we crammed a bunch of fun into the last few summer days.
the summer list had "go camping" and "tent camp"…my mistake.
and funny because we don't really do the camping thing.
not even in the yard…we don't have a fence, trains run all night long blowing their whistles,
we have interesting people walk by all night long…we don't camp in the yard.
so we set up camp in the living room!
sean built the tent with me…loving every second of it.
waffle was very nervous.
they made popcorn and watched "space chimps" way past bedtime.
the boys didn't sleep there…but the girls did.
the boys wanted their own beds!
the girls stayed there all night.
the day before school we had to go to the mall…yes…all of us….without craig.
and we survived.
we stopped by craig's office to bring him an ice cream cone.
we visited great grandma.
and i did not even get a starbucks! (what is the matter with me?)
that night we had a back-to-school dinner celebration (for them…not me….ok…it was for me)
make your own pizzas…
and parfaits for dessert!
mmmmm….yummy.
after this…everyone took baths and we cuddled in bed reading books till everyone was fast asleep.
NOT.
ugh….i wish!
everyone was so nervous and excited that they were WACK-O at bedtime and were still up at 10:30!
there were spankings.
there was yelling.
blech.
not how i wanted the night before school to go…crap!
for awhile at bedtime i will be sitting on the couch outside their doors working on pictures
on the laptop until they fall asleep.
it's good for me and good for them to GET SOME SLEEP already!
Michelle/sumshay - You made me laugh…and feel normal. Thanks.
Our back to school night…me sitting reading till midnight (need to get a laptop!) outside their rooms. Everytime thought it was safe to leave–“mommy–stay a little longer?”! Vampire children and school hours don’t go well together. Add to that new school anxiety.
Long night.
Rachel @ Chicks & Chaps - oh how i love to stop over here!! thank you for the belly laugh i just had, i needed it. your kids are so lucky 🙂
Rachel @ Chicks & Chaps - oh how i love to stop over here!! thank you for the belly laugh i just had, i needed it. your kids are so lucky 🙂
Trina McNeilly - Its our last week before school starts.. and i feel like i have not made summer that fun… I’m trying to figure how to cram things in but at the same time I want to enjoy relaxation before the crazy schedule kicks in…love the tent in the house idea….. things going the way they did for you…well that is real life isn’t it….. as always love your posts for the fun, style and most of all the relatable realness. Have a fabulous week!
xx Trina
erin - I think you must be the funnest mom for your kids! I read your blog and you give me so many great ideas. Things I just forget to do like kicking back and doing bubbles in the yard or fun ideas like a shaving cream party. Thanks for the ideas to get to bedtime!
jessica - i just love your blog!
it makes me smile and laugh out loud 🙂
you are such a good mommy!!
thanks for always sharing your oh-so precious ideas!!
Becky B - Just love you for your honesty and your photo skillz. Thanks!
Liz Woodard - Okay – I just want to know…Where did you get those premade individual pizza discs? The kids would love to make their own pizzas. Don’t tell me that you made each of those?!
lydee - you rock. inspite of things not going according to plan. you still rock.
TRACI - love those RED lampshades. HAVE TO TRY THAT!!! We do the tent in the livingroom and shockingly enough my kids STILL love it….aren’t kids funny..lol
deb meyers - You’re real, you’re funny. You’re REAL FUNNY! 🙂
So THAT’s where you put the lampshades…
deb meyers
Erin - Thanks for your honesty – it’s good to hear bedtime doesn’t go smoothly at someone else’s house too!
But still, a super fun night before school!
Amy Walker - Meg, you’re an awesome mom…even if you did have yelling and spankings at bedtime!
Ashley Ann - My first thought on the parfait picture was “Wow, that’s a lot of parfaits! Are they at a restaurant?” Then I counted…and then I realized I am only one parfait short of that. Life is good…parfaits make it better.
Shannan - Thank you for admitting the spankings. I’m always afraid the spanking police will show up at my door if I talk about it…
elizabeth - I have to admit to feeling relief that your back to school night ended up a little nutty — otherwise, I’d wonder how could someone’s life be just so dang perfect!
Meredith - You crack me up. Typical of boys to wimp out to their beds! Glad the first part of the back to school celebration went so well, as for the bedtime bit – that was just to remind you why you’re so glad they were returning to school, right? Hope you get some time to do some sewing for yourself soon. Meredith xo.
andrea - thats it, i want to move in
Christina - Camping in the living room is such a great idea.
I’m sorry the night before school was so trying. Ick.
Your kids back-to-school pics are gorgeous.
Jill - Sooo funny. Dinner looked great and I LOVE the idea of a special dinner for the night before the first day of school. And the parfaits… yum. Sounds wonderful!
Amber - hehehehhehee. cute. 🙂
Kathy Beams - I love your ideas of family fun ! I am taking notes…
And I love your menu !!!! You have a beautiful family !
Dina - I LOVE LOVE LOVE how honest you are…hilarious!…the night-before-everyone’s-whacko part:-)
And….I’m glad I’m not the only mom ready for them to go back to school. Granted, mine are in half-day pre-school…ahhh the freedom!!!!
Joanna - Oh what fun! I loved the first day of school almost every year. My girls are too young for school but I am looking forward to these times! You’re a lucky mom and you seem to know it.
jennifer - Oh, we SO have the same bedtime thing going on over here too!
Thanks for keepin’ it real.
It’s what I love about you/your blog.
Elizabeth at BlueClearSky - We did the same thing for our oldest son’s birthday party about 3 years ago and then repeated it with cousins. The kids had a blast! Looks like yours had fun too.
Staci - Tooo funny! The boys wanted their beds 🙂 We live on 30 acres…Connor, my 7 yr old has been DYING to camp out there….but, he finally decided it was “TOO LOUD” outside….WHEW, instead we camped in the playroom….with airconditioning and bathrooms right around the corner 🙂 I wonder how much longer we can get away with it being too loud 🙂 ?????? And to make you feel better…I am QUITE sure there will be yelling on Monday night for us 🙁 Have a great weekend girlie!!!!!
adrienneK - a tent in the house i LOVE it!!!!! (i once knew a kid that had a tent in his room lol)
Lee Ann - Love that you tried having so much fun with them. And yes, lots of our fun night end not so fun either. And I also find sitting outside their rooms on the laptop is good for everyone 🙂
Melanie - thank you for being normal. i always read your blog with a bit of jealousy so seriously…THANK YOU!
Elma Riedstra - Oh I love the camping in the living room!! What a fun time for all the kids!! Now are all five kids in school this year?? You must do home your:) Love the bubblegum machine on the table.
Michelle - Is that a polaroid inside your gumball machine? LOL
Dana M. - LOL!! Could not believe that your kids all took baths, read books and cuddled until bedtime…..then read that you were totally joking! LOVE IT
purejoy - yay for the beginning of school!! unless of course, that beginning means your youngest goes 5 hours away to college. and the other one is just starting his second year of college. . . in a house. yikes on a stick.
it’s been one of those weeks.
fun party, fun parfaits, awesome camping. your kids are adorable.
ah-dore-able!!
charlane - LOL I had to crack up at the NOT too. My sister fought to get her two vampires in bed too.
Jo - Your family is ALWAYS doing something fun! I need you as my neighbor at the last.
Darby - Meg,
Can I have a parfait right now!? With extra whip cream… please… and a spoon long enough to reach the bottom of the hurricane!
Kathy - You have such a fun family!! I wish you were my Mom, hell I bet my daughter wishes you were her Mom!
Christy - Ha, ha, ha! That was a lot like our night before school too. My son was up till 10:45, mom I need water, mom my leg hurts, I need medicine, my leg hurts water will help, will you run my knee, bed time story, I forgot to floss, etc., etc. I think “bedtime” lasted 2 1/2 hours. 🙂 No spankings, but I threatened to take the Wii away the next day.
kat - Reading your blog not only inspires me but reassures me that others are in the same boat and react the same way as I do in similar situations 😉 We have had nights like that, big plans, loads of fun, and then the mother of all meltdowns at bedtime… ah, gotta love those moments, fun times, fun times indeed.
A pocket full of posies... - Too fun!!! (and funny!) You always make me smile!!
Have a great weekend!
Blessings!
Jill
Renee - OMG. That was so heartwarming and FUNNY. The no Starbucks. The yelling. Crap. Me, too, girlie. Me, too. Cheers! xoxo
Sharla - Those parfaits look delish.
Margo - i love your honesty. it cracks me up. thanks for making me laugh.