Oh me oh my!

Where to start??

Let's see, I'm not sure if it is a product of step-parent or older children/younger children. Jeffrey is a teenager. He wears his jeans half way down his butt-covered, most of the time-barely, by his t-shirt. Many teenagers do this, I am a teacher in a middle school, I see it. But not all teenagers do...and many of those that do, fit into a 'category'. I do not have any say really in what he wears as I am only his step-mother and he is here so infrequently...but if I did, he would not wear them that way.

The real point of this post however, is not really even Jeffrey, but the little mini me's that walk around here wanting to emulate him. It started off with just Joshua. He would want to wear jeans all the time because that's what Jeffrey does, even when it is 90. But then he started trying to tug his pants down below his waist, half way to his bum...I told him I would throw them away if they didn't fit him... and to get a belt.

Well today took the cake. Jacob was getting his shoes on to go outside sitting on the floor and I noticed his pants seemed baggie at his ankles. Normally his pants are just long enough, he always seems to be in the inbetween sizes. Then I noticed some white between his jeans and his black shirt. The little shit is at it. "Jacob, pull your pants up". "But Mom, my shirt is covering it". OMG, I don't give a crap. I immediately went to the computer and typed in 'What to do when your younger children want to dress like your older children?', No help.

I do not have anyone in the same boat as me, teenagers and younger children, but I would love to pick someone's brain about it. Really I am all set with the attitude that is is only clothes, because it is not. It is a lack of respect for establishment, of what is normal. I know that kids want to be individuals and push the limits to see where they are...but it is a little different when the little ones are copying the big ones. For them it is about wanting to be like the person. I don't want them to aspire to be like rebels. I also don't want them to be cookie cutter copies either. Bottom line...My kids won't be wearing their pants down their butts...in front of me...because let's be honest, that is all I have control over.

Ah, yah, yah!

Trying to catch up

Last weekend we headed up to Maine for some four wheeler races. (Not where our family camp is) The boys were in heaven. This is what they aspire to be and what I probably have to look forward to.They had little kid races too. These kids were probably Joshua's age and a little older. I'm guessing to 10/11.

They also had a climbing wall there. I thought it was cool that the boys both started up different sides and got into the same frame. It is so much harder than it always looks. They did great.
They both made it to the top, but Joshua was not facing me so I only got Jacob up to the top.

This weekend we headed up North. It is our official start to summer. I loved it so much, so peaceful, relaxing, enjoyable. It was also the first weekend the trails were open so we went riding one day. Is it ok that we stopped for ice cream two times...it was a three day weekend after all.

I read my book with this view. Yes, a book...I haven't mentioned it yet, but I have taken up reading. I started shortly before our trip to Florida and finished the first book on vacation. When we got back, I actually bought a book...and finished it this weekend. Sadly, I have been a bad example as a teacher and mom because I was not a reader. I still pick them by their cover...but it is a start.

Joshua got a little practice with Auntie's kayak. He is quite good with the kayak and canoe all by himself. Jacob is getting good with the kayak as well.

The weather was a little chilly, but that didn't stop the boys from getting in the water. They were wading near the shore and playing around in the boats. Next thing I knew, they both jumped out of their respective boat and into the water. It was only like 65 out. Crazy...but I know when I was younger Memorial Day was always the beginning of our summer. It was hard for my Dad to keep us out of the water. Someone always "fell" in. I figure it's not going to kill them.

We saw these guys on the way up. It was just after dusk so the camera couldn't really focus. Joshua held the spot light to help a little. There were actually 4 of them. It was cool because it has been a while since we've some.

This totally cracked me up. You can tell from their clothing what the weather was like. The sun was warm, but when it hid behind the clouds it was a bit chilly. Anyway, I have never seen this up here. Apparently these people store their pier somewhere down a ways from their water access (they live across the street). They were bringing it back and on the first trip they all were rowing like Tom Sawyer and friends. For the second section, they must have paid the kid some good money to get in the water and push it along...It literally cracks me up.

Mother's Day

I got my first Mother's Day present the night before. Each spring I hold off on getting hanging plants because Jim and the boys get me some. This year I got some purple ones with lots of blossoms. They did not disappoint. Now I just have to remember to water them so they last all summer.

On Sunday Jim made me breakfast, frozen waffles=my choice I swear. I do not like to go to breakfast and wait two hours on Mother's Day. I did not want to wait two hours for lunch either which is why I didn't get my good seafood that I wanted from Brown's at the beach. We went to the beach even though it was quite windy. They boys (all of them, big one too) wanted to collect some skipping rocks to bring to the camp to skip and I was all about the seafood. I did end up getting some at somd dive but it sufficed.

Such Cutie Patuties.

Sorry, I have no idea!

"Muah!"

Somehow that tongue helps the rock go just a little bit further.

I just love the look of awe and wonder on his face. I love this age of discovery.

Skippers for the camp.

Happy Mother's Day to me!

On the way to the beach we stopped for a quick surprise hug and hi at my friend Karin's house. We said we would see each other once a month when she moved...let's just say I haven't seen her since Halloween! She blew me off for our birthday dinner...(who could blow off the Olive Garden???) and now she says we should hook up after school gets out...That's like 5 more weeks!!! Girl I miss you!

T-Ball

T-ball games officially started. It is kinda funny to watch. I am glad Jacob is doing it. He plays for the Indians.

He was so funny. I did catch it on camera, but his first at bat he slid into first base. I think he thinks he has to. The first week at his new babysitter's he came home with grass stained knees each day. "I have to practice baseball mom, I have to slide." "Kid, I can not afford to buy you new clothes because you want to slide". As soon as he got to first, he had to clean off his shoes. Too funny.
Lookin good.

Pt. 2

I was trying to wait until I got our Disney pictures to post, but unfortunately, I forgot the camera in the trunk and we only had a disposable. I got them done last night one hour and they pretty much s*ck. Not worth even posting...thank goodness I got them for free (they took too long and made me wait).

So the second day in Florida we went to Blizzard Beach. It is a water park with an iceburg theme. Again, I tried to plan ahead and thought I did a good job. Brought our beach towels and flip flops so our feet wouldn't burn up on the pavement. It turns out they were both a waste of effort. You rarely get off the slides etc where you get on so to leave towels and shoes at the start is a waste. We had to centralize our towels on the beach chairs. So sorry to all those tourists who had to view my 'curves' as I walked around in my bathing suit. And as for the flip flops...they had sprinklers misting the concrete everywhere.

My sister in law asked me to take pictures because she wants to get there one day. Unfortuneately I did not read that until after we got back. It was really hard to take pictures at the waterpark for the simple reason that it was a water park. I couldn't take it on the rides and I wouldn't leave it on the 'centralized' beach chair we chose for our towels. We were so busy on the attractions that there wasn't just time to walk around and take pictures. Soooooo...I cheated. Some of these pictures I got off Google.

So the first thing to let you all in on is that as they saying goes...the bigger they are, they harder they fall...or in the water park...the bigger you are, the faster you go. It scared the poop out of me. Not literaly thank god...but it was not enjoyable for me. Especially because you have to go on your stomach head first on some of them.

Joshua was a daredevil again. He, Jeffrey and JIm went on one of the speed slides. Not the super tall one but still, you weren't catching me on it!

They had some cute water slides and a play area for the little guys. I say little guys, but the water at the end of them was 6ft and 8ft. Luckily we found out they had free lifevests since Jacob hasn't learned to swim very well at all yet.

Joshua on the zipline. Jacob did it too.

I liked this slide because we all got to race each other. Again, scarey as heck, but worth it.

We're Back

What a great week! Airplane tickets booked-check...Car rented-check...Hotel booked for the first night-check. Ok, doing good. Let's think ahead-print out some directions. Airport to hotel, got it. Hotel to SeaWorld, our first destination, good to go. SeaWorld to Gram's house, printed. Smooth flight, great behaved boys about 40 seats to spare on the flight. Seems things are going great.

Plane lands, all bags in tow. Let's look at my print outs. What car company did I rent from??? Good question. I forgot to print out that. 10:45 at night and all of the rental companies sound familiar, Budget, Alamo, National...oh man. Budget has like 20 people in it...Alamo sounds familiar. I'm going with Alamo...Bingo! But Jim can't drive...that will be an extra $10. a day. I'm fine with driving. I can spend the $50 another way and did I'm sure.

So we got to the hotel...but you know as the saying goes...if it sounds too good to be true there must be a problem. Me, Miss Cheapy, I was just excited to get a hotel for 5 in Orlando for $40. I mean we didn't need a pool, fancy restaurant or room service. We were only sleeping there and then heading out early for the theme park. BUT...sleeping accommodations for all would have been good. I figured on two double beds and a cot or trundle or somethings. I clearly said 5 people and it is printed on the reservation print out. Two double beds is it!!! Now for some reason, Jeffrey has always acted like Joshua has cooties when it comes to sleeping together...would rather sleep on a floor than with him. So long story short. I slept in the double bed with both of my boys...in the middle mind you because now Joshua has learned to treat Jacob like a leaper(sp?). Not my best nights sleep.

As soon as we got through the line at SeaWorld and were about to start our adventure my foot felt a little funny. I look down only to see my $30 flip flops (I treated myself to some blinged out flip flops) were broken. That extra $50 from Jim sitting co-pilot is not going to last long. There is something for everyone in these gift shops, including new flip flops for Mom.

I think the misfortunes end there...oh wait. I left my only pair of Jammies hanging on the hotel bathroom door. And we found out when we were about to return the rental car that the console has a secret double compartment which explains why we couldn't find the directions to Gram's house even though they were clearly just there a minute ago. Really it was a great week. All of these little pains didn't put a damper on our time. We needed the vacation and I wasn't going to let it.

The boys really enjoyed it. Jacob is at such a perfect age. You can see the excitement on his face and I just loved watching it. Joshua really wants to be like Jeffrey so he was game to go on the crazy rides. Pretty brave for a 7 year old. He went on this crazy rollercoaster. Jacob was too funny. He said, "Mom are you going on that?" I of course said "NO". To which he followed up with, "Good, you can hold this then (his hat)". Because he thought he was going.

In the age of digital cameras, it's good to take a picture of your kids...because I can never remember what they are wearing in case we get separated.

The boys wanted to sit in the Soak Zone. We sat back a few rows. More like the sprinkle zone.

Joshua and Jeffrey were right up in the front near the part where Shamu comes up. I didn't even notice when I took the picture of his splash about the drench the boys, that they were up on the screen above. Chris actually pointed it out to me. I'm pretty sure if you click on the pictures you can see them larger to see it better.

Gotta love Shamu!

I'll post more later...can't catch up a week in a day :)