Week 21: Red, White, and Blue-Berries

It is a weird, weird day around here. First off, Calib is still gone (he gets home tomorrow--- YAYYY!), but second of all, it's mid-day, and Asa is sleeping soundly. In a (successful) attempt to get out of a week in the office, he volunteered to take on some overnight shifts. Now, that wouldn't have been so bad, because yesterday was the holiday. (A paid day off, whoo!) However, my awesome husband volunteered to work a ten hour shift in favor of getting paid overtime AND holiday pay. So, yesterday he worked from 6:15 to 4:45, and THEN clocked back in at midnight and worked until 10:30 this morning. Rough. He would only be doing this until Wednesday night (Thursday morning), but nobody would fill the extra shifts, so he volunteered AGAIN for a whole extra day for more overtime. So, he won't be done with this until Friday morning. 

But, the upside (and the reason he's doing this) is we can do something super fun for our anniversary. It's usually pretty tough budget wise to get it all in. In a 5 week time span we have Calib's birthday, our anniversary, and Peyton's birthday. Rough going on the wallet. This should fix all our troubles! If Asa can only make it through the next 72 hours. 

In the meantime though, I'm getting some work done and blogging. So here we are. 

I think I last left you last Tuesday. There hasn't been a ton going on this week. I always feel slightly guilty doing anything big without Calib (we even missed a Disney 24-hour event, boo!), and Asa came down with a bit of a cold. So we've stayed mostly around home. The boys have been working, lightly, on some school work, and being very patient as I continue to plug away with theme weeks. (I'm into July now!) 

We have played some games, and as a heads up.. if you don't have cockroach poker, you should get it ASAP. It's such a fun, easy game. And kids of any age can play it pretty easily. 

After I had washed all our bedding this week and put the sheets back on the bed, I made the boys this fun little blanket fort. They were entertained for awhile. 

I think I posted last week about Hayden discovering the Elder Wand (aka the bathroom toilet brush handle), but here he is with the wand. It's been coveted by everyone in this house in the last week. At one point Asa had it, yelling out spells, and I said to him "You realize it's just a toilet brush handle",  he responded with "I know, but you feel so powerful with it".  Maybe it really IS the elder wand. 

We also discovered the pool is not cold anymore. Hurrah! We can actually swim again, and did about 5 times this week. As a matter of fact, when I'm done here, I think I'll take Peyton and Hayden over, so they can get some energy out. It's been rather difficult for them to be so quiet today. 

And holy couponing! This week was great for coupons. I got the pictured items below for only $4. But that wasn't even my best. Yesterday I ended up with 2 California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas, a pint of strawberries, dish soap, and 3 2-liters for 37 cents. For real you guys, 37 cents. I'm not one to buy pop anymore, but I have a project that's going to use the bottles, and when I can get them that ridiculously cheap, I'm happy. Plus, I got Asa rum. He needs something to mix it with. 

Oh, and Target had their AWESOME $10 off $50 coupon going on this week. I think I used the coupon 6 times. My freezer is totally stocked on less than $200 on groceries, so I am pleased. Calib will be home soon though, and then they'll all disappear! 

I did get half the board for summer done. We're totally excited for the theme weeks, and I'm happy to get a break from the normal school work, but lots of activities to keep the boys occupied. I even included all the great $1 movies, and all the Summer Reading Club activities at the library. ( I just signed them up today!) Plus, we have our free bowling all summer long coupons. That should keep us busy, since we're not doing our usual July Ohio trip, we've got LOTS of time on our hands! 

Wednesday was Survivor Finale night, so Asa made a Philippines inspired dish for dinner (since that's where Survivor was filmed). We even got to use some of the sauce from the Philippines embassy we went to when we were in D.C. 

And as a treat, I made the last of the beignets from the mix my mom had gotten us in New Orleans. 

I was so excited, I even got them to puff. 

Last Thursday, Sonic was celebrating 'National End of School' Day with 50 cent corn dogs. The day before payday isn't a good day to buy anything, and we've been VERY strict on our budgets lately. So, we took all the change from the jar in our room that Asa and I had been collecting and took it to coinstar- $16 my friends! Of only about a month of saving change. Although, I felt a little like Ellie and Carl in Up- cleaning out our jar of change we wanted to have to do something together, and instead spending it on the kids. (at least we didn't have to smash it!) 

And the boys got corn dogs, and happy hour slushies. Plus we had money to spare. 

Friday and Saturday was much of this.. Asa working from home. But, you know, someone has to earn a living. 

Sunday is Asa's day off work, and we had volunteered a couple of weeks ago to help lay flags at Florida National Cemetery on all the graves of service men and women who are buried there. Apparently, they had never done it before. We had to be there at 9AM, so we left about 8. Mapquest said it was about a 45 minute drive, so we thought that would be ok. 

Though the cemetery is only about a mile from the exit off of I-75, it took us over 45 minutes to get off the exit, and into the cemetery gates.It was all just a line of cars and traffic of people trying to get in to lay the flags. It was VERY slow going.  By the time we got there, just before 10,  the section we were scheduled to be in was finished. But, there was lots more to do. Whole sections were still without flags, so we went to one of those and helped out. 

It's actually very hard work. The ground was very hard, and you had to use a steak to make the hole before you could put the flag in. Using our ruler we measured one foot out from the headstone and placed the flag. It was over 90 degrees out, so we were all pretty sweaty, but it really is the least we can do for all of these people who served our country. 

We read each marker as we placed the flag. Peyton and Hayden were very, very respectful and did a fabulous job. It's important for them to know what Memorial Day is really about. I'm hoping we can make this a tradition. 

On our way home we stopped in Brooksville. Since we were already up north, it made sense to couple the flag laying with the last weekend of Blueberry u-pick season. At $3 a pound, it's a good deal. We still don't pick a ton though, because it could get pricey fast. 

We ended up with just about three pounds of blueberries. (With another two or three pounds in our tummies) 

We even had the blue hands after all the picking! 

We came home, hit the pool, and watched some Netflix before having some awesome Nacho Dogs for dinner. It was the perfect Sunday, or at least as perfect as we could have had without Calib. 

Yesterday we had our first big afternoon storm of the season. It was a doozy too. Sophie crawled up on Asa's lap, completely terrified. You'd think she'd get over her fear of storms, you know, living in Florida for the last 8 years, but nope, still just terrified. 

I'll give her this one though, it was pretty crazy. Rain came in through the bottom of the door, and we even had hail! 

About an hour later, though, and the sun was shining. I'm expecting more of the same for today, and really, the next three months. It's the life of a Floridian this time of year. 

I was hoping to get more done today. I want to get up to state week planning. I've slowly but surely been getting my free tourism packets for the various states we'll be learning about over the week. But first, I have to get through a couple more weeks. 

Hope you all have a great week, and we'll see you back here next week. Same time, Same place! 

Next Up: Calib turns the big ONE-FOUR.. can you believe it?!? 

Week 20: Paintings and Peppers

I know I just blogged Friday, but Tuesday is supposed to be my blogging day, so in an effort not to get behind, here we are. 

Though, the downside of having last blogged only being a few days ago, there really isn't much to report. 

Saturday Asa had to work, in the office no less. With Calib in Ohio, it was just Peyton, Hayden and me. I have been super busy planning summer theme weeks. The boys home school check lists have all been things that they can work on by themselves, so I can focus on getting our summer together. 

Saturday afternoon, Justin came by to see if anyone wanted to help him put together some IKEA furniture. He was offering up tickets to see X-Men next week, so Peyton went to help out. That left just me and Hayden. While I worked away at the computer, he decided to make all kinds of books and crafts. 

He was pretty pleased with his lego steps. 

He made a smell-a-scope from Future-rama. 

And he made the Oncler from the book, The Lorax. 

I finished up one week on Saturday (our first week, Disney week!), and yesterday I finally finished up week 2 (Decades Week). I'm hoping they go a little more quickly than the first two have gone. I want to get through all 10 before Calib gets home.

Peyton came home in time for dinner, and decided instead of a movie ticket he wanted summer of shakes from Sonic. So Justin came and delivered us all some shakes. We gave Peyton some points for helping out, too. 

Since Calib is gone, Peyton has been sleeping in his room. Hayden's been having a hard time adjusting to this though, so we got them some walkie talkies. He's still a little nervous about sleeping by himself, but the walkie talkies do seem to be helping. 

Meanwhile, Peyton's living the dream with a big bed, a computer, and his own room. He will not be happy when Calib gets back. Although, then at least he can rotate his chores out of dishes duty. 

Sunday was free Art Museum Day. We'd never been to the Tampa Museum of Art (at $10 a person that's not happening), so we decided it was a not to be missed opportunity. 

The boys enjoyed the exhibits, but if you know Hayden, you have to know how nervous he made me. I must have said 'don't run, calm down, and don't touch' a million times. All preemptively of course. He just had that look about it, and I figured I'd warn him. At one point Asa had to tell me to stop freaking out. 

On the second floor, with all the art work, there is also a balcony with a great view of the river. 

Since it was an open house for them, they had various kids activities. Hayden, Asa, and Peyton all used the easels and crayons, and pencils to color some pictures. 

They also had all kinds of paints out. I painted a picture with Hayden, while Peyton and Asa finished up their drawings. (Hayden's drawings are both Harry Potter related) 

The Tampa Museum of Art is in a great location. Just outside it's doors is Curtis Hixon Park. They have a pretty good playground, so the boys happily played for awhile. 

The weather was GORGEOUS. It was warm, but not too hot, and not humid at all (very unusual for this time of year for us)

I asked the boys if they wanted to run through the fountains, but they said not with their clothes on. 

Peyton has ALWAYS been like that, he won't get his clothes wet at all, but Hayden, well he used to run through water no problem- no matter what the circumstance. I was a little sad he wasn't going to do it. So, I told Asa we should run through. You know, show them you're never too old to run through the fountains in your clothes. 

So we did. And it was SO. MUCH. FUN. 

What do you know? It totally worked, at least on Hayden. Before I knew it, he was running through the fountain without a care in the world. 

I guess getting one out of two to join us, isn't too bad! 

I love downtown Tampa, we need to go down there more. There really is a lot to offer. I guess I just love the Tampa area in general. I have friends who say there's nothing to do here-- but they didn't grow up in a small town in Ohio. There's really not much to do there. 

Also, I've been couponing more and more lately. Minimal effort this week got me $101 worth of groceries for $34. I know that it isn't all the healthiest stuff in the world (and the only reason I bought pop was because I need the bottles for a project, and Asa is about to pass another class!), but it was a ton of groceries for not a lot at all. The only thing we paid full price for was the bread and pepper. (Come on bell peppers, hurry up and grow so I can stop buying them!) 

I realized I never got a picture of Asa's drawing, so I took one once we were home. He said it's about how having more money doesn't translate to happiness. Something we preach here, a lot. 

I thought my painting was pretty cute too, though. 

And, my bell peppers might not be ready yet, but my Cubanellle sure did take off. We had an AWESOME pepper pasta the other night. 

That's it from here. Asa is in the office today, but he's already manipulated his schedule so he won't have to go back in the office until June 9th! I've got to get some work done today before he's here to distract me with his charm and good looks for the next couple weeks! 

Oh, let me leave you with a funny story from today (though I did just facebook post it) 

This morning, Hayden announced to me that he had found the Elder Wand (from Harry Potter). He presented me with a plastic stick, I had no idea where it came from. 

So, I asked " Hayden, what is that?" 

He seriously answered " The Elder Wand, mom." 

So, I stare blankly at him. 

And he leans in and whispers "It was disguised as the toilet brush this WHOLE. TIME" 

He had taken the scrub part off of the toilet brush, and was using the handle as the Elder Wand.

You know I'm a seasoned mom of boys when I just sighed and replied with " Well, lets at least wash it with soap and water it first."

Next Up: Flag laying and blueberry picking. See you next week!