Finally, a Fun Friday.

Today (or yesterday, rather) was a great summer day.  I like to dub Fridays as "Fun Friday" but I often fail to really put the "fun" in it. I repented of that and I think the day turned out nicely.

The day started off sometime around 7:30 am -- for which I was very grateful. Sometimes my kids can be verrrrry early risers. I just get cranky if they rise any time before 7am. 6:58 is not okay with me. I can handle 7:03. I like feeling in charge of the day and when they are up early, I don't feel like I'm in charge. The rest of the day just seems to follow suit.

The kids were rather playful this morning after breakfast which was great, but made me a little nervous. They have a list of things they have to get done before the fun can start, and I was worried they were not going to want to stop playing{that is another post for another day. Suffice it to say, the little summer routine I've created for them is working out better than I thought. Granted, it has been only a week, so that is bound to change after a few weeks. So far so good though!}.  And, sometimes I don't want them to stop playing because I think it's cute-- and that's how summer should be, too. Full of free, creative play.  And I love it when they are all playing together and getting along.

Finally I announced that I was going to swim my laps, so they needed to "babysit" (they get a thrill out of that, because it makes them feel so grown up).  Savvy was so cute and just hung out by the pool cheering for me while Cade and Ru played inside. Who wouldn't love having a brown-eyed girl hollering, "You're doing great, Mom!" It definitely makes the lap swimming go by a lot faster.

After a few laps Cade hollered out to me, "Mom, can I give Ruby a bath?"

Um yes, please. !!!!

I thought it was adorable. He even put her diaper on and picked out her clothes and dressed her and combed her hair. The boy is amazing. I didn't even know he was capable of this.

I got ready for the day and then made the announcement that if their things weren't done by 11am, they weren't going to get paid for the week for their chores AND I wasn't going to get a babysitter to watch Ruby during her nap so we could have fun.  That was enough motivation and off they went.

Our awesome neighbor girl down the street was available to babysit so after lunch and putting Ruby down for a nap Savvy, Cade and I were off!

The kids bought their movie treats with their own money (rather, Cade spotted Savvy a dollar because she forgot her wallet. She promised to pay him back as soon as he got home). Savvy got Skittles and Cade got Swedish fish. We saw the movie Chimpanzee, a really darling documentary-style flick. We all enjoyed it.  I so appreciate when I can take the kids to such a family-friendly and educational flick.  As we were walking out of the theater Cade and Savvy simultaneously asked for ONE more movie treat.  I shocked even myself and decided to let them. I explained to them I didn't think more sugar was going to be good for their bodies, but it was their choice so long as they bought it with their own money. Of course they were fine with that.

There's this incredible park I drive by whenever I go to the Timpanogas Temple. I always think, "I should take the kids here," but I rarely make it out that way. Finally we were "out that way" and I had the luxury of time so we pulled up. The first thing Cade said was, "Mom, we should come here and play tennis!"  It made me laugh because the playground itself is pretty cool, but he was mesmerized by the 6 tennis courts for some reason. After they explored the place for a bit we played hide-and-go seek.  It was fun being able to play with just the big kids and not stress about keeping track of Ruby. But man, it was hot as blazes outside though and the kids and I got tuckered out quick.

The next two stops were not fun stops per se, but necessary --because again, we were "out that way" and Cade and Sav were fine with it. It's really interesting to me how the dynamics change when one of the children are gone and I'd say on this day, they were better behaved with Ruby not in tow. When we returned home nearly 5 hours after leaving, Ruby was fresh from the pool and looked like she had a great time.

After spending so much time in the hot sun, and seeing Ruby in her suit the kids were in the mood to go swimming. I couldn't blame them.  Normally I would have over-analyzed what was left of our evening thinking, "I need to hurry and get dinner on the table and swimming would get them to bed late!" I often stress out too much over bedtime, which I am trying to get better at-- for the summer anyway. There is nothing wrong with sticking to a schedule in the school year, but I do need to loosen up in the summer.  We swam for an hour which was just perfect. They were ready and willing to get their jammies on and play while I made dinner. It was quick and easy tonight--  Grilled Cheese, Brunswick stew, fresh strawberries and raw veggies. Savvy was so proud she finished her soup before Cade. (she's my pickier eater of the two of them and usually grazes on the fruits and veggies and whines over the main course for 20 minutes). We finished the dishes by 7, called Daddy for scripture and prayers and they were all in bed, tuckered out by 7:30.

I chuckled to myself because I have no doubt that had I said "No" to swimming, Cade and Savvy would have been cranky and grumpy the rest of the evening, slow to eat, slow to get their jammies on, and wouldn't have fallen asleep until 9.

I puttered around for a little bit and at 8pm I was really quite thrilled about the prospect of a quiet evening. I got the Ensign out of the mail and took it up to bed with me to read and unwind. I tilted my head back and thought, "Wow, I'm really, really tired!"

The next thing I knew it was 12:03am. I hope I can get back to sleep.

No adorable photos of the day, but I have plenty of mental pictures I hope to remember always:

Cade running away from me after I tagged him. He swore I didn't get him, but I know I did.

Savvy snuggling up to me in the movie theater.

Cade saying "Thanks, Mom." after we walked out of the movie theater.

The kids chatting, chomping on popcorn in the back seat of the van together.

Cade teaching Savvy how to dive for rings in the deep end.

Ruby saying "Again!" to throwing her up in the air and catching her in the water.

It was a good day. Today I saw the fruits of saying "Yes."  As a parent, it's hard, but I know saying yes as often as possible is a good thing. I also want my kids to have healthy eating habits and get enough rest and so I often shut down and dismiss anything I think would jeopardize that in the slightest. That second treat was hard for me at the movie theater.  I don't regret it though.  It was a special occasion, and it didn't spoil their dinner like I so often am convinced a treat will do.  And Cade recognized he didn't feel so great after eating his box of Skittles and even said, "Mom, I think I'm not going to eat any more treats today or tomorrow."  I told him to try and remember how he felt after eating so much junk in one day. At dinner, the first thing he devoured were the fruits and veggies on his plate. Savvy, on the other hand, made no such comment. Skittles and Popcorn are a good combination, apparently.

Here's to more Fun Fridays, and hopefully more of saying "yes."