Week 2 - Kids on Campus

DD2 (Tennis, Guitar, Mad Scientist), DD3 (Technical Theater, Guitar, Cartooning with Watercolor), DD1 (Mad Scientist, Bubbles & Slime, Jewelry Making), DD4

Welcome to another installment of "I spend too much time with my kids". :P

That above statement came from a conversation I had with a friend about how much time I spend with my kids and how much time parents spent with their children when I was a child. Interestingly enough, I believe I spend 50 times more time.  I am also waiting for the age when my kids decide that I am not cool enough to hang out with (I thought it was 10, 11, 12, 13ish). I guess I am just too cool to be uncool.

Anyhow, our week was super busy. This was the first week of Kids on Campus. Basically what this means is I had to find ways to entertain my toddler in another a city while my school age children went to fun learning experiences.

Monday

After getting the older girls all checked in for their classes, DD4 and I headed to Turkey Creek. It was interesting watching DD4 while we walked down the path. Her level of smarts is extremely high and I give all the credit to Mickey Mouse and his friends, The Little Einsteins, and The Octonauts. She amazed me with knowing the difference between left & right (of which some people in the military still have issues with this...not saying any names ;D) and her imagination. "Oh no! It's a hill!" or "Duck mommy" (when there was something above our head) were her favorite things to say.  We took frequent breaks and walked rather slow. Most folks that were there were exercising, so we were passed by quite often. At every opportunity I asked DD4 if she would like to put her feet in the water (we did not have swim suits - soooo not prepared). She would reply "no" every time. Finally, I was hot so I put my feet in the water. She freaked out. "No mommy, no!," rang out repeatedly. After I was done, can you guess what I hear? "My feet are hot" So we both walked back down the steps and put our feet in for a while. When we got to the end I finally convinced DD4 to get in the water. Unfortunately the water level was up to my knees, so it was up to her waist at least. It must be great to be a toddler, she got in in her underwear. It was a blast hearing her tell me about the sand, leaves, and fish. It was a long walk back. DD4 was tired and I carried her half the way back or more, on my back, shoulders and any other way I could carry her. It was so much fun and DD4 found out that she likes riding on mommy's shoulders. I quite frequently get asked to carry her "on my head" now-a-days.

running in, taking a break, mom's feet are hot, DD4's feet are hot, cooling off, turtle

After picking up the older girls from Kids on Campus we had a delicious lunch at Joey's Tomatoes. I was surprised to find labeled gluten free menu items. It is a small cafe and the food was yummy. My kinda place!

Tuesday

This morning was a beast. I could not get these kids out the door on time to save my life. We got to Kids on Campus and the girls were complaining to me about the lady yelling at them that they were late. I just said "you decided to leave late, not me." They did not like my answer....lol.  I decided that an inside activity was a good idea for DD4 and I. I decided to go to my most favorite library, The Valparaiso Library.  Here is a little background on how I discovered this gem:
     My first semester of college I took an American History Class with the best history teacher ever. He just so happened to be the manager of the ValP Library.  The fact that I was as big as a house (pregnant with DD4) and sat in the front gave great opportunity to make conversation with my teacher. He learned that I had 3 other children. Before the summer began, he repeatedly told me about how his library has lots for kids to do.  We went that summer (4 summers ago) and continued to go until moving to Navarre became a hindrance. I even took neighborhood children quite often. Every year the library programs just got better between their preschool programs, school age programs, teen programs, movies, and adult classes.
Anyhow, DD4 and I picked a great day to go. It was one of the three days that they provide a pre-school program. While we waited for the class to start we tried out the new Tag Reading System they have and colored. During the program DD4 decided that she really liked one of the books that the teacher had picked to read. She did not want to give it back. We did crafts and played. It was so much fun.

Tag Reading System, Coloring, Stolen Book, Still Reading Stolen Book, Crafting, Mom demonstrating said Craft

DD4 loves the colorful cushions.

 Oh, I forgot to mention, DD4 wanted to be a princess today. It was fun getting her dressed and doing her hair. She also reminded me (like she does every morning) "my toilet broken....daddy fix it....he get home."  It cracks me up every time. She has been saying this for about 2 weeks now. I think she misses her own potty.
This is one of the busy busy days for the week. DD1 also had Summer Reading Program, so after eating our packed lunch at the campus we headed to Hurlburt Field. The rest of us just hung out in the library reading and playing on the computer.



I was so exhausted after all this, but I still had work to do....that's right, Tuesday is my "office" day. Made a menu and grocery list. I was so tired that all I put on the menu for dinner was grilled chicken salad all week.

Wednesday

 Another busy day! We actually made it to Kids on Campus on time. I guess the girls did not like getting yelled at. On this day, I was well prepared for my outing with DD4. I researched the Niceville Children's Park. I made sure that DD4 had a bathing suit and towel. I was so excited about this park, but did not realize how awesome it was until we got there.

The park is large, clean and has plenty of choices. DD4 played on everything but the pink car while we waited for the splash pad to open. It amazed me how fearless she was climbing the rock wall. I was a little sad that she did not interact with other children, but what can I really do about that? The splash pad opened and off we went to the water. I thought for sure that DD4 would play in the water this time. It was hot! But noooo-ooooo, she wanted to sit around and watch. I even walked around with her, she was not having any of this crazy water play. We went back out to the playground and found a snow cone vendor....yum! We played a little more and when it was time to leave she did not want to go. That tells me this was a successful trip :D

After have our packed lunch at the campus, we headed for Hurlburt again for DD2&3's Summer Reading Program and some grocery shopping. The afternoon went rather well, but we were all extremely tired and I had just enough energy to put together 7 packets of marinaded chicken.

Thursday

Another day at Kids on Campus for the older girls.

DD4 and I went to the Destin Bridge. I have never been to the beach by the bridge, so I said "why not?" It was a little bit of a drive, but we had 3 hours to kill. It was a decent time. It probably would have been better had I wore a bathing suit. We played in the sand and watched fish swimming. There was the cutest little boy that brought his stuffed giraffe.  Apparently the giraffe wanted to swim and swim he did. It was so funny watching the dad try to stop this little one year old from taking his "friend" in the water.
We had a great view and now I want to get a boat and go to Crab Island where it seems all the fun happens :D .



We ate lunch at the campus cafeteria. It was decent fare, but a little pricey. After, we went to the ValP. Library for the family movie. Things sure have changed since the last time I went to a movie there. They now have a projector and screen plus lots of snacks, all for FREE. Awesome! DD4 ran around playing and reading books, so everyone was happy and entertained.

The rest of the afternoon we spent at home checking on the garden and playing. DD4 decided to "go catch gooey fish" with her bamboo pole and string (apparently I need a pond now too according to DD4) while DD2 and I tried to fix the bird eating our tomatoes problem. We researched and discovered that all we had to combat the birds were plastic grocery bags. According to one website, the noise scares the birds away. We clipped some bags to the bamboo poles next to my tomatoes.

Friday

I declared Friday to be Movie Marathon in our PJs Day! We each picked out a movie to watch and just kept playing them.

I did think that I would be able to sleep in, but the children who refused to get up early Monday through Thursday decided that Friday would be the day to get up early. DD2 made her dessert for the week: gluten free brownies. I had a lovely afternoon out with some friends. We went to lunch and got some nice freebies from Old Navy just for trying on some clothes.

Lets talk a little bit about my weekend also, why not!?

This weekend I realized I have a plant problem. I cannot seem to stop buying them. I am not sure if my husband has noticed, but we have two new plants thanks to my trip to the farmer's market Saturday, tarragon and lemongrass.

I had a great time at the movies with DD2. It was her special day with me. I did realize that there ARE some things that embarrass her. See below:

The beautiful glitter "make-up" DD4 gave me before heading to the movies. DD2 asked me to wipe it off while en-route.

 Sunday (today) has been a rough day. If this post seems a little off, it is because we are under a storm watch and my whole family has lost their minds from being cooped up in this house together all day. It has taken me almost the entire day to write this darn thing. So here I put this post out of its misery and say thanks for putting up with this mess of a post and good evening :D