Summertime

Well we are getting ready for our yearly 4th of July celebration. We always have a big cook-out PARTY at my mom's. There is swimming, a parade around the pool by the grandkids and some of us big kids :), dancing to patriotic and summertime party music (by grandkids mostly), a big cook-out with usually around 20 - 25 people, more swimming, a family firework buying event at the local firework stands, and then a firework display that could rival some professional events in the last couple of years. That is in part due to me and my nephew Sam plus my niece Anna planning the fireworks display :) I have been trying to officially pass the torch of firework display coordinator to my nephew Sam for a year or two. Last year I told him that was it for me and I had faith that I had trained him well. If he was reading this, which I know he is not, he would be getting a kick out of this post! I have been taking my 2 older nephews and my oldest 2 nieces for as long as I had a drivers license to purchase fireworks. The group has grown now with the addition of my own children and more nieces and nephews (which does make the shopping experience a little more difficult (scratch that) fun. It is always hot, sometimes raining, and always fun. This year I bought some glow in the dark sticks for all the kids to run around with at night. I usually try to get some patriotic hats or headbands but this year I am simplifying a little. My mom always fixes brownies with little flags in them and she has her backyard and deck totally red white and blued out! We are talking streamers people, and lights in the shape of stars, table top decorations and matching plates, napkins, etc You get the point. We kinda go all out.

New Laundry System

I got this idea from another blog. Thought I would give it a try and it really works for me. Here's my new system:
I have one laundry basket per family member labeled with that person's name. They stay lined up in the hallway outside the laundry room(this is because we don't have a big enough laundry room to line them up in). When I fold the clothes I put them directly into the correct basket. When the basket gets about half full I say "BASKETS" and the kids know to go get their basket, take it to their room and put their clothes away. They put all undies, socks, jammies, and shorts/pants in the correct drawers. All shirts are hung up in the closet by the kids themselves. They then must bring the laundry basket back downstairs to the hall. For the dirty clothes- a hamper is provided in the boys room and when it gets full they bring it down and dump it in the laundry room. This has helped me a lot!!! My problem was the clothes would get "stuck" once they were clean and folded. I had trouble putting them away. I would pile them up in clean piles but not put them away. This way everyone is responsible for putting away their own clothes(including me). My kids are 5 and 8 and once I showed them how to do it they have done a great job with hanging things up themselves...may not always be perfect but hey...I'm far from perfect myself.

Our Trip

We just got back from a trip to the Smokies. First time for Roman and first time that Carson can remember! It was a fast one but so fun! We stayed at the Clarion Inn Willow River this time and it looked like an old southern plantation house instead of a hotel. The back of the hotel very closely resembled the White House. Very impressive! It had an indoor pool with a hot tub(which the boys loved) and an outdoor pool with a lazy river(which I loved). It was a bit far out from the main attractions of Pigeon Forge...it was in Sevierville and about 10 miles from the red light to go to Dollywood. We went to the Wonderworks Museum and it was fun for the kids and Neal especially! Neal and the boys all climbed a rock wall while I took pictures. We got to experience what hurricane force winds feel like in this one simulator. It was mostly a science type museum which is right up Carson's alley. For supper that night we were in search of a Pancake house. We couldn't find any that were open except the chain IHOP....so we ate there. The kids devoured their breakfast for supper so it was a good idea to stop there. We had eaten earlier for lunch at Fudrucker's and the kids didn't hardly touch their burgers. Dollywood was HOT the day we went. It was in the nineties that day with some passing thunderstorms. They had to stop the rides twice for thunder and lightening while we were there. We all loved the River Battle the best I believe. You get soaked! The boys (and me I will admit) loved shooting the water guns at people. We all rode Blazing Fury which ended up being a bit much for Roman we found out too late. It was a little scary since it was indoor roller coaster and mostly in the dark. Roman however LOVED Daredevil Falls which scared Carson and I quite a bit! The rampage was shut down while we were there so that was disappointing but overall a good hot day. Except for when we got poop splattered on us from ducks flying overhead...it was so disgusting!! It covered this family sitting on a bench as we walked by and we got the leftover splatters. Thought Carson was gonna throw up on the spot. We washed off in a bathroom and headed for a water ride to help get cleaned up. On the way home, we stopped in at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and it was neat to watch the fish swim. Neal and the boys LOVE going there and I actually don't mind it either. Reminds me a little of my dad's store growing up I used to work there. We were all so exhausted from the trip that we slept at least 8 hours the night we got home. The boys slept about 10!