Is This Really Happening to Me?

Friday, we checked Evan out of school early again to take him swimming. I wish I had my camera ready when Derek came out of school with him. They were holding hands and Evan was smiling ear to ear. I could tell he was thinking, "Is this really happening to me?" It is a priceless expression. Next time, I'll have my camera ready.

My sister is the luckiest girl I know. She and her husband's best friends built a house right next door to them and also put in a pool. So, my sister's family has unlimited access to this beautiful pool (with none of the maintenance...how great is that), and her friends have been so sweet to include the Horton's in this invitation. We have been so thankful for this generosity because our community pool (as wonderful as it is) has a "10 minute adult swim" time that does not go over well at all with my 6-year-old son, who, at our last visit there, was at the top of the water slide for his very first trip down when the whistle blew for adult swim. The lifeguard would not let him take his turn, and let's just say this did not go over well. Derek and I were literally having to hold him in the lawn chair to keep him out of the water for ten minutes. So, when this invitation came to use the pool by my sister's house, we jumped on it. It has been wonderful. It is never crowded and I get to spend some time with my sister and nephew, which I always love. So, we spent Friday afternoon playing in the pool with Millicent and Stone. Ella Grace even stayed in the water the entire time, and she loved it! She hasn't been that crazy about it until now. I think she wasn't crazy about the colder water. Now, that it is 90+ degrees, the water is warmer and she enjoys it a lot more.

Ella and her Daddy

My nephew, Stone, and Evan. Stone was lifting Evan up and Evan loved it!

Stone playing with Ella Grace. EG loves Stone and he is so good with her.

Saturday, my mom called and asked if my kids could come over so Derek and I could go out to eat. Now it was my turn, "Is this really happening to me?" We jumped on the invitation and took the kids to her house and went out to eat. Derek's parents had given us a gift certificate for our anniversary that had the choice of Olive Garden or Red Lobster. Neither of those are my favorite places, but I was thankful for the gift nonetheless. We decided on Red Lobster because Derek loves crab legs (he could eat his weight in them), but everyone and their dog was at Red Lobster, so we went to Olive Garden. It was crowded, too, but we only waited 10 minutes and were seated. We had a really good meal and then headed to the mall. (Note to self: DO NOT go to the mall on a Saturday night EVER! UGH!) We had a great date night. It was that much sweeter since it was unexpected. My mom is great that way. Derek makes me laugh so much, and I love that. He's my best friend.

Today, we haven't done much of anything. I have caught up on laundry and done some light cleaning. In between loads, I kept flipping channels between two movies..."Steel Magnolias" and "Hope Floats." Those are two movies I watch over and over. Derek is taking some online courses and finished that up. The kids have had an "unplugged" kind of day where the computer is off and they only watched one video. They played a lot in Evan's room. Ella Grace took a long nap, and Evan is having a ball right now in the backyard running around in his swimsuit, jumping in the wading pool, then running to the trampoline to jump some more. Plus, he's getting to eat his dinner out on the patio as a picnic. He thinks that is a big treat. He should be one tired munchkin tonight.

Evan and Ella Grace played a long time in Evan's room together today. Ella loves this tunnel. Isn't her hair getting long?! Somebody get this kid a hair bow ASAP! If only she would KEEP it in! :)

It is very fitting that this is a monkey themed wading pool, as the biggest monkey of all is in it! :)

I love summer. I love shopping for school supplies, but I get kind of sad when I see all the ads in the Sunday paper of stores that already have them out because it's a sign of the end of summer. We'll keep enjoying every day and soaking it all in. Next week is another busy week with hopefully some more summer fun squeezed in.

I hope you and yours had a terrific weekend!