We've Been BUSY!

Today marks the end of our 4th week of summer.  It has gone SOOO fast!  My goal this summer was to keep the kids busy and I think I've been doing a good job.  Maybe even too good of a job.  We have 8 more weeks until school starts and while I have enjoyed being busy, I'm hoping that it will slow down just a little bit.

We have gotten into a bit of a morning routine to help us get out the door and on our way to our activities.  We normally start the day by cuddling/snuggling and playing together first.  Then I'll get up and throw in a load of laundry and start working on the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen.  While I do that, Kai has been good about taking himself to the bathroom and getting dressed.  He can even do all of the buttons on his shirt by himself!  I only have to help him with the buttons on his pants these days, which is nice.  It does take Kai a while to get ready, and I normally finish up in the kitchen while he's doing that.  But considering he's normally being tormented by Finn the entire time, that's pretty good.  I use the time to also sterilize Finn's equipment for the day.  Once we've finished all of that, the boys and I will head downstairs (Kai with chocolate milk for breakfast and Finn with apple juice) and turn on the TV while Finn goes through his morning treatments.  It takes about half an hour to get through everything and I'll sit right between the boys on our netbook checking email, facebook, and our bank accounts.  I also try to check the news, but really half a hour (that is constantly interrupted to change out Finn's machines and meds) doesn't always cover it.  Once Finn is done with treatments, I'll turn on a second half-hour show for the boys and run up to shower and get dressed.  Once we've gotten through all of that, we are normally getting ready to run out the door for an activity of some sort.

For the summer, I signed each boy up for two activities.  Kai is doing soccer and private swim lessons.  Finn has mommy-and-me gymnastics, and mommy-and-me soccer.  I did also sign Kai up for a couple of classes at a local store called School Crossing.  He had two this month and will have two next month.  Those have been fun and worth the money.  This month he had a "Boats that Float" class and a "Butterflies and Frogs" class.  He seemed to really enjoy them both and came home with lots of fun stuff.

Other than our classes, we had several friends move in the first 3 weeks of summer.  So, we had several play dates at our house to allow the moms in the families to get some packing in.  It was fun to have friends to play and we really miss them already.  Kai has had a lot of friends move and today he started getting scared and asking me if certain other ones were leaving.  For now, the answer is, thankfully, "NO!"

The beginning of the summer also saw several doctor appointments--6 to be exact.  One of the things I'm most looking forward to is that currently the month of July has ZERO scheduled doctor visits!  It is the only month out of the entire year that will happen, so I'm really hoping no one gets sick!  We already have 2 appointments scheduled for August, 1 for September, 1 for October, 1 for November, and most likely one for December.  So, July be good to us!

And last but not least, we joined the YMCA for the summer.  I've been trying to take the boys over to the pool to swim two times a week (the membership is so expensive I have to make sure we're getting our money's worth) and at first they were having a good time.  Yesterday, though, they were asking to go home. So, maybe we just need a break?  I guess we'll see.  Anyway, enough commentary.  Let's bring on the pictures!

With all the craziness I thought the boys needed some lawn chairs.  We saw these at CostCo and Finn was in LOVE!  We just couldn't pass them up.  (In other words, he sat in it until we put it in the cart.)

During a "safety break" at the YMCA indoor pool.

Finn LOVES soccer!  And the coach just loves his enthusiasm.  Here he is listening to the balls to see if they are sleeping.

Finn's class is at the same time as Kai's and so I don't have any new Kai soccer pictures, but I'll work on that.

Gymnastics started out rough that first week, but he is getting better every single week.  His listening skills have greatly improved and he even will allow someone to help him out occasionally.

He actual let his coach help him with a forward roll.  Just once, though.  :)

Tickling the sky!

Squat

Free time in the pit

Earlier this week I took the boys to the mall after one of Kai's classes.  We had lunch at  the food court, rode the train, and visited the pets at the pet store.

Finn zonked out in our bed.  For the first time ever, Finn had one night that was just so rough this week.  I don't know if it was the heat or what, but he was vomiting and having night terrors.  After spending 3 hours trying to get him back in his bed I finally  just brought him to ours.  The poor kid--I don't know what to do.  Technically, I'm sure the GI would like to know, but personally I have no interest in doing an endoscopy on him.  So I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

We are having a GREAT summer!