Night Swimming, a Picnic and a Concert!

On our last weekend of freedom before the soccer season started up and consumed out lives, we were busy having fun with friends.....

A BBQ & Night Swimming: our good friends Anne and Erik invited us, along with two other families, over Friday night for a bbq and swimming. The men spent the entire evening up in the kids half-completed tree house bonding while we women stayed pool side to supervise the kids swimming and chit chat. The get together lasted well into the late evening, with the kids enjoying some night swimming. One thing to mention that I absolutely love about spending time with Anne and Erik is all the kids get along (well, occasionally Clifford and Kristjan will argue among themselves). Even when other kids are around, whether from their old school or from new families we just met, such as the case that evening, they all get along fabulously. It just makes for such a relaxing atmosphere.

Clifford with Ty, Bob and Lukas during their night swim

 Kristjan and Jackson were more interested in playing Skylanders

Romac Company Picnic: the next day we attended Peter's company picnic up in Monroe. It was consistent as years past, with the same games and activities, but enjoyable nevertheless. Boys each got a bag full of candy from searching in the humongous pile of hay, as well as took advantage of the face painting gal when everyone else was participating in the egg toss game. Clifford joined in the watermelon eating contest for his age group, while Peter and I tried our hand at the egg toss. Families were given raffle tickets, with the chance to earn more when playing the games. This is my favorite part at the picnic-the chance to win something awesome. We've never won in the past. This year I was hoping our chances were higher since there wasn't a lot of people in attendance. We split all our tickets between the Great Wolf Lodge family package and the Camping package. I couldn't believe it when they pulled the ticket for the Camping package and the number they read off matched a ticket in my hand....we'd won!!!! We were ecstatic! The tent in the package was exactly what I've been wanting for years, but could never justify buying it for our car camping adventures. Well, now we have it!!! I'm already looking at planning a camping trip :)

Boys looking handsome as we arrive to the picnic

 Kristjan and I helping Madeleine (Mel & James oldest girl) at the hay hunt for her age group

 Boys turn to hunt

 The many pieces of artwork

 Clifford wanted a Daryl pic from the Walking Dead. The gal was so nice...she Googled his picture for reference :)

 Peter and I before the start of the egg toss game

 Clifford at the watermelon eating contest

 Peter and Evie (Mel & James youngest girl)

 We won ALL of this!!

 Peter with our new tent!

Concert: After coming home from the picnic I immediately got myself ready to head over back to Anne's so we could go to the Katy Perry Concert! We bought tickets way back in the beginning of the year. However, the last month leading up to this day I just couldn't get myself overly excited to go. I was exhausted and wanted an evening where I didn't do anything. But I'm so glad I went. The show was amazing. Every other concert I've been to has been EDM, so you just dance the entire time in a huge crowd. Katy Perry's concert was more of a show/performance and we just sat and enjoyed ourselves. Nice change for a bit. I really felt guilty at times though, wishing I had bought an extra ticket for Kristjan to go. I debated initially, but decided I wanted a girls night out. Oh, he would have loved it, as he's a Katy Perry fan. Next time, if she tours our way again and I can get tickets, Kristjan will go with me :)

 Me, Carmel (Anne's sis), and Anne

 Three of us along with Anne's niece and her friend

 Show is about to start!!

 There's Katy Perry!! (Yea.....need a MUCH better camera next time lol)

 Played around with the Panoramic view on my phone. So...lighters are the thing of the past. The flashlight app on your phone is now what one uses to light a concert during a slow song LOL

There goes Katy Perry floating in the air with balloons

 Pics from a front-side view of the concert. Took a copy from a friend who was there with her daughter as well :)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Back to Work I Go!

As of last Thursday I started back working!! I'm back part-time at Peter's work as an Engineer Helper (I was seriously told that was my job title...one would think HR could come up with a better one instead of helper...oh well). I'm there Monday, Tuesday and Thursday each week for about 6 hours each day, and then Wednesdays for just a handful of hours. So far it's great (beats cleaning the warehouse!!). I have a few projects I'm currently working on, with rumors of more coming my way soon. The transition into this has been easy for the most part. I feel like I'm a little behind on house duties and correspondence (emails, blogging, phone calls, etc), but it hasn't reached a point where I'm pulling my hair out trying to get it all done. The tiring part for me right now is dealing with Mondays and Tuesdays, where I work all day then go straight home to immediately take boys to their soccer practices. On those days I'm only home (and awake) for maybe four hours. Makes for long days, though that schedule is only temporary, at least until basketball season starts! But it's worth it. It'll be great knowing we have a little extra income and that I'm helping to contribute, not just by doing dishes and laundry! One perk, as the company has me hired through a temp agency, is I get paid weekly. So this Friday I should have my first paycheck! Peter is going out fishing, so I think I might treat the boys out on a date...either to the pumpkin patch or dinner...or both! :)

First Day of School!!!!

Last Wednesday was the First Day of School!!!!!! Clifford is now in the 4th grade and has Mrs. MacLean. Kristjan is in the 3rd grade and has Mrs. Johnson. Both teachers seem great, and so far the new school is FANTASTIC!! We definitely upgraded in the school department. We're all very excited for this new change and can't wait to see what the new year holds. I told myself I would take it slow and easy this year with volunteering. We'll see how long that lasts. I already signed myself up for at least 5 different PTA functions throughout the year that I'm interested in, with the first one being me helping with the Book Fair next week. As far as classroom volunteering, so far I've signed up to help with reading in Kristjan's class one day each week. I have to wait for Curriculum Night to sign up for volunteering in Clifford's class. Peter also signed up for 2 days as a Watch DOG, though that's not until the beginning of the next year. So it's looking pretty good. Oh, and boys started walking to school on their own. It's literally only a 30 second walk, but they love it. They've tried convincing us to let them walk home out from the front of the school, which would potentially add a few minutes to their walk. We said no to that. And sadly, I was asked on Friday by my boys NOT to wait out by the mailbox for them after school. *SIGH*

Getting the day started right with homemade blueberry pancakes topped with homemade raspberry syrup and bacon

 Looking sharp!

 On our walk to school. It's so convenient living across the street from the school!! 

 Quick pic of the boys with us

 Waiting in line for school to start!