Summer Bucket List Days 1-7

Each summer Eli and I make a Summer Bucket List of all the things we want to do while we're on summer break. Most of things we list aren't elaborate or even expensive but they give us purpose while we're home for 2 months. Each night he crosses off the things we did on our list that day until we're all finished. We count up how many days we're out for summer vacation and then try to list something for each day. This summer I chronicled our adventures on Instagram and I loved looking back at all the collages I made of the summer fun we had. 

The night before summer break started Eli and I sat down with our markers and made 

Our Summer Fun List for the summer. It was as long as our refrigerator! 

Day 1: We visited The Sno Co., a local snowball stand that sells THE BEST

snowballs around! 

Day 2: We rode our bikes to the library to do some reading and 

then came home and spent some time by the swimming pool. 

Barkley even joined us for some fun. 

Day 3: We took Barkley for a walk, played basketball, got ice cream at the 

coffeeshop downtown, bought some new books from the local bookstore, met Grandpa E for dinner, and had frozen yogurt for dessert! Whew! Day 3 was a BUSY day!

Day 4: We went back to the coffeeshop with Grandpa E (his favorite place when he visits) and then shopped a little downtown. Eli found this How to Build Paper Airplanes book and Grandpa E bought it for him. 

Day 5: We went fishing that morning at our local pond. For lunch we took Grandpa E to the Malt Shop and then came home to do some swimming. 

Day 6: (Memorial Day) Grandpa E had to leave but before he left he and Eli did some science together. Eli loves doing science experiments with him!

Day 7: We met Zue-Zue for lunch at Johnny's and then went bowling with the Atkins family.

Yay for the program "Kids Bowl Free"! We all had a blast! Eli asked Cooper to come home with us and these boys spent the afternoon swimming in the pool.

September iPhone Pictures

I'm finding myself taking more and more pictures with my phone on a daily basis than with my real camera. Here are some of our daily highlights from September. They capture sweet moments of our family and our life. I'm thankful for the portability of my phone because it makes remembering these moments so easy. 

Tinsley and Eli checking on Caleb's lizard thingys. 

Eli was chosen as the Super Student the first week in September. 

He loved being the line leader every day for his class. 

This was the poster we decorated to go in the hall. 

Seeing the dentist for his six-month check-up. He LOVES our dentist!

Eli wrote me a note for my lunchbox.

It made my heart so happy :)

Picture of the bridges on one of my early morning long runs. 

The last harvest of the bell peppers. We had them coming out of our ears!

"Shaving" like Daddy in the bathtub one night. 

Eli and I went by the co-op one morning for gardening supplies.

We were in the right place at the right time and got to see a HUGE alligator that had just been caught.

It was HUGE!

Eli loved getting to see an alligator up close!

Bike ride down to the river later on that evening with Daddy. 

We celebrated Mom's 54th birthday.

Dinner at Zue-Zue's house

My sweet boy and me after school one day. 

The fall burlap banner I made for our house with the velvet pumpkins 

I picked up at Hobby Lobby last year for 75% off. Score!

When we were visiting my Mom and Dad Josh called to let me know late one night that he was in the ER because he sliced his finger to the bone trying to take down a pop-up tent at a festival in town. Thankfully, Reve, his secretary and our soon-to-be cousin, was able to take him to the ER. 

I hated not being there to take care of him! Multiple stitches later he was better.

Eli's journal from school the Monday after Josh hurt his finger. 

It made me smile and it was definitely a keeper!

Thanksgiving at Grandpa E's

Thanksgiving day was lots of fun for our family. It was the first time we had ever spent a holiday with Josh's dad at his house. Plus, we got to spend a lot of time with Josh's brother, Ian and his family. It was a day full of great food, laughs, and fun.

Eli's day was made when Grandpa E gave him his belated birthday present-a new bike. He was so excited to have a bigger bike in his favorite color. He spent the majority of his day riding around Grandpa E's neighborhood testing out his new ride.

Josh's dad ordered a turkey and ham from the Honey-Baked Ham store just down the street from him for Thanksgiving, so all Tasha (Ian's wife) and I had to do was make the side dishes. I made the Pioneer Woman's basic cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, pecan pie and sweet potato pie. I also had my dad send me his recipe for his famous sweet potato soufflé. Tasha made some appetizers, macaroni and cheese, and potatoes. We rounded out our meal with some lima beans, creamed corn, and purple hull peas from our garden this summer that I had frozen. It was such a wonderful meal and we all ate until we were stuffed. Ian, Tasha, and Ed (Josh's dad) all said how much they really enjoyed having fresh vegetables from our garden to eat. Since they live in the city, they don't get to garden like we do. Ian's already asked Josh if we can set him and Tasha up on a monthly delivery system of fresh veggies from our garden :) 

After our meal, we all went outside for the obligatory Thanksgiving Day pictures and then the kids played some more. Ian and Tasha's little girl, Sophie loved playing with Eli. It was such a fun Thanksgiving and I'm so glad we made the trip to spend it with Josh's family. Hopefully, we'll do this again soon!

No More Training Wheels!

Over Labor Day weekend, Josh's dad "Grandpa E" came to stay with us for a few days. We were all excited to see him because it had been since Christmas since he and Eli had seen each other. He got to our house late Friday night and we were able to visit with him for a little bit before Eli had to go to bed. 

The next morning after several cups of coffee and a trip to the donut shop, we decided that since "E" was here it was a great weekend to learn how to ride his bike without training wheels. We tried this back at my parents house during Thanksgiving, but Eli just didn't have the right mindset then. Eli's totally my kid because if his mind is not in the right place and he doesn't think he can do it, then it's just not even going to work out. Same way with me. I'm such a perfectionist and I can remember not doing things when I was little just because I knew I couldn't do them perfectly. Yeah, I know that's all kind of wrong, but that's just the way I am was. 

I told Josh to talk to Eli and to get him excited about learning to ride his bike without training wheels. Josh is very good at talking to Eli and convincing him to try new things. Eli listens to him so well and really tries his best to do it just like Daddy said. It didn't take long and Eli was ready to try. Please ignore the vagabond look my child is sporting in these pictures. Eli dressed himself and I didn't feel the need to tell him that he didn't match. 

Josh explained what Eli needed to do and then they were off. Eli didn't get very far that first time and we realized that he needed something on his hands to prevent them from getting road rash. We came up with the idea of "crash gloves" using his winter gloves from last year. Once he had those, it was on! 

Josh, Grandpa E, and I all ran with/beside him a couple of times and then we all heard, "Let me go! I got this!" Lo and behold, he was right! He was riding his bike by himself without any training wheels. It was such a proud Mommy moment for me right then! I was smiling from ear to ear. I couldn't believe my baby had accomplished such a huge milestone for a little kid :)

His form wasn't exactly "pretty" at first, but he didn't give up. It took awhile for him to find his center.

Once Eli had the basics down and could stay upright on his bike, we decided to go to Wal-Mart and get him a bigger bike. He'd had his Lightning McQueen bike for about three years and his little legs were almost hitting the handlebars every time. We bought the only bike they had in his size and it was perfect. It even said ROCKET on it :) Eli was so proud and couldn't wait to get home to try it out.

Eli, Josh, and Grandpa E continued to work on Eli's form and by the end of the day, he was riding like a champ!

Look at that focus!

The next day was another great day for more bike riding. Eli was MUCH more confident and couldn't wait to go riding on his new bike. We all took turns riding with him around the neighborhood. 

His newfound confidence also made him very brave and he started taking little risks. He found out that he loved going down the hill on our driveway. It was quite the thrill for him!

We took a nice break from bike riding and went to have lunch at our local coffee shop. Eli ate the majority of his food, so Grandpa E bought him the biggest chocolate chip muffin I'd ever seen! Eli was just slightly excited about it :)

Afterwards we came home and did even more bike riding. Eli wanted to ride his bike so much the adults finally started a rotation process. We each took a turn going around the neighborhood with Eli. To say he loved riding his bike would definitely be an understatement!

Eli and Josh

Eli and Grandpa E

I'm so proud of my little guy! He didn't give up and now he can ride his bike like a pro! It was such a fun and exciting weekend to see him accomplish this important milestone! I'm glad that Grandpa E got to be a part of all the fun! I'm looking forward to all the bike rides we'll be taking in the future :)