six flags

Just two Zachs and a couple boys conquering Six Flags during the summer

last day of summer

We have a special tradition on the last day of summer where each child can, within reason, choose one thing for us to do together.  The choice can't take up too much time or be too far away so that it doesn't take up all the time for the other events to take place.  This year's last day of summer was one of my favorites!

Micah chose to eat lunch at Tokyo, YUM!

Connor chose to go bowling.  So so FUN!  We chose code names for our games so playing was Tyler Chatwood,  Charlie Conway, Boba Fett, and Elizabeth Swan.

Logan wrapped up our day with a trip to Scoops for ice cream.  YUM again.

I loved spending the summer with the boys doing all the fun things and all the relaxing things and building a closer relationship with each of them.  Lots of things take a backseat in the summer so that we can be together in different scenarios and situations, and I am so thankful that I have that opportunity.  I will never regret the things I didn't get done because I was busy getting time with them.  

2017 was the Best Summer Yetsu. 

waterpark fun

Knocking out more of our summer fun list at a fun and family friendly waterpark in Snellville.  In place that costs little to get in, allows us to bring our own snacks, keeps my children entertained for hours, and allows me to sit and relax in the water while I can still keep an eye on everything they are doing is pretty much a perfect scenario.  Yay summer fun!

the story shop

Cute boutiques and book stores are some of my favorite spots to shop so when they are put together into one place I know I'm going to love it!

The cutest children's bookstore called The Story Shop opened in a town near ours a little over a year ago and I still had not taken the opportunity to bring the boys to it.  We had our first trip near the end of the summer and we were all in love.  This would have been my happy place as a little girl, as an adult it just brought joy to introduce my children to it.

Even though I had not yet been, I had many friends who had so I knew a lot of what to expect but I didn't let on to any of it for the boys so that they could see it all with fresh eyes.  None of us were disappointed.  While they are boys, so they don't appreciate visually beautiful spaces as much as a female might, the two spots I thought they would love, they indeed did love.  

The first they found easily because for my Hobbit loving boys it was easy to spot that on the wall there was a round wooden door with a handle in the middle, and "in a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

The second took awhile to discover and it was Connor that found it first.  On the wall is a giant armoire with it's doors shut.  With curiosity, Connor finally opened up the door and was greeted with fur coats hanging inside and just past, stairs up and into the armoire and then back down again into the story room for the shop.  There was an audible gasp along with boy accolades of "cool" and "awesome" along with footsteps of brothers who raced over to see what had been found.

I wish I had taken more pictures, so that I could convey the sweet awesomeness of this store and the imagination it spurs on but then again I would have missed a lot of reactions had I been behind the camera.  We each walked out with new books to read and excitement about a return visit.  

lake martin

We have gone on vacation with Zach's family several times, and visit my family often, but this summer was the first time my family had ever gone off somewhere together.

We spent five days together at Lake Martin in Alabama and it was simply the best.  I think we were all pleasantly surprised at how great it actually was.  Hours were spent floating peacefully in the water, riding the jet ski, kayaking, playing board games and relaxing on the giant wrap around porch.

Our boys fell in love with pool as there was a table downstairs and I fell in love with Ina Garten's brownies that my mom brought.

There are so many great memories from the weekend but here are my top 5 in no particular order...

1.  The girls' epic come back win in trivial pursuit

2.  Watching the kids on the jet ski and then watching them close up on go pro videos.  Hilarious!

3.  Seeing my boys wakeboard in a real lake for the first time.

4.  Eating dinner on the back porch

5.  Kayaking with my nieces

Bonus 6.  Floating and chatting with my sibs and sibs in law

We've all got great memories and are excited about a return trip next summer.