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We wrapped up our big roadtrip with a couple of days of downtime at my parents' house. The boys LOVE being in Summerville, hanging out with their Gram & Pop. They love playing with all of the "vintage" toys and books there; playing the piano, the keyboard, and my mom's old trumpet; walking down to the neighborhood playground; watching classic disney movies that my parents have had for decades; coloring on the screened-in porch; making mischief in the hose and sprinkler; and so much more. I'm certain, though, that their favorite activities involve just being together with my parents....playing chase, tickling each other, anything that draws them closer together. I love that their hearts and minds are being imprinted with loving being at their grandparents' houses (including Mike's parents' house), just like my mine is.
(Griffin counting all of his favorite things to do at Gram & Pop's house....).
We LOVE you, mom & dad!
***
This trip was a summer-must and I'm so glad that we did it, but unexpectedly, it completely exhausted me (mentally and physically). As spontaneous and up-for-any-adventure that I am, this trip confirmed for me that things just flow better when Mike's in the mix. We had a GREAT trip, but it was not without hiccups. When Noah drew a spider web on the rug at my parents' house before we left (that thankfully came out), when all 3 boys were insanely antsy at the restaurant in Deland, when Noah accidentally broke a lamp in the room we rented in Deland, when Miles went crazy when we were trying to leave the beach in Pompano (b/c he was sandy and wet and ready to clean and dry), when the kids could not go to bed at night without me sleeping in the same bed with them....well, I just realized that I really needed the balance of Mike (with discipline, encouragement, fun-factor). Our kids love routine and on big vacations, everything is new. Sleeping schedules are off (and each day compounds the impact of the previous day), the rules of play (what to touch, how loud to be, etc..) can be unfamiliar, and they don't always get the downtime that they need to recharge (even when they are just hanging out watching tv, they are still keyed up because they are so excited to be on vacation in a new place). With all of these factors in place, they don't always behave as well as they do at home, which catches me off guard, and then I feel anxious that their manners aren't what I expect of them (and what I know of them) and I find myself going through the day on "discipline watch" versus just settling in and playing with the kids like I normally do. Are these feelings self-imposed? Probably. Do I understand when my kids act like normal kids at home, yet wish that they'd act perfectly when we're at someone else's house? Yes. Is that realistic or fair to them? No way. Next trip big road trip, I'm bringing Mike....and if he's not available, my yoga mat (even if it means a 2-3am session). :)
With that said, it was AWESOME to be on a trip with my sisters. I love these girls like no others and feel truly blessed that they are also my best friends. It was such fun to be able to talk-wedding-talk with Dana engaged and I love that my kids had so much everyday-hanging-out-time with their aunts. These girls keep me laughing, too. My funniest memory is from a gas station in FL. Dana hopped into the car from her bathroom break, wide-eyed, and said, "I just missed the door for the bathroom and found myself in the trucker-shower section!" Her experience was G-rated, but its still a very funny visual for me.
All-in-all a very memorable, successful road trip!
Yesterday we met Mike's mom, Peggy, at the children's museum in Greensboro. We had fun playing around for an hour or so and then she scooped up Miles and took him to New Bern for a few days. He was SO excited for his solo adventure to Grandma & Grandpa's house and we were excited for him. I tried to stay strong, but I cried as I hugged him goodbye. I miss him terribly, but know that he's having so much fun.
Today Noah and Griffin have been having a ball running around the house, making a mess, and just being silly. This afternoon, we took a break from torturing the house and went outside for some water play. Noah loved the slip & slide. 
For some reason, Griffin didn't like all of the water spraying everywhere.
No problem...he's been watching his brothers at work. He grabbed the hose, flexed his 2-year-old muscles, and took care of business.
He had much more fun just spraying Noah down. :)
This is how I found Noah and Kristen when I got home today (Griff was sleeping, Miles is at his grandparents' house for the rest of the week). Seriously, this girl is so much fun! I feel lucky to know her.
Thanks for sharing your friends with us, Dana!
Miles and our neighbor, Will, attended Camp Invention last week. It was a full-day camp (8:30-4:30) which Miles kept reminding me about ("mom, I'm spending my ENTIRE summer at invention camp!"), but he and Will really did enjoy it.
I was excited about this camp, since Miles is really into small motor skill activities (drawing, building with blocks, board games, etc...). I didn't factor in that he is also my black & white/realist. On Day 1, campers were to arrive with an "appliance" to use as a basis for a new invention. I started talking to Miles about all of the fun things that he'd be able to make with his telephone -- and I got a little worried when he told me that he could NOT use his telephone as anything other than a telephone. It just wouldn't work. I suggested a marshmellow shooter....he refused to play along. Yikes. Still, he and Will did have fun "talking to each other on the phone" on the way to camp.
On the 3rd day of camp it was "wacky hair day". I broke out our Halloween supplies and doctored the kids up.
On the second to last day of camp, I arrived to pick up Miles and his counselor (a school teacher) said, "well, should we tell her now or wait until tomorrow?" Uh-oh. She said to me, "Miles arrived just sure that he couldn't create anything with his phone." I told her I understood, that he was 'my realist'. I was ready for her to tell me that he wouldn't have an invention to bring home the next day. Instead she said, "my 4th grade son pushed him a little to come up with some ideas and almost immediately, he began coming up with idea after idea. HE COULD NOT BE STOPPED." She was so proud of him that I immediately started crying. Our realist ended up having a ball inventing something!
When I arrived for the end-of-camp exhibit hall, Miles was so excited! He was literally grinning ear to ear, ready to show off his work. 
Here he is in the "inventor's parade". On a mission!
The kids also used recycled materials for other inventions. Here is Miles sitting in front of his "roller coaster". 
Miles' invention was a "Brother Stopper". It has a long tin foil cord so it can be hung from the ceiling (near his/Noah's bunk beds). It has a logo at the top (too cute) and an on/off switch (from the inside of the phone). If the Brother Stopper detects Noah and he doesn't enter the correct code, he'll get poked!
Here is Miles telling my parents a little about "The Brother Stopper". I should edit it down, but the thought of that exhausts me (especially since I'm still behind on my FL trip pictures), so I'm just including the entire video. You'll get a little flavor of 6-year-old humor as an added bonus.
I've been wanting to take the boys to watch airplanes land for years, but was never really sure of the best place to take them. A local website recently listed a spot, so Beth and set out to find it. We used google maps, mapquest, and our garmins, and could not find it. We chose another grassy area near the airport, set up a blanket, and within 60 seconds Griffin was yelling, "ow! ow! ow! ow!" I looked down and he had fire ants ALL over his legs. I worked as quickly as I could to get them off of him - but in the end he had 11 bites on one ankle. Poor little guy. I rushed him back to the car and he was saying "ow!" again. I took off his pants and diaper -- and wouldn't you know it?! There was an ant in his diaper biting him! How dare he mess with my Griff?!
While I was helping Griffin, Miles & Noah and Kathryn & Austin climbed up to the roof of our cars to watch some plans land far from the savage ants. They didn't see any landings from this spot, but they did see a train on the airport property and a bunch of planes taxing around. They were mostly just excited to be sitting on the roof of the car. 
We followed Beth to one other location (a nearby parking lot....no chance of ants) and it was a jackpot! By then it was noon (maybe a higher traffic time?) and we watched planes fly directly over us (very close!) every 2-3 minutes. The kids loved it. We're definitely heading back. 
It was a really great week. Loved the spontaneity of it. Loved the special time with family and friends. And, it was an amazing way to spend 4th of July. Looking forward to next year already! 
