Break from the Kiddies

Well, I managed to plan this well!....kid free weekend followed by a kid reduced week!

This past weekend my hubby and I spent the weekend at the lake with some great friends! he went up with the boys on Thursday evening and I joined him Friday afternoon! There were 7 couples that all spent time together per the hospitality of Fran and Blake! We hung out on the lake most of the time. The girls attached floats via a rope to the boat and sunned all day long! The boys had the ski boat out on Saturday so that we could go tubing and they also had the waverunner out and about. I gave both of them a try and had a blast! I have only ever been a waverunner once before and it was back in the day when it was difficult to get back up on one when you fell off! I have never been tubing like that before! It was a double tube, so Ben and I got to go together! Blake gave us a good ride! Everytime I hit a bump, I slid a little bit. Eventually, I was holding on with just the tips of my fingers- one last bump sent me flying! Ben outlasted me and then went on to ride some more!

When we got done floating around out on the lake, we headed back in. We decided to all get in one boat and take a ride up the river. We rode up past Kendra's house, which looks just as beautiful from the water as it did close up. We then went out past Lake Barkley Lodge and found a rock with a bunch of children and maybe 2 adults jumping off of it. We watching for a little bit and then Ben decided he wanted to jump off of it. So he, Travis and Kevin jumped out of the boat and climbed up the rock. I was nervous because you never know how deep/ shallow something like that is. But the boys were fine! I don't know why I always worry...I guess because being a single mom of four is simply not appealing to me! LOL!

I certainly can't complain about the food! We ate REALLY well over the weekend! The first night we had pizza's from Papa Murphy's. I have never had pizza from there before, even though several people had told me how good it was, I really didn't believe them until I had some! Delicious! For dinner on Saturday, Blake made a tenderloin on the grill! I really didn't think he would be able to cook my part the way I would like it, but it was PERFECT! Everyone else wanted their portion medium to well done, but of course, I would prefer it practically rare...just a little heated up! Most people really don't understand that when they ask how I want my meat cooked, but Blake did a fantastic job! I learned a new way to make potatoes while we were there! Use cream cheese instead of sour cream..never even occurred to me! and then to top the night off we had cupcakes to celebrate Amelia's birthday! Haven picked them out and she got ones that had this strawberry icing that looked and tasted like it had real strawberries in it! Lastly, we went to the Lodge to eat breakfast Sunday morning. Ben and I had to get home to take the girl's to camp so we drove to the lodge because it was on the way out. Several of the couple's rode the boat, which I am sure was awesome! How fantastic it would be to get up and ride a boat to and from breakfast!

I have been totally converted! I have always been a "salt water girl" but I can totally see the attraction people have to the lake! I sure love Blake and Fran's house and hope that at some point to have a house like that to take our kids to! The entire lakeside of the house was all glass windows, so you didn't miss a single part of the gorgeous scenery! There was also decking from one side to the other and steps to 2 separate lake side areas. The boys "noodled" in the cove and caught catfish the first night! I had never even heard of it before and would not have really understood what it was had they not done it again Saturday! They tied fishing line to pool noodles, baited it with liver and then dropped them all over the cove. When they returned to check on the them, they may or may not have caught a fish. They didn't catch many Saturday because they didn't leave them in long enough, but Ben thought it was great! Talk about living the life!

Then we got home and took the two middle kids to Camp for the week! They were so excited about going and I just know they are having a great time! With AnnaMichelle's golf and the other two at camp I am a mom of one for the week!! LB misses his sisters, but I love the idea of having him to my self for the week!

Summer Time

I am a high school teacher and have four kids ranging in ages from 3 to 14 --soon to be 15 and let me tell she won't let you forget it. Every chance she gets, she reminds that she will be getting her learners permit soon!

During the school year I am a working mom and during the summer, spring and fall break and Christmas break I get to play the role of full time mom! I usually keep the youngest in daycare all summer because you have to pay for it or risk losing your spot, but this year I have pulled him out. I now take him to daycare for the mother's day out program once a week. That is the break I get, 5 1/2 hours once a week! This is insane...working is easier!

I love my kids, but they want to be entertained all the time! What ever happened to the days of being bored and dealing with it! I have banned television during daytime hours, because last year it was an absolute struggle to get the kids to go outside. Without being able to watch TV, it really hasn't been that hard! Great idea, if I don't say so myself! Now I simply their concierge! and hotel maid, etc!

Took the youngest for a speech evaluation this week and let me tell you that watching your kids, when they don't your watching is the best entertainment ever! I got to watch him be evaluated through one of those one way glasses like you see on Law and Order or Criminal Minds!