Summer Time Events
Event #1: The 2nd annual Pasut Family Reunion is here. We do a huge slip-n-slide on the side of a hill. The kids love it. It’s great for getting the kids to interact with extended family. They love it. Payton is making sure to keep up with everyone. One thing is for certain. She will not be left behind. Her energy level is off the charts. She can go all day; and then she hits what we call zombie mode. Zombie mode is when she runs completely out of gas and gets a vacant stare like a zombie. I don’t think this is unique to her. Most kids do this when they run out of energy; but with Payton it’s like flipping a switch. One minutes she’s going hard; and the next she’s done.
Event #2: My sister and I decide to take the kids to a park and have a picnic. We meet in Knoxville and go to the wooden park they have. We pack a picnic lunch, and the kids are in Heaven. We are there for 3 hours which seems long to my sisters and I; but the kids are having a blast. They are all playing so well with each other. It was so nice to have some one-on-one time with my sister. We don’t have those very often anymore. We’ve also checked off a summer bucket list item for Olivia, a picnic.
Event #3: We’re headed to Adventureland with my friend Angie and her girls. Last year the girls did Dollywood in Tennessee; which they absolutely loved. They even hit up some rides we thought they wouldn’t like. They’re getting way braver, even rollercoasters were rode in Dollywood. They haven’t been to Adventureland in a couple years; so I know they’ll love it. I’m loving that Angie’s girls are coming with; so I can get out of some of these spinning rides. They give me headaches.
Angie had a good idea to bring lunch with us. It saves us money and gives us a chance to break up the day. As I noted above, Olivia is a sucker for a picnic. When we eat outside the park there isn’t distractions. It gives the girls time for their brains to take a rest from the commotion. It’s a much needed break from the park.
Later in the day we switch over to the water park. It’s crazy busy. When we get into the locker rooms to change, it’s hot and sweaty. I’m not looking forward to cramming myself and both girls into a tight booth to change into our swim suits. I see one mother just holding up a towel for her girl to change behind. Awesome idea! We make a wall of towels for the girls to change behind. Genius level idea!
Angie’s girls are so good with Payton and Olivia. It gives us a chance to sneak off to grab a drink. Of course once we get there, the entire area has been shut down due to a kid getting hurt. No biggie, we eventually get our one adult beverage. We allow Angie’s girls to go off on their own. Once it’s time to leave, we know that Payton isn’t going to be happy, so we’ve kept a little trick up our sleeve. There was one ride she wanted to do that we missed. We promise we’re going to ride that ride on the way out. One more trip to the sweaty locker room to create our towel wall, and we’re off. It was a great day.
Event #4: Next up is camping. Payton has been begging us to go camping. We are really spoiled. Grandpa and Grandma let us borrow their camper pretty much anytime we want. Grandpa will even set it up for us. We’re going in the middle of the week; so it won’t be very busy. That suits us just fine. The first day is a scorcher. We didn’t even want to start a fire at night for s’mores; but I think we may have had a mutiny on our hands. You kind of forget what’s interesting to a kid. They want to play in the camper. They’re mesmerized by it. Grandpa and Grandma come down for a little super; and afterwards we set up croquet. The girls have never played; and both Jimmy and I loved it when we were younger. Grandpa even plays. The girls loved it.
Grandma and grandpa leave; and it’s time to head to the shower houses. Yep it was a challenge. Payton did not want to go in the ones with a wet floor. The big stall was taken. This is going just great. Finally Payton finds one with a dry floor; but it doesn’t have a door. Really! I realize now why Payton wanted a dry floor. She’s refusing to wear her aqua shoes. I’m trying to explain to her how gross the floor is; but whatever, pick your battles right? Okay whatever, I’ll get the girls done; and hopefully the big one will be open by then for me to use. I want the big one so the girls can stand in there and wait. People probably don’t want to shower with Payton popping in and out of their showers. Well the big one is still occupied; so I’m giving their girls their orders of where they’re to wait while mommy showers. There’s another family in there that probably thinks I’m being overly stern. While I’m in there I hear a door open, close, and latch. The water goes one. I’m thinking OMG Payton is in a stall and turned on the water. I yell out to Liv, “Did Payton go in a stall?” The mother of the other family replies that is was someone else. Phew. I’m hurrying. Liv does a pretty good job of occupying her sister so I can shower.
Finally! I’m done let’s get out of here. When I walk outside there is Jimmy sitting on the bench with Callie. Seriously! He was staying at the campsite last I knew; and now he is here outside when I could have taken the kids to him this whole time! He didn’t like the idea of leaving us in case there were “weirdos” around the shower house. Well that’s nice and all; but I could have taken my time and showered in peace.
Next morning we’re set to go fishing; and wouldn’t you know it, it’s raining. Our Keurig decided to crap out, so off to the gas station Jimmy went. Well it’s 6:30 in the morning, and no where opens till 7, but we did get our coffee. Olivia has been waiting to eat breakfast in the camper and is so excited. She’s up early and is like breakfast time! Ok girlfriend let’s get you that breakfast. We have packed board games and cards just in case it did rain. Grandpa comes early to fish with us, and well plans changed due to rain. They played board games & cards at the table for an hour or so. Then Jimmy and grandpa decide to take them to the hatchery and drive around. You all go aheadJ I’m going to sit in this camper and relax. It was glorious!
They come back around lunch time and grandma is now here. We eat some lunch and the weather is clearing up so off to fishing we went. Another first for the girls. Olivia catches one first. Then she puts her pole back in and catches another in less than 30 seconds. Ok. Payton come over here where Liv was and see if we can get one. The wind is picking up a little, so we know times running out. Thank goodness she gets one. Grandpa being Grandpa says “Kiss the fish Payton!” Of course she does. So gross. We’re pretty sure she’d do anything Grandpa Jim says. Next up, Payton drops her poll into the lake. I’m able to squeeze through fence around our dock; and get the pole just before it goes completely under. Mommy to the rescue! Crisis averted. P would not have taken that well. I grab Payton a chair tell her to sit here and hold the poll. This helped. We were surprised she sat and fished as long as she did. She’s usually go go go. Her favorite line now is “waiting is hard for me though” yep it’s hard for everyone, but so glad you are talking and letting us know how you feel. The wind is really picking up now so we pack up. Grandpa, Jimmy, and the girls head to town to grab the jeep. The girls LOVE the jeep! Grandma and I go back to the campsite and relax in the shade. When they get back, I hop in the jeep with them and we go for a ride. Grandma and Grandpa sit with Callie while we leave. Payton is telling them not to leave she is loving grandma and grandpa around as are all of us. We take the jeep for a ride as we scope out our next camping spot over Labor Day. Not sure it will be a smart idea; but the girls and I love our camping.
My sister and the boys come out to visit. Thank goodness! It helps wear out the girls. Shower time again; but we got the big stall. Next morning we are getting ready for another first, boating. My aunt and uncle so graciously take us. We aren’t sure how this is going to go. We are thinking Payton will want to jump out the whole time, and Olivia may be scared. It went great though! We got the tube out. Of course who gets to go first with the kids, me. One at a time. I take Olivia first. She is loving it, and the smile and laughter warms my heart. We didn’t dump, but my arms are tired so I tell them to stop. Yep now we dump, because who knows how to stop on a tube no one ever makes it to that. Olivia is fine and laughing. Time for Payton. We didn’t even get going, and we both go over the front. Ok let’s do this again. We get going, and her face lights up. She’s giggling and laughing. It’s great! I can’t hold on any longer so we stop again. We go to the beach. Another first for them. We have no toys, but luckily I know a girl there and ask if the girls can play with their sand toys of course she says yes. They are loving it. We get going again after awhile this time the girls want daddy to tube. Yes! Daddy doesn’t last as long as I do; however, we get out the smaller tube, because the girls aren’t heavy enough for the other tube to go together. They are in Heaven and loving it. Then they go individually and again in heaven and loving it. I’m also one step closer to getting my boat I’ve wanted 😊
These girls have been troopers at everything! I’m so proud of them.
