeling" the inside that the outside was neglected. My list included everything from cleaning the gutters to making a fire pit to removing trees. It's a long list.

I started before the kids got out of school for summer vacation pulling weeds from an area in the back yard that was once filled with beautiful bulbs, shrubs and nicely mulched. That was before we moved in. After contracting poison ivy, which ran up my arms and neck I gave up pulling and sprayed weed killer not caring what it killed along the way. There was lots of dead and over grown bushes which had to be dug out. It was a long, sweaty task but I did it. I ordered 5 tons of rock to lay out in the area. I had no idea how much 5 tons really was until it had to be moved to the backyard. Thank goodness for a strong, hard working husband because he had the pile down in no time. This area will now be the spot for my fire pit.

We also had 3 large oak trees removed. It was something we wanted to do for years but tree removal is expensive. The trees lurked over the house and I knew any storm was taking them down. We didn't have any grass either because the backyard was too shaded. It was fascinating to the kids watching the tree guy climb the trees and chop them down. Free entertainment for hours.

 A storm rolled through a few days after and Mother Nature took down another tree for us. 

and one for our neighbors. Luckily, no one was hurt. It was a wicked storm, most houses on our street had trees down and debris was everywhere.

Cara was very sweet and concerned for our neighbors. She posted a note on the fridge reminding her to make dinner for them and dessert. She is always so thoughtful! I love that girl!

July 4th camping

I got this brilliant idea to take the family camping! A few years ago (4 actually) I swore, literally used foul language, that I would never camp in a tent again. I've held to that. Why would I leave my air conditioned, comfortable, bug free home to pretend I'm homeless? Lums pond has these things called yurts. (This is now Zach's favorite word and he randomly replaces it for other words. He has even made a jingle with it) Basically, a yurt is like a cabin with canvas walls. It had bunk beds and another full size bed....with NO air conditioning. It even got better when we went on the hottest, sunniest, day all week. The 4th of July. We were booked to be there the night before also but couldn't go because of a baseball game. I wouldn't of survived 2 nights so it worked out great. At the end of the trip I swore, without the obscene language this time, I will never camp EVER again unless I'm in a camper. Guess what I have been researching and pricing? A camping trailer. Not a pop up. That is like a tent. I have convinced Zach enough that I feel totally confident he will be buying one before we ever discuss camping again. Its exciting to think of all the adventures we can take the kids on now.

 

Sam's special day

I took Sam and Matthew to the Adventure Aquarium for "our special day". He's been asking to go for a few months now. We had a wonderful time.

put me in coach

I have a lot of baseball pictures. I should actually since I spend every waking moment at the ball fields. Michael is my favorite to watch. More b-ball pictures later....

new

Zach and I bought our first mattress! I know its hard to believe that there are any firsts after being married 15 years. We always have slept on hand me downs. I never complained because I always slept just fine. After being pregnant with Matthew my body decided that it was not happy being pregnant for the 6th time! It threw some tantrums. One tantrum was on my hip. Every time I laid on my side for more than 10 minutes a sharp pain would develop in my hip area. Laying on my back or stomach was completely out of the question as it hurt also. Every night I would toss and turn from side to side. The only place that was comfortable to sleep was on the couch in our bedroom. It seriously is the most comfortable couch.

In a bribe sort of way Zach gave me money to buy a new mattress because he was truly concerned about my sleepless nights and mental health. Or not. He wanted my approval on a new car and so he was buying my approval. Which I fell for. So he got the car and I got what I thought was enough money to buy the best mattress EVER! That is until I walked around a mattress store and realized I needed to be at the Goodwill buying a used one. I had no idea some mattresses sell for $7,000! At that price the bed should make itself! 

Anyway, I did found a mattress that fit my budget and seemed to help with my problem areas, or at least what I could feel in the 5 minutes I laid on it. In my opinion, the mattress companies are scammers, they actually want more money for a 30 day guarantee in case you don't like it plus pick up fees. The mattress stores should open at night, around bed time, so I can really sleep on it. I didn't buy any guarantee. So I may be stuck with this thing for 15 years or until Zach wants to buy another new car.

2 days later the mattress was delivered and let me tell you, IT IS AMAZING! I haven't woken up from pain at all. Crying children, bathroom trips, and snotty noses are another story. I seriously feel like I am sinking into a cloud. Zach has been complaining his neck hurts now and blames the mattress. I tell him its his paper thin pillow and stomach sleeping. 

Excited to finish the master bedroom, which isn't done yet, I worked on a few bedroom projects. I have many projects to do in the bedroom still. I finally hung the chandelier. It was the ugly brass chandelier that was originally hanging in my foyer. I completely rewired it to a hanging swag then primed and painted it.   I recovered the headboard a couple of months ago with cheetah print fur. Yes, its fur. Grrr, baby, very Grrr.

I am a long ways from being done. I did hang an old mirror that I found at the Goodwill. I need something on the other side of the bed and I'm in the market for glass night stands. Its been fun putting this ecletic room together since its nothing like any other room in my house, its not my normal colors nor taste.

Here's the car that got me the mattress.

 Our new mattress and a glimpse of my cheetah headboard.

Not the best picture of the chandelier. I painted it the color "Hotel Vanilla".