August has arrived. I didn’t take many photos this week, but the boys were busy! Shyanna brought them to the splash pad, the park and the Tamarack Nature Center. Tuesday night was National Night Out. A great night and I didn’t take any photos! It was so hot that all of the kids ended up in our pool and ditching the NNO party. We went out for ice cream on Thursday night. Swimming, playing, relaxing. It was another super fun summer week.
Me and my trainer were featured on the Y social media sites- at least this photo was a little less unflattering.
On Friday, the boys had swim lessons (Xander is almost able to do a flip kick!) and then all 4 of us headed to my uncle’s cabin for a family fun day. My cousin Jason and his family were in town from Texas for the weekend. We had the best day! We spent a lot of time on the pontoon- the boys (and I) jumped off about 1 million times. The boys got to wrestle with their Uncle Danny on the water mat. Nate took both kids jet skiing (Augustus was ok with it, Xander LOVED it!). Xander and Grandma Debbie caught some fish. It was sunny and breezy and we ate great food and hung out with family and it was wonderful!
Today was Augustus’s birthday party! It has been a historically hot and dry summer but today was rainy and supposed to rain all day. Our plan to meet at a splash pad/playground was not going to work. Camp Director mode engaged.
I texted the parents and moved the party to our house. When I said we would be having 10 little kids in our house, Nate reacted as if I’d suggested releasing a swarm of killer bees. “In our house?!?” But I was ready.
I started the day at Dollar Tree- I actually had most of the supplies I needed, but there were still a few things I needed. Then I hit up Starbucks, because my super easy day of just showing up to a playground and letting kids play was gone and I needed a large shaken oatmilk espresso to get me through. I called Nate to ask his drink order and in the background, Augustus yelled that he needed a hot chocolate. Yep. It was just that kind of day. When I got home with drinks, Xander said, “nothing like a hot chocolate on a rainy day.” That kid could not possibly be more precocious.
Earlier in the week, one of our neighbors told me she told her husband, “Natalie and Nate operate within a level of chaos that I just can’t imagine”. Cue my actual laughing out loud and yes! Amen! I felt so very seen. I kept thinking about that as I welcomed a house full of very excited kids.
We started with oreo on the face (you have to move the cookie from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands). Next up was cone smash- 2 ice cream cones had special stars inside and that meant those kids got a prize. The other cones had silly things like, “bark like a puppy” inside. The cones EXPLODED and it was VERY fun.
Most of the parents dropped their kids off, but one dad stayed. I don’t think he was prepared for birthday games camp style, and his eyes were wide and he laughed (maybe in horror) nonstop.
The next game was to get the gummy worm out of the pudding (no hands). Then it was donut on a string (eat the donut off the string without using your hands). We did a blindfolded car drop (dropping cars into a bucket while blindfolded). Next up was a musical chairs style game where they stepped on different pictures and when the music stopped, I drew a card and whoever was standing on that picture got a prize (spoiler alert, everyone ended up getting a prize). The final game had Gussie wearing a shaving cream shower cap and all of his friends throwing cheeseballs at his head.
Everyone ended up with piles of prizes (the key to a good kid birthday party!). The games were messy (but easy to clean up since we were inside). We had cupcakes with hot wheels cars on them. And then the kids played in the basement until their parents arrived. It was pretty much the perfect party.
When everyone left, Gussie opened presents and then we ordered pizza. Xander has already started planning his party (he wants the same kind of party!), so I’d say it was a wild success.
This week, we replaced our dining room table. Our old dining room table was a custom piece (table build by Danny King Sr. and mosaic-ed by a 20 something me), and I was ready for an upgrade. However, in a complete reversal, Nate said, “we can’t get rid of our table!” and then both boys said the same thing. I am the sentimental one, so I wasn’t prepared for their reactions. But we need a table that seats 6 for when our student arrives (my mom comes to dinner regularly). I found a free table (that has leafs that extend!) and Nate fixed the legs and we moved it in on Friday. The new table worked well at the party and I like it. Our spare room is ready and he moves in a week from tomorrow!