While it’s not officially summer yet, we’re in full summer mode over here. Between pool visits, lemonade stands, campfires, and time with friends, we’re taking full advantage of the warm weather and extra daylight!
We’ve also been sneaking in school lessons, doing a little shopping (our little lemonade stand owner has her own spending money these days 😉), and even building survival shelters because it wouldn’t be normal life around here without learning how to make a lean-to out of sticks in the backyard! Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to as we ease into summertime.
Outdoor Living 🔥
Sadie has been so into learning about survivalism lately! I took that curiosity and ran with it for her school lessons. We’ve been reading book after book on first aid, shelter building, and basic survival skills. I wasn’t sure how much she was picking up from our learning until she built her own lean-to debris shelter in the backyard. It looked just like her books pictured and I was seriously impressed!
She was so proud to show me her little home, bed, and campfire area. We practiced using a ferro rod to start a fire, carving sticks with a pocket knife, and foraged around the alleyway behind our backyard for more branches for her shelter.
I just love seeing our kids grow and develop their own interests. It’s so rewarding to see them light up and to learn right along with them!
We were driving past a sign for a sports summer camp recently and I asked Sadie if she was interested in attending and she simply said “Sports aren’t my thing.” I’m kind of jealous that at seven years old, she already knows herself that well and is confident in what she likes and dislikes.
Instead of attending a summer camp to play sports, she’s been having the absolute time of her life building shelters and learning about business, money, and people skills with her lemonade stand!
When Sadie was a baby, I could have never guessed she would be into coding, video games, survivalism, and half the things she finds joy in. Parenting is so cool like that. I can remember being pregnant with her and wondering, Who will this baby be? What will God make her like?
Almost eight years into knowing this baby sweet girl, and she’s even more fun and amazing than I could have imagined. God is so good at showering us with blessings we couldn’t have even imagined when we take the time to reflect.
Seeing Sadie grow into someone with dreams and passions has me wondering more and more what things Mordecai and Dakota will get into. I have no idea what they will grow to be passionate about, but I can’t wait to find out and dive in with them. 🤍
Swimming and S’mores 🍫
I brought all three kids to the pool by myself for the first time and it was a win!
I enjoyed seeing their personalities come out while there. Sadie immediately ran into the water and was energized by the crowded pool. She met a friend, splashed, swam, and explored. Mordecai was thrilled to be there, too, and stuck close by my side the entire time. He would periodically look at me with the biggest smile on his face, like can you believe this, mom?! He grabbed his trusty garbage truck and played in the shallow area at my feet.
Miss Dakota? She was determined to climb every set of stairs, walk in and out of the pool 500 times, and eat all of our snacks!
I used our first pool outing as a learning experience. What did I learn? Pack more snacks than you think you need, leave *before* everyone hits their wall, and wear more sunscreen!! I asked Sadie to cover my back with sunscreen and forgot to tell her to make sure to cover the backs of my shoulders. I looked like a lobster that evening. 🦞
Some favorite summer//pool essentials:
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- Refillable roll on sunscreen applicator (no messy hands!).
- Washable and durable tote bag + organizing pouches for goggles, clothes, diapers, etc.
- Flip flops that are actually comfy and supportive for me and Crocs for the kids to slip on and off independently.
- Snacks galore! Our favorites: yogurt tubes, beef sticks, cheese cubes, fruit, pepperoni, applesauce pouches, veggie straws, Nilla wafers, pretzels, and Cheerios.
- Small first aid kit. Someone is always scraping their knee!
- An insulated water bottle that keeps water ice cold.
Along with pool time, we’ve also had a backyard campfire! There’s just something about sitting around a fire that is calming to the soul.
Shopping and School ✏️
Since Sadie has been earning her own money with her lemonade stand, she can now go shopping! We went to the mall with Jimmy’s step sister one night. We had such a great girls’ night wandering around the mall, laughing, popping into Build a Bear, and even hitting up a photo booth!
About a week later, Sadie begged me to take her and her neighbor friends shopping… so I mustered up my courage and took four kids (ages 7, 6, 5, and 3) to Walmart all by myself!
The girls all picked out various baby doll paraphernalia and I treated Mordecai to a Hot Wheels car for being such a good sport. Jimmy was all to happy too stay home with Dakota that night 😉
It was adorable to hear the girls squeals of joy as they showed each other everything that caught their eye. This age is too sweet and innocent. I am really cherishing and enjoying the simplicity.
School lessons have been coming along well, too! We have a few days of second grade under our belt and are relishing in doing school outside (sometimes with neighbor friends joining in) and a relaxed schedule.
Sadie has especially been enjoying her science workbook!
Pajama Walk 😴
With the longer days, the kids’ bedtimes have been creeping later and later. For some reason, their wakeup times aren’t creeping later and later, though! Everyone was up before 7:00 am and I decided we were going on a pajama walk.
Have you ever heard of a pajama walk? Probably not, because I completely made it up five minutes before we set out on this walk.
I told the kids we were heading straight out the door in their pajamas and we would stop at a neighborhood park to eat their breakfast!
Sadie and Mordecai thought it was pretty neat to eat their morning yogurt at the park in the jammies! Mom thought it was pretty neat that the mess wasn’t smeared all over our kitchen table for once. 😜
From there, we ended up spending almost two hours exploring the neighborhood before the day really even began (see crack of dawn wake ups above).
It was sweet watching the neighborhood wildlife wakeup and seeing the kids’ absolute delight over puddles, flowers, sticks, squirrels, baby bunnies, a bird’s nest, geese, feathers, and robin eggs. It felt great to seize the day and make the most of what could have quickly become a long morning!
Everything Else ☀️
Life lately has looked like waking up in the morning and smiling as I see remnants of the kids scattered throughout the house. When all is quiet and I tiptoe around tiny monster trucks, stuffed animals, keychains, and baby dolls, I take a moment to thank God for our three little rascals and this phase of life we’re in. It’s exhausting and sweet and fulfilling and better than I dreamt of when I imagined having a family.
We took a picture at church! Two out of four looking at the camera is a win in my book.
Niva and I took a walk, just us two girls one evening!
We spent time at the library for an art class for the kids. Sadie and Mordecai created all sorts of crafts and Dakota created a mess!
I had to take a picture of this page from Simple Abundance. I loved this quote:
“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we shall tend. The invisible underbrush holding us back is our own thoughts. When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but on the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure—the wasteland falls away and we experience joy in the real lives we live each day.”
Another day at the pool! A woman in her 70s had on the same swimsuit as me and I’m actively choosing to believe she has great, youthful fashion taste instead of thinking I dress like a grandma. 😇
I could sit and watch him sleep for hours. He looks so peaceful and adorable!
Other Notes and Thoughts 📝
- Scripture I’m loving: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 🙏🏻
- Currently reading: Simple Abundance, How to Write a Love Story (makes me want to visit Ireland!), and studying Is God Enough for Me? 📚
- Jimmy and I were teaching Sadie’s Sunday school class at church recently and the lesson was on Nehemiah. I was reading over the lesson and was surprised to learn he was a cupbearer. I decided I need to study the book of Nehemiah next! 📖
- I transferred all of our spices to matching glass spice jars and I feel like our spice cabinet can breathe now. ☺️
Living My Full Life 