Our BEST summer yet!

I’m so glad that I decided to take a step out of my comfort zone and get out with the boys this summer. Sure, we missed Bill while we were out on our adventures but the memories I made with the boys are priceless.

The places we went and the things we got to see and do were worth the stress and anxiety I (secretly) went through to get us there. Not to mention it sure beat just hanging around the house like we used to do all summer long. But you know what they say, “All good things must come to an end.” And our summer was no exception.

Cameron had to go back to school and Logan will be back next week so our adventures together have come to an end…Until next summer.

Because The Summer of Mommyland was so special we had to send it off in a special way, but this time I had nothing to do with it.

Thanks For An Awesome Summer

We had already planned on having Cameron’s favorite dinner the Sunday before he went back to school. What I didn’t know was that Bill had something special for ME up his sleeve.

The boys helped Bill put together a beautiful book filled with our adventure photos that nearly brought me to tears. Then after dinner they gave me a card thanking me for such a great summer and a cake. As if that wasn’t enough, the boys also put together a video montage of our photos. The boys even picked the music, the Charlie Brown theme song.

It was the perfect end to the perfect summer…Well almost perfect, the only thing that would have made it better would’ve been to have Bill along for all the fun.

How did you end you summer? Did you have a special back to school party?

It’s been a little over a month since I proclaimed this The Summer of Mommyland so I figured a progress report was in order.

Monday has been our library day and the boys love going there. They haven’t made it for story time yet, but they love wandering around looking at the books and picking a few to take home. We did get in trouble a few weeks back because I let them do the craft that was only for the kids who sat to listen to story time. Lesson learned.

Tuesday has been reserved for local adventures, places that are within a forty five minute drive from home. We’ve been to the park, on a nature hike, the movies, shopping, and a few other places around town. I have so many more places I want to take them, I hope I don’t run out of time.

Nature Hike

Wednesday is reserved for Longwoood Gardens. The boys love it there and would go everyday if I took them. Logan loves to sniff the flowers and they both get a kick out of trying to find the Queen Bee at the beehive. I love that they love to be outside doing things and Longwood is the perfect pace to teach them about plants and nature where they can have some fun while they learn. This summer Longwood Gardens has an amazing light exhibit by British artist Bruce Munro. If you live anywhere near Longwood it is a MUST SEE!

Children’s Garden @Longwood

Thursday is our day to travel. We haven’t done too much of that partly because of the weather and partly because I’m still nervous about traveling too far from home alone. We have made it to the Philadelphia Zoo and the boys loved every second of it. I was nervous about taking them because I am so very suburban, but I got us there and back without incident. I have to say that it was extremely empowering to take the boys into the city without Bill. I was really proud of myself. I spent all that time worrying about them misbehaving while we were so far away and they were so good. They stayed close by me so I didn’t have to panic or get upset once.

The Philly Zoo

Friday is our wild card day. When I had the brilliant idea to do something different everyday I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to handle five days in a row of adventures. Sometimes we just stay home and play, or go visit Bill for a ride around the golf course.

Just playing at home

We haven’t done as much as I would have liked to do, there are a few places I thought we would have visited by now, but we’ve already done more this summer than all the other summers combined.

I look back at all the time I wasted and it makes me kind of sad. I should have done this so much sooner but I lacked the confidence. It really wasn’t until I met so many inspirational Wives of Turf that I realized that I can do this! I can get out with the kids and have some fun and I don’t need Bill around to do it. Sure, it’s wonderful when he can make it out for an adventure, but now I know I can do it without him.

Talk about empowering!

What fun adventures have you been on so far this summer?