Schlieker Summer Recap

Whew.......summer is over and I'm tired!!!! We attended dance camp, baseball camp, basketball camp, camp Thurman, vacation bible camp, took swimming lessons, went to Cancun, and "adopted" a brother for the summer. Like I said, I'm tired!!!! Grab yourself an adult beverage and settle in for a long read, my friends, this is the Schlieker summer recap!!!


Our adopted brother, Will Graygor, and Christian attended week two of Camp Thurman. You might remember the saga last summer with Camp Thurman. Mom and Dad out of town, Christine taking Christian to Cook's Children's, etc... ring any bells. Well, I thought that can't POSSIBLY happen again this year. Surely, Christian will listen to my preaching about drinking all of his Gatorade and water. Surely, the camp counselor will listen when I tell him what happened last year, in my nicest don't you dare let this kid get dehydrated voice!!!!! All is good days 1 and 2, then I get the call on day 3. Roxanne is picking the boys up from camp, thankfully I'm in town this time, and Christian's crying, saying he has a headache and TOLD THE CAMP COUNSELORS THAT HE DIDN'T FEEL WELL AND WANTED TO GO TO THE NURSE!!!!!!!! Did they send him, NO, did they call me, NO. Was I beyond pissed off, YES!!!!!!

I'm telling you I could have taken out an entire army that afternoon. I rushed home, and thankfully had some Tylenol with codeine left over from the last round, gave it to him and he bounced back quickly this time. Crisis avoided, but really, I'm not sure I will ever send him back to that camp. It makes me crazy that this happened two summers in a row.

The same week that the boys were in Camp Thurman, Caroline attended princess dance camp.  It is as girly as you imagine, complete with a visit from Snow White.

How cute is that?? This was from their little show they did for the parents at the end of the week.  To look that cute in a tutu!!

Next on the agenda, was Aggie Baseball Camp.  Will and Christian went together and we rented a house in Bryan for our stay, which happened to have a pool.  This is how Caroline and I spent our days....

While Caroline and I were kicked back enjoying the pool,  the boys were roaming the halls of the Callaway House.  The Callaway house is the most amazing dorm I have ever seen.  Let me tell you it is a far cry from Griffith Hall at SFA!!  Big screen TVs, game room, swimming pool, movie theatre, cafeteria with REAL chefs.  I mean what exactly would be the motivation to get out of College.  That's better than I lived even after I had a degree!! 

All checked in new baseball t-shirts and hats, we leave them in the capable hands of their baseball coaches. 

First day is Noon - 9pm and a wiffle ball game to wrap up the first day.

Second day, Randy, Caroline and I go to visit Dottie, Randy's grandmother.  She lives in Bryan in a retirement home.  I did take some pictures of our visit with Dottie, but I can't find them now.  That's what I get for not posting more diligently over the summer.  Anyway, it was about time for the boy's lunch break when we finished our visit with Dottie. We decide to go over and check on them, because the second day was from 8am - 9pm with two hour breaks at lunch and dinner.  We arrive just in time to see the boys about to get on the elevator at the Callaway House.  We ask them, where they were going.  Christian is just about in tears at this point.  They said they were finished with lunch and one of the boys said they could come up to his room.  Really????? Random boy, they don't know the room number, they don't know the floor, have no idea where they are going or how to get back, but they were on their way.  At this point we are sure that they didn't listen and follow the instructions from their coach, because who in their right mind would let 6 year olds roam around the campus unsupervised???  We quizzed both of them together and separately, their stories matched up.  So, that's when we realized that our first year of Aggie baseball camp, was going to be an "education" for us all.  From that point on, we showed up at the lunch and dinner break, to intercept them before they got lost or got into trouble.  We spent the breaks like this instead....

A little big buck game hunter

Coldstone ice cream

Each day when we returned with them during the breaks, I expected the coach's to be looking for them, but they never were.  I've told that story now probably 5 times and I'm still amazed as I write it again.  Highlights from baseball camp. 

Our "adopted" brother Will

Slide Christian's safe!

Morning exercises.  Not Christian's favorite.

Hey batter batter!

Big brother's biggest fan!

Of course, Reveille needed in on the action.

The boys had a great time and despite the lack of supervision was a great experience for them.  Christian learned a lot of new skills and I was very pleased when the coach told me that Christian was a pleasure to have.  The most exciting thing that happened was that he was clocked throwing a 39mph baseball. 

We also had some awesome food in College Station.  The Hullabaloo Diner was on the food network on Diners, drive-ins and Dives.  It is a restaurant that truly fits the definition of dive.  It's in a converted airstream bus.  They are famous for their Philly cheese steak sandwich.  I tried it, and it was delicious!

 

The other little treat we had was one of Christine's favorites when she lived in College Station.  The Cafe Eccel strawberry tart.  Heavenly!

When we returned from College Station, Caroline had green hair from all the chlorine.  I had told her that we really needed to get a haircut, but she was not having any of that.  So, what do I do when I really need one of my kids to do something and they are refusing??  Call in Roxy!!!

She has supernatural powers and can get them to do anything.  Sure enough, haircut is scheduled and next thing I know, Roxy is texting me saying they cut 2.5 inches off Miss Muffett's hair and it looks like this...

I could have passed her on the street, she looks so different.  I have to say that I have always thought that I have a love hate relationship with those curls, but after seeing her hair flat ironed, I realize I only have love for those curls.  Caroline loved her straight hair.  She couldn't stop touching it.  The new look was short lived and we've only straightened it once since then.

This summer was by far the worst stretch of problems I have had in 13 years in my business.  It was like a domino effect and I just couldn't get ahead of it.  However, I had a couple of days to escape in late August.  Randy was working in Connecticut, most of the summer, so I grabbed the kids and of course, my left arm, Roxy and we headed to Cancun.  I literally booked the trip on a Tuesday and we left on Thursday.  Like all trips when traveling with children, it had its stressful moments but all in all I needed a break and I got one, with one itty bitty exception.........I lost my wedding ring!!!! Yes, you read that right.  I actually think it was stolen, because I was missing some cash from my wallet as well, but I can't prove it.  Thankfully, it was insured and recently reappraised so we are covered, but man that really sucked.

On a happier note, here's some highlights from our trip.

 

This is the view from our patio of our room. The kids could go out onto the beach anytime they wanted and I could see them from our very comfortable lounge chairs.

Making friends wherever he goes, especially when football is involved!

Can you believe I got that shot!!  Score!!

This little girl turned into a fish this summer.  We've got a swimmer on our hands!!

The hammock was on our patio looking out to the ocean.  I have to admit that I wasn't brave enough to try it, but fear of falling didn't stop C&C.

That about wraps it up.  We had an action packed, fun filled summer.  Back to the grind.

Happy Father's Day

Father's day weekend was a blast!!!   We went out to Lake Whitney with the Graygor's.  Rented condos in White Bluff and Saturday rented a boat on Lake Whitney.  We had too much fun.

Blonde, beautifully bronzed and couldn't be happier, now that's the life!!

The boys tubed together until Christian fell off.  I think it scared him that we had to leave him in the water while we circled to come get him.  He thought we were leaving him.  He tried another time, but bit the dust again, and that was the end of tubing for Christian.  Will however, was the tubing king!!

I got on the tube, well let me clarify, I tried 3 times to get on the tube, so that Caroline and I could go together.  I embarrassed myself completely, but on the third time I did make it, and she would have tubed all day!!  Thankfully, the camera card was full and we couldn't get any pictures of my embarrassing acts!!!  Yeah!!

Happy Father's Day to my sweet husband!!  Our kids could not have a better daddy!!  We love you!

Tello

For starters, I feel a little anxiety being a “guest” blogger, but I guess I should get over it since every Thursday I will be venting…I mean enlightening everyone with the tails of Christian, Caroline, and Will’s Summer Fun . So, we are coming to the end of Summer Fun week 1, and we started the journey with 1 Adult and 3 children, and I just did a head count and everyone is accounted for and alive.

Monday was the first day and it was a smooth day full of giggles and excitement. I sat down with the kids gave the speech of rules, expectations, and consequences, you know the good stuff, everyone said “Yes Tello we understand”.  I feel great about our talk so know it's time to start the fun stuff. We all go swimming at my place, and I had to throw out some pool rules and Caroline looks at me assuming she is in trouble and says “Tello please don’t take away my bread”.  I laugh, and remember the earlier conversation about consequences when I told them that if they didn’t follow directions or behave something they like or an activity they were doing would be taken away.  Little C thought taking away her bread would be the worst consequence for her.


Tuesday was a super breezy day as I have only one child which is Will. They are right about “one is like none, and two is like ten”.  It’s surprising how much you can get accomplished with just one child during the day.  Will did give me some words of wisdom “girls are nothing but trouble”.


Wednesday, or better known as Wet Wednesday, was a splash…literally! Three children in tow to the Dallas Zoo, fun and hot day saw many animals, boys talked about killing the big animals and eating them for dinner, had a sno-cone, saw some more animals, had lunch, and then the splashing began! It was pouring rain on us, and the boys loved it. We were on our way to the car which was parked in the furthest lot from the zoo, of course because I wouldn’t have it any other way. As we are walking I just start to laugh because we are soaked to the bone and Caroline says to me “Tello this isn’t a funny matter” because she is so angry she is wet. We make it to the car and everyone is buckled in,  and it feels like my car is a pool with all the water that is in it. The boys and I are still laughing and thinking this is the funniest thing ever and then Caroline, still mad, chimes in “don’t look at me anyone I'm not pretty!”  This, of course,  leads to the boys mocking her and the longest car ride ever!


Today we played it safe and only did indoor activities.  This morning was reading and school work and then we went to the Science and History Museum, and then lunch at Papas Burgers. We get home and Christian says “Tello can we please rest before we go to another activity” and Caroline seconds that.  Now my two friends are awake and downstairs in their pajamas asking where are we going next…..more Summer Fun to cont…

First Day of Summer Vacation

The kids have been counting down the days until school was over and summer vacation can begin.  Well, we finally made it.  Every summer until this one, the kids just continued on at whatever school they had been attending.  This one will be a little bit different.  I'm working 3 days a week and taking Tuesday's and Friday's off to play with the kids.  Our fabulous babysitter, Roxanne is watching our two kids, plus one, Christian's buddy Will Graygor, on the days that Will's mom and I work.  

My goal for my two days off is to #1 not work, #2 spend the whole day playing with the kids, #3 keep them busy and wear them out!!  First day, we went to the gym and worked out, came home played games, ate lunch, went to Creative Hands and painted ceramics.  One the way home from Creative Hands I look in the back seat to find.....

Mission Accomplished!!

Today is the second day of summer vacation.  Went to the gym, came home rode bikes down to the park and played.  Came home, had lunch, everyone got a shower, 30 minute timeout in their rooms for arguing all morning.  Next thing I know, they are out.  As I'm blogging this, they have been asleep for 3 hours!!! 

I'm loving this summer vacation.  

Stay tuned for our guest blogger, Roxy, as she tells the tale of her adventures with two six year olds, and one 4 year old in the next 11 weeks.

Kindergarten Graduation

It's official, we have a graduate!!  Kindergarten that is..  It was a big day, all the grandparents were in attendance.  Christian got to lead the procession of all three classes.  They had white lines on the floor so that the kids knew exactly where to walk, but they were walking that line like it was a prison lineup.  Don't cross the white line!!!

He takes his duties as the procession leader very seriously!!  Mrs. Grant told the class that if they goofed around during the ceremony, their mom's would be embarrassed. 

We absolutely loved Mrs. Grant.  She runs a tight ship, and she expects a lot from these kids.  When she thinks the parents are doing a little too much for them, she doesn't hesitate to let you know that they are completely capable of, carrying their own backpacks, lunch boxes, and walking themselves to class.  Unlike my son, I didn't need to be told twice!!  Reminds me of growing up with my brother, only now he's my son!!

Lazy Sunday

We needed a little family time with no schedule and nowhere to be, on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  So, what would we do....... paint, on the back fence.

Washable paint of course!! 

Randy got in on the action too...

I mean is this straight out of Leave it Beaver or what???

What's a little painting without some paint ball....

An hours worth of painting for two hours worth of clean up.  Who's idea was this anyway??

My boy

Pretty much everyone that reads my blog is aware of Christian's potty issue.  I know that one day he is going to read this entry and be upset with me for writing it, but I just don't ever want to forget it, so I'm blogging it.  This whole thing started out as a medical problem, chronic constipation, but now it really is just a confidence problem.  He just doesn't think he can do it, and this is how I know.

 We took his underwear away about six weeks ago and he can earn them back by staying clean all day.   That decision was really hard for me, but ultimately it has made the whole problem easier to deal with.  Of course, it's getting pretty dang hot lately and chaffing is happening.  He's walking around saddle soar with a pretty good rash.  One night he was very soar, and I told him it was happening because he wasn't staying dry, and that it would just continue to get worse over the summer.  He melted down, but this time to himself.  He was crying and talking to himself, basically beating himself up over not being like other kids.  I went into his room to check on him and he asked me to leave.  I closed the door but listened from the outside.  He was praying asking God to help him be like other kids and pay attention to his body.  When he came out of his room, I was still lingering pretending to busy myself in his bathroom, I asked him if he prayed, and he said yes.  When I tucked him into bed, he was still crying off and on.  I asked him if he believed that God would help him and he said yes.  I told him to just listen to his body, believe that he can do it, and make the right choice.  Then he said, but what if I have the ball?  You see, that is the problem right there.  He doesn't want to stop what he's doing and he waits so long that he has accidents.  I told him he either has to make the choice to wear a diaper or stop playing for a minute to take care of it.  It's simply a bad habit at this point, but I do think we are finally making some progress, but watching him struggle is really tough. 

We all have our own issues in our own lives, this is Christian's.   I sometimes think that he was sent to me to teach me lessons, one after another.  I have my own issues with my weight and sometimes I think I have a confidence issue also, thinking that I need a pill, weight loss surgery or specific diet plan, when really I just have a bad habit and I need to believe in myself, and make a better choice.  Sometimes I wish that the apple fell a little further from the tree.