Incredible summer of fun

When Sam said he wanted to have Incredible Summer of Fun: Vegas Edition, I remember hoping that it would be as much fun if it were just the Matthews 3-- me, my kids and I.

In fact, I think I started the whole thing when we moved last year, "Sure, no problem, we'll have Incredible Summer Fun in Vegas too. It will be great!"

So, I came into the season with unrealistic expectations. The only thing really in my favor was that everything was new.

Turns out, I had nothing to fear. First, we were gone for a whole month. Second, it turns out I had a passionate partner in crime. In fact, Gabe planned so many good events, I couldn't even keep up!

We swam. We saw the Titanic exhibit. We went to the children's museum. We did things I can't even remember now, and we did them with friends. Lots of friends. And it was incredible fun.

Royals game with the Weirs

Incredible Summer of Fun: King Putt-- What a group, right?

Outside our "party" room at King Putt

Post-water ride at Adventuredome

Water gun fight!!!

Yes, we are making our own pinatas. See. I can be crafty.

Sam and Kate at the Titanic museum

Slogging

I haven't shared publicly yet what I'm trying as a new fitness regime. I am finally trying Couch-to-5k. Since our JSL provisionals sponsored Girls on the Run a few years ago, I've been meaning to try the program, but haven't until now. I even did my days when we were on vacation last week, which I consider pretty dedicated.

My Maranatha family knows that I refer to what I'm doing as "slogging," short for slow jogging. It's definitely not running, and I think with all the walking mixed in, jogging even seems a bit lofty, so slogging it is.

Today I started week 3, and I got up early to do it before Stu leaves for work. I forgot about the door chime, and it went off not one, not two, but 4 times. (headphones, dog out, dog in, me out) Of course, it woke my early riser, Sam.

When I got back, he confessed that I woke him with all the beeping. I apologized and he said, "It's okay Mom. I understand the chaos of slogging." If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what would. What a great reason to keep going!

Sweet babies

We've had the privilege of befriending a few families with babies lately. It's so fun to love on them and then send them home!

Our neighbor's kid is a little over a year, and he comes to me on purpose now when he sees me. It's great. He's the one below in the dog crate. (his idea, not ours!)

And another dear friend had her first baby last week. He is so handsome and Kate got to hold him yesterday. So sweet!

Summer Bummer

Sunday night was a long one, as Sam was up frequently in the night with a stomach virus. I won't go into details, but it required steam cleaning at 11:30 at night.

As we were sitting there on the side of the bathtub, Sam looks at me and says, "Why do the worst things always happen to me??" My poor guy had to miss his first day of Lego camp and slept the day away. Fortunately, it was a one day thing, and he was back at summer yesterday. So far, none of us have succumb, so keep your fingers crossed.