A Week Without Lee

Lee went to a conference last week in Texas. It was torture for the rest of us. It was the week before school started and everyone was itching to go back. It was also really hot out which made outdoor play not very enticing.

We started the week off with a Harry Potter Birthday Party. Our friends came over and we watched one of the movies while enjoying yummy treats. Every year we say we are going to do a big, fun party but every year the time slips away. At least this year we actually got together. (We've been talking about doing it for years!) So, maybe next year will be the year to go all out.

Amy provided the art work.

We even had Butterbeer. We laughed about how all our treats were sweet. We'll work on adding something healthy next year too! 

Being the week before school started I knew I had to do all the shopping with the kids, ALONE. Normally I do most of it by myself. I am not a shopper and do not enjoy it. I especially don't enjoy it with all 3 kids. But it was something that had to be done. One morning we left early and persevered. All the supplies, plus shoes and even some clothing. I should have received gold stars!! 

Another day I pulled out the tent and set it up in the living room. It just barely fits. The kids watched a few movies that day. A refrigerator repairman even came and I had to squeeze him around the tent. haha. I'm sure he left with some question marks!

One of their favorite movies is the Sandlot (although it does have cursing, which is a bummer!) They went outside to play baseball.

Here it kind of looks like they are all smiling. Or at least playing around.

And here you can tell they weren't. Will is turning away crying and Tyler is trying to bite Amy. (sigh)

Another day we took our old neighbor Kathy to an airplane museum. She recently moved more south than we are and the museum is in her town. It was a really nice place. The planes were fun to look at and the history was interesting. Of course, you can only learn so much with little boys, but it was enough that we got a good sense of the place.

This picture creeped Amy out. She said his eyes followed you everywhere.

This Starship plane was the only one they were allowed to go in. They played like crazy. At one point Kathy asked where they were going. Amy said, "Texas!" Kathy said, "Out of everywhere in the world... WHY did you choose Texas??" Amy said, "To pick up Dad!" Sweet girl!!! (These planes were only made for a short time and there are only a very few remaining. They started falling apart in the sky.) 

(It was very close quarters inside!) 

A friend of mine won a seat on the local school board. It was also National Watermelon Day, so we brought her one to celebrate. :)

Amy had an appointment in Nashville so I had to take the boys. Oh man. Going to Nashville is never terrible, but with 2 little boys, it isn't ideal. While I took screens away from them over a month ago, I pulled the little screens back out for this trip. They were GLUED to them! The doctor said, "Wow! They are so quiet!" That is the secret- make screens a special occasion!

After all of that, Lee FINALLY came home. (He was gone for a week.) We were all so glad to see him! It was a very exhausting week. The boys were not on their best behavior and it made it very difficult.

Saturday morning he was off to buy a lawnmower. We already have a push mower (that we bought last year) and a standing mower that my Dad fixed. But the standing one didn't cut short enough. And the push mower was too much. So he found a deal on a riding one and now we are the proud owners of 3 mowers. (rolling my eyes) Have no fear, the standing one will be sold.

It's been in the garage and the kids have had a ball on it. They sit and play, play, play. Its been quite funny actually. (And because one of you New Yorkers will say it- have no fear. the key is put away where they can't get it.) 

And that brings us to the end of summer and SCHOOL STARTING!!! Hip, Hip hooray!!!!