Summer 2018

Summer is in full swing!  We kicked off the start of our break with a wonderful visit from Max.  Max is my cousin's son who is 6 weeks younger than Ian.  The boys are like two peas in a pod and it's always a pleasure when we get to spend time him and his family. Max is a huge Phillies fan and Ian loves the Nationals.  It was serendipitous that the Nationals was having a home game against the Phillies during one of the nights Max was with us.   Other than rain the first 20 minutes or so, the evening was gorgeous -- no humidity and high 60s.  Yay for us!

The kids just came back from 2 1/2 weeks in Orlando, hanging with my side of the family.  Their visits are always special and they love spending time with their relatives.  This year we tried something new and Ian and Sam flew back by themselves. Success!  Southwest doesn't require the unaccompanied fee for kids ages 13 and older.  :)

And in just 2 weeks, we drive up to Palmer, MA for the kids to go Camp Ramah.  Ian and Samantha will be there from July 25 to August 19.  Ian and Samantha have been looking forward to returning for another summer and they are thrilled that all their favorite friends have been assigned to the same bunks.

Let's do the math -- out of 9 weeks of Summer, the kids will be away for a little more than 6 weeks.  It is nice to have a break and being able to take it easy, especially after all the running around we do during the school year, but I do miss the kids.  The house is so quiet when they are not here.

Since I am no longer working for the Crazy Man and the preschool is closed for the Summer, I have lots of time during the day to fill.  Jeff and I cleaned out our utility room and I binged watched all 6 seasons of "The Americans".  What a great show!

I came up with the idea to repaint several rooms in our house.  After being in our house for 14 years, we've never repainted and it was beyond time to freshen up the place a bit.  Jeff and I aren't quite on the same page with what I want to do, so now I'm not repainting.

So far I haven't run out of things to do.  I spent a few days creating the photo album from Ian's Bar Mitzvah.  And I finished the yearly photo books I do for each of the kids. I cleaned out my email inbox (13,000 emails received, 22,000 emails sent -- all gone!). I keep seeing a closet, drawer, cabinet or area in the house to organize and declutter.  I think I've hit every single one of them by now.  I hate clutter!   I've met some friends for lunch, taken Lucy to the vet and other errands, including presenting a letter to Congressman Connolly's office with other moms letting him know its wrong separating kids from their parents.  Oh, and I took a trip to the National Zoo to see Moke, the 9 week old baby gorilla.  What a cutie!

I know I should be embracing the peace and quiet when the kids aren't here, but I really do enjoy being with them, especially when we can do stuff and have fun. It's nice to have some time taking a break, but I don't think I achieved a good balance this Summer.  6 weeks within a 2 month period being apart from Ian and Samantha is a little too long.   Please remind me I wrote that when we are back to living la vida loca in the Fall.  :)

Never to be seen again!

Jeff recently pointed out something very cool to me regarding the kids.  This is the only time in their whole lives that Ian will ever be twice Sam's age.  Never again will he be exactly twice as old as Sam.  For the 358 days this year that Samantha turned 3 and just 7 days later, Ian turned 6, he became double her age.  How cool is that?

I think back to when Ian was Sam's age now.  At 3 years old, Ian seemed so much younger.  If I remember correctly, we were still trying to teach him to do so much.  Sam mastered getting dressed, learned how to button, drink from a cup, use big girl utensils so much earlier than Ian.  Her vocabulary seems more advanced and her ability to work electronics (mainly any kind of Apple product) is also happening at a much earlier age.  Sam is a much more adventurous eater and will try almost everything.  Back then, Ian pretty much subsided only on chicken nuggets, noodles, and bananas.

However, the one area Ian excelled in that could run circles around Sam is in potty training.  Ian got it in 6 days flat.  Sam is still trying to figure out the pooping, that is when she decides to go every once in a blue moon.


Sam, at age 3.

 At the very core, we have two very different kids. 

At age 3, Sam couldn't be more girly than if a real live princess lived with us and gave her lessons.  She is all about wearing skirts and dresses each day, getting her nails done (toes and fingers!) and designing different hair do's for me to do in her head.  She loves accessorizing each outfit with beads, bracelets, rings and dress-up heels. She loves to twirl around and practice her dance moves.  All of this came very natural to Sam as there is no role model she is trying to copy.  I am not a girly-girl and can't remember the last time I wore a skirt, dress or heels.  It is definitely her own doing!  Now that she has a set of lip glosses, she won't leave the house without putting on her "lipstick".






Ian, at age 3.

Ian, at age 3, was all about Thomas the Train and all Thomas' friends. Ian ate, slept and breathed his train table.  Jeff would design new tracks each night after Ian went to sleep and surprise him in the morning with a new, cool, design.  The Thomas DVDs, television show, Thomas flashlight, Thomas coloring books, and Thomas books all dominated our play area.  If it had something to do with Thomas, you can bet we had it.  Ian soon got into Monster trucks and could name all the championship trucks and who's who.  It was quite impressive that as soon as Ian learned to talk, his main source of conversation was who was riding which monster truck and what tricks they could do.  Ian was a hellion on his tricycle and made those plastic wheels turn so fast you'd think his legs were battery powered. 

Ian never cared about what he wore and was okay with me picking out his clothes each day.  Sam, however, if she hasn't actively voiced loudly what she is going to wear, then you might want to take her temperature, because she is not feeling well.

It's fascinating to see the big kids these little people are becoming.  I love watching their interests wane, slowly disappear and a new one come to light.  At age 3, they most definitely have their own personalities well-formed and know what they like and what they don't.

We are halfway through this uncommon year when Ian is double Sam's age.  The kids have already started counting down until their next birthday, which is at the end of May.  This is a trait they both have and planning far into the future must be genetic as it runs in the family.  Ian wants to do laser tag (but we think he is still too young for this) and may opt for rock climbing instead.  Sam has requested a princess cake, hello kitty cake, and a barbie cake.  She hasn't gotten specific about what kind of party she would like, just as long as 3 birthday cakes are represented. 

And before we know it, the magic with their ages this year will be over. :)