First Pool Day (and so far only)

I use to LOVE going to the pool, but now, when I should doubly love it, I found myself avoiding it ALL costs.  With three kids, and the oldest being only three years old, going to the pool has not been a very easy or enjoyable task.  Ava loves the water and now that she is BEGINNER swim lessons, she thinks she is a professional swimmer so she has to be watched like a hawk.  Sally, the defiant one and the I-want-to-do-the-opposite-of-what-you-want-me-to-do one didn't want to be anywhere near the water.  Of course, right?  And, Evelyn was so little, I didn't want her out in the sun too much.  So, it is hard to say if she would have like the water or not.  She was also very tired.  I was exhausted and the worst part of this...I wasn't even by myself.  I had my sister, her 2 kids and my other 2 nieces.  What the heck?
Ava had fun playing in the water with her cousins, her friends, and by herself.  Sometimes she can be such a loner.  Sally preferred to spend her time needing to either be held or snacking the whole entire time and the other half of the time she fussed.  Evie ended up sleeping and sitting with my sister.   I wish I could say I was supermom and got them to the pool a few times per week, but we haven't been back since.  Hopefully, next summer things will be a little less complicated and a lot more enjoyable.

Love those curls!

Duck Donuts and Freedom Park

Curtis and I have hit some bumps in our marriage.  It has been hard and trying to get things back on track has not been easy emotionally, physically, or financially.  We have had to count on family and friends countless times to come to our aide and watch our kids for us so we can attend some therapy and have some much needed date nights.
After this happened, we began to be more purposeful in the way we spent time together.  We stopped watching tv right after the girls went to bed, we put our phones down by a certain time in the evening., among some other things.  Now, we put the girls down, pick up the house, and do a devotional/Bible reading/ and prayer time with one another.  We have also begun doing more things together as a family.  So, one morning (after Curtis has raved and raved over these particular donuts, maple bacon) he finally took us to Duck Donuts to see what the fuss was all about.  I thought the idea of a maple bacon donut sounded unnatural and disgusting.  But, ohmyword!  They were delicious! I also really enjoyed their cinnamon sugar donut.  Worth the trip uptown for those warm circles of deliciousness.  Afterwards, we spent the morning at the park and it was lovely.  And much needed time with our little family.  They girls got to feed some ducks, play on the playground, and just have fun.  We enjoyed ourselves.

Park Fun with Jessica and Dylan

I had a very rough week and my friends really came through.  They surrounded me with so much love and support during this really scary and sad time.  One of the days a friend invited us to her side of town to go to the park.  Getting out of the house and having someone to talk to you and vent to was much needed.  The girls had a great time (especially feeding the ducks) and I felt some peace after leaving there.

Memorial Weekend Mint Hill Madness

We had such a great time Mint Hill Madness.  We went the night of the fireworks, because who doesn't like fireworks?  The girls LOVE them (even Evelyn). We met our wonderful friends, Burt and Gina and their boys.  We just sat and enjoyed some good friends and fellowship with our friends.  The fireworks were good, but the music was sub par.  I wasn't impressed.  By the end of the night, we were on our way back to our car and we were parked in a grassy area.  Ava had to pee really bad and there were no bathrooms nearby, so we told her to pull her pants down and pee right there.  And she did, without hesitation or doubt or worry.  Not like her at all.