Stars and Red Mustaches Forever

Last week was full--Theo Chocolate Factory, playdates, swim team, swim lessons, karate, therapy appointments, and a daytrip to Bainbridge Island.  All this after our trip to Great Wolf.  It was a good week, a fun week to be sure.

While on our trip to Bainbridge, Linus expressed interest in going camping.  I knew this is something Dave wanted to do and that due to things like swim meets, there weren't going to be a lot of opportunities other than our planned trip to Cama Beach.  A quick text to Dave resulted in a spur of the moment camping trip for the two of them to Republic, Washington and Curlew Lake for a little fossil hunting and camping.  I think it went alright.  They were both exhausted and dirty when they came home.  I kept Eileen and Robin busy with the zoo, swimming, grocery shopping, and playgrounds.

Finally, it was Monday of the long weekend.  I had no more to give. I planned a very lackluster 4th of July.  A couple of weeks ago I saw a recipe for a strawberry cheesecake poke cake in my facebook feed from the Tasty (a fun little website).  It seemed like the perfect 4th of July dessert and pretty easy. I made it the day before while waiting for the boys to return from camping.

Dave realized he needed to work on the 4th, but luckily it was Aunt Sally to the rescue!  Together we took the troops to the parade in Edmonds.  It is a pretty fun little parade.  I think the chair reservation system was a little out of hand (when there are no open spots to sit on the day of the parade an hour before, something is amiss).  We found a decent spot, made ourselves comfy, and enjoyed a Starbucks lunch.  Bacon Gouda, mmmm.

While waiting for the parade to begin, Linus completed the 100 burpee challenge.  The kids chased bubbles blown by a neighboring child.  The kids got lots of candy.  Linus' day was made when he got a high five from Darth Vader.

Having done the parade thing, we trekked home for naps.  My parents joined us for hot dogs, chips, watermelon, and sangria.  Due to exhaustion and dreary weather, there was no croquet this year.  Instead the highlight was probably facetiming with my sister, Beth, and her family, and learning that they are coming to visit in about TWO WEEKS!!

Having accepted that I was exhausted, had a head cold coming on, and needed to survive the rest of the week, I chose to be the lame mama who didn't take her kids to fireworks.  The kids surprisingly didn't balk.  I think they were tired too.  I personally was fast asleep by 9:30 and it was glorious.

Besides going to sleep early, the highlight of my day was getting Robin dressed.  He was in the silliest of moods and decided to make his shorts his hat.  Is there anything cuter than baby buns?

It wasn't a 4th of July for the record books, but not every holiday has to be the best one ever.  I gotta say though,  not going to fireworks meant that this has been the easiest July 5th ever since having children.