More time?

So here we are 4 weeks into summer break, and I have come to a realization.  Things don't slow down in the summer...at all.  I had dreams of lounging by the pool watching the boys swim, reading good books and relaxing.  The reality has been a whole lot of running around to tennis practices, vacation bible school and tennis tournaments.  I think it has finally sunk in that time will indeed slow down...in about 10 years when the last one goes off to college.  And then I will be getting lots of pedicures, having lots of lunches with friends I haven't seen in the previous 15 years and travel the world over!  Until then I will be enjoying every moment of my time with these three precious (if not a little rowdy and occasionally annoying) boys. ;) So, if the blogging is inconsistent this summer it's not because a zillion things aren't making me laugh at/with them every single day, it's that I just don't want to miss a single laugh to sit down and write. I think I have written about a hundred blogs in my head over the past 4 weeks, not too many have made it to the computer...and I am totally good with that.  Really, I am.  These memories will store in my head, right?  I've almost got myself convinced. ;)

Two big things have kept me from the computer during the last week.  One is tennis tournaments with the big one.  He is doing really great!  Two second places finishes and yesterday a WIN!  He has also battled thru some personal issues that will be life altering for him.  He is learning at a very young age to channel his ultra competitiveness in a positive way.  Instead of loosing his temper and his concentration he is learning to use prayer and self control to focus all that energy and emotion on the task at hand.  To keep himself centered in the heat of the moment he has chosen to wear a cross necklace that hangs down inside his shirt, great tangible reminder.  That change in him is what got him from 2nd to 1st place, no better reinforcement for a positive change than that!  I am beyond proud of him, I am in awe of him.  To be able to control that at his age the way he did is most impressive.  He is learning to rely on God to help him thru the hard stuff.  I wish I had learned that when I was that young.  On the way home yesterday with his first place trophy sitting on his lap he said, "That was awesome!  I almost lost it a couple of times, but grabbed my necklace and said a quick prayer and all that rage went away.  Satan can suck it, he's got no hold on me."  Got to love the 14 yr old way of putting things. ;)

The second thing that has been taking lots of time is our new favorite family game, Mexican Train Dominoes.  Hours have been spent at the kitchen table with the 5 of us hunkered down plotting our next move and how we can go out first.  It is so much fun, I highly recommend it for anyone, probably age 6 or 7 and up!  It is also great summer math help, lots of adding going on....I like to keep the educational part on the down low. ;)  Check it out...all you really need is a set of dominoes and some little things to use as your "trains" or you can buy a set of dominoes packaged for mexican train and it comes with little trains.

So if you don't hear from for a few days it's probably because I am beating the pants off my family at dominoes. ;)  Guess who the 121 is?

The wine of the day is Barefoot pinot grigio!  When it's over 100 degrees every day you pretty much have to go barefoot; your wine might as well match your outfit. ;)

Happy Summer Tuesday!