A Perfect Saturday

It's Saturday night and I am soaking my feet in lavender Epsom salt/hot water, and treating my aching back to a heat pack.  Even in shorts and a tank, I'm sweating! At least it gives some relief though! We had a very busy day, but it was so much fun.  I love it most when we are all together doing things, just me and my family.

The morning started out as usual.  The three year old woke up first, toddled into our room.  I scooped him up the best I could and let him lay next to me for a few minutes.  then in came the five year old... daddy claimed him, and for a couple sweet moments we were all snuggled in bed.  then "I'm hungry," came from the mouths of the sweet little boys who don't know about Saturdays or sleeping in.  It wasn't even seven yet, but I rolled myself out of bed and offered to make breakfast since Martin was the more tired out of the two of us.

We like to have hot breakfast on the weekends when we are all together, and since tomorrow is Father's Day, and I won't have the sanity to make an awesome breakfast before church in the morning, I decided to make "Father's Day Breakfast" today.  It was simple, but wonderfully delicious... crepes and fresh fruit hit with a dusting of powdered sugar and a squirt of lime juice!  Mmm! Who knew I could make crepes? Elijah cut the tops off of the strawberries with a butter knife and Owen helped me mix up the batter.  There were lots of yummie noises going on at the breakfast table.  Then I surprised them and piled on a swirl of whipped topping... I love seeing their amazement at the little things.  "wow, dad... look what mommy put on mine!"

After crepes and fruit we loaded into the car for an appointment (Martin's eyes), Farmer's Market, and errands.   The boys and I waited in the car at the while Martin went in for his appointment; we sang and drew pictures for forty minutes!  Amazing right?  Oh yeah and I had M&Ms, which helped.  At the market we ate a roll, bought four strawberry plants (because Owen grabbed an extra one, and I decided four was better than three anyway), and then the pregnant woman needed another snack on the way out, so we left with cookies too.

Planting the strawberries was fun.  I let the boys dig... of course a favorite hobby of theirs!  They took turns assisting me, and we got all four plants into the planter pot on the back porch.  Its the perfect height for little fingers to reach when picking time is here!

Then we had "make your own snack plate" lunch. They love this because it lets them feel like they are in charge.  I put bowls and plates of things on the table like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, crackers, bread, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, and other snacks.  They load up on whatever they want!  Owen made a design with his carrots that he called an "anzigon" or something close to that, which I think he meant hexagon, but it was cute.

Daddy finally mowed the lawn... but I wouldn't let them "help." It scares me too much to have them in the yard when he is mowing because he can't hear them, and he's very focused on getting it just right.   However, they were very pleased to help with the painting job!  While I took a sit down break they painted boards in the driveway which Martin is turning into shelves for the baby room.  When I went to check on them the had paint all over them! faces. neck. arms, hands. Thank goodness it wasn't in their hair!  then they spent the afternoon tackling each other in the front lawn. their giggles were definitely the best part!

Owen skipped his nap due to all the fun, and ended up looking very droopy eyed riding in the cart at Joann's Fabric.  I'm positive he would have fallen asleep sitting up that way if Martin hadn't decided to carry him the rest of they way. I bought some fabric that I"m going to make some very clever book holders out of (blog on this to come).  I didn't end up getting the iron-on letters I wanted because they were priced incorrectly. I wanted to spell out "the littlest brother" on a onesie for William and if the marked .25 per letter would have been correct, I could have done it, but it turns out they claimed the letters were $1.79 each! Ridiculous! Must find another way!

After dinner Owen came out of his room in his swimming shorts and announced that he was going to run in the sprinkler. (Martin had turned it on for watering).  then Elijah jumped on the idea, "Wait for me, I'm getting my stuff on too!" they still had an hour before bedtime, so I went a head and let them! Why not, right?  They needed a bath any way to get all that paint off, how much worse could a little more dirt do? They had a ton of fun! Did I mention our sprinklers are rigged up to the outsides of the fence?  Yeah. It's like a sprinkler system above ground. 

It's just the beginning of many fun summer days!  I wish every day was a Saturday.  We all really miss "daddy" during the weekdays.  He is the most wonderful dad I could ask for, for these boys of mine. I love seeing him in them... how caring they are, and thoughtful, just like their daddy.  I can't wait to give him his Father's Day gift tomorrow! I'm also making a true "Dad" kind of lunch for him and my dad- Burgers of course!

Love on all of those wonderful dads tomorrow! Let them know how special they are!