Memorial Day Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend! We really didn't have much planned going into the weekend, and that was just fine. The summer weather has finally arrived, and all of a sudden it is over 80 degrees and humid, but we jumped right into our summer activities- we have been waiting for this!

The pool at the JCC opened on Thursday, so before it was time to pick the kids up, I went and swam laps. It was crazy to me that less than a week prior I had been wearing sweats, and then I was swimming. (I was taking a week off from running because I've been having trouble with my foot, which is still kind of bothering me, but that isn't nearly as fun to talk about.)

Modeling her summer gear

Friday the boys had a half day, so I picked them up and we went to picnic at the playground with a friend from school. Then we went home and I gave them a choice- watch an episode of Pokemon on Netflix, or take a nap and get to go swimming before dinner. They chose nap and swim! We got in a quick swim at the JCC before we went to meet my parents and Jane and Ed at Chanticleer, which is an old house with extensive gardens, and is our favorite summer picnic spot. It is so beautiful there, and the kids just run and play, so the adults can sit and talk. They love exploring the gardens and all the nooks and crannies on the property; there is a big, grassy hill and the kids roll or run down over and over. All three kids were happy and pleasant, and playful together. At the end of the night, I got the picture at the top of the post- completely spontaneous, just the three of them loving each other.

On Saturday, Eric went for a long bike ride, and I took the kids first to the playground and then to the swimming pool. Eric met us at the pool around lunch time. We were out in the sun for hours, and even though I had put sunscreen on everyone, we all got sunburned. Poor Asher has never had a burn before, I think he was surprised at how much it hurt! We had a friend over for dinner, and ice cream for dessert.

Sunday we went down to the beach for a day, just the 5 of us. We don't have a house, and all of our friends who do have houses seemed to have forgotten to invite us, so we picked a beach with easy access and public bathrooms, packed up lunches, and hit the road. 1.5 hours down and we were on the beach in the sun.

On the beach!

The waves weren't too big, and the boys were able to wade in and jump into and over them. Charlotte seemed to have gotten over her intense and hysterical fear of the ocean and let the waves get her feet and ankles. At the end of the day they were happily playing in the sand at the edge of the water, digging holes and making pools and rivers. Eric and I dragged them off the beach because we were tired, but we bribed them with the promise of ice cream. Charlotte was exhausted; she threw a fit in the car because the dress I had picked out for her wasn't "beautiful" enough, then she cried at ice cream because she wanted to eat TWO ice creams. We drove home and all the kids slept, and we got home in time for a quiet dinner just our family.

Today we had planned to pick strawberries, but it was raining when we woke up so we moved our plans indoors to the Franklin Institute. Benjamin has a fear of the planetarium there, so had some anxiety about going. Eric offered to let him stay home, so I went with just Asher and Charlotte.

Our day ended with hysterical laughs and giggles. We had dinner at a friend's house, and on the way home, our other friends were next to us at a stop light. Eric pretended that he was going to drag race our friend (we were in our Honda Odyssey minivan, so sporty) and had the car in neutral while he revved the engine... unfortunately, we were on a hill and slowly rolling back toward the car behind us. I told him to quit it, and that he was acting like an A-S-S. All three kids started spelling it out, asking, "What's A-S-S?" and I was thinking, great, they are going to go to school and spell it out and everyone will know where that came from... but then Benjamin, who has picked up reading, says, "It spells ASS! Ass! What's an ass?!?" and then all three kids were yelling "what's an ass, what's an ass?!?" and Eric and I couldn't stop laughing, which merely encouraged them. Wonderful parents. 

Charlotte requested that Eric take the side off her crib so it could be a toddler bed. She's been able to climb in and out with ease for a long time, but has slept so well in it as a crib that we never took the side off. Today she asked, and Eric complied. As a result, nap time was a disaster (there was no nap) and tonight when I took her upstairs to go to bed, I saw that she had placed her stuffed animals between the rails as if they were nap spectators, and removed her mattress so that it was at an angle to the floor. When we came in the room she hopped on to the mattress and said, "Look! It's a slide! WHEEEE!" and slid down to the floor. I had to leave the room I was laughing so hard, and I left Eric to do the disciplining. 

I know I say it all the time, but all three of my children are at such a fun stage. They are independent, smart, and funny; yet they still need me, love me, and give affection.  We are at the point where we are able to imagine all the adventures we will have soon- vacations, outings, books to read. So far so good with summer, I can't wait to see what the next 3 months will hold!

Running: Broad Street Run + Healthy Kids Running Series

I have been so negligent in my posting here- not even posting the major happenings in our day-to-day lives. How will I remember any of it if I don't write it down?!?

Before the race. All I can say is... I don't look good in hats, or trash bags.

I ran my 4th Broad Street Run on May 1. It was somewhere around 50 degrees and pouring rain. I ran the entire race with a black contractor bag over my running clothes.  I have to say, running in cool rain is much easier than running in hot sun, no question. But finishing the race, standing for 20 minutes waiting for a friend, and then walking another mile back to the subway, then riding the subway, then walking to the car, in wet clothes... not so great. During the run, I felt strong and like I was barely pushing myself. When we reached mile 7, where I usually become exhausted and wonder if I can finish, I was still feeling full of energy. But my friend who I was running with wasn't feeling the same, and so I hung back with her and cheered her on (my sister did it for me 2 years ago so I was repaying my karmic debt).  My overall time was less than impressive, which I can't help but beat myself up over, but I finished those 10 miles. I'm now 40% of the way to "veteran" status, where you are guaranteed entry for the rest of your life.

After the race

In addition to my lackluster running, other family members have started to run! Charlotte and Asher participated in the Healthy Kids Running Series near us. Charlotte ran the 50 yard dash, and Asher ran the 1/4 mile. They are both speedy and coordinated, but Charlotte's performances were uneven- in one race she came in 3rd, in another she cried and made me run with her, in another she was pulling out in front when she tripped and fell on her face. Better luck next year, I think. But Asher did really well, and gained speed with each race. He was one of the faster kids, and next year when he is one of the older kids (it was K/1st grade) he will probably be at the head of the pack. He is competitive and motivated, but also has natural speed and grace (unlike his mommy). 

Asher tearing through to the finish

Sad girl after she tripped and fell

We have yet to really hit our stride with sports- Asher says he is good at sports but doesn't like them; Benjamin is eager to try his skill at almost any sport but is not good at them. Benjamin pays no attention to the action in the game and then says he is "bored" and doesn't want to play. Of course we will keep going with sports and activities- if none of my three loves are high-performing athletes, we will all be ok; we just need to make sure we all live an active lifestyle.