Summer Challenge #8- What are your 10 least favorite things to do during the summer?

What are your 10 least favorite things to do during the summer?

1. Yard Work, if it's really hot out.
2. Going to all the brush fires, sometimes it feels like every time our fire department turns around we got one. There's no real excitement to them and it's just work. LOL
3.Forgetting to touch up or change my toenail polish. I can't stand to go without decent looking polish on my toes.
4. Having too worry about shaving my legs everyday. In the winter time, us girls can get away with skipping a day or two but not so much when it's warm out.
5. I don't really like to do the inside activities as much; like museums,movies,etc. I like to enjoy being outside,being with nature.
6. Touching up my make up often cause it sweats off so easily. LOL
7. Hiking, for some reason I just like it better in the spring or fall. Guess cause of the humidity.
9. Use the tread mill, I would rather be outside to get as much of my exercise in as possible.
10. Wearing a bathing suit. I love swimming and I love the sun but my body is the not the same as it was before I had my son. I'm not talking about stretch marks, I can live with those. Those are beauty marks from being pregnant if you ask me:) It's these extra pounds I have on me. It's way too many extra. But I gave up my full time career to stay home with my son, slowly gained weight on top of what I gained towards the end of being pregnant. Took time off from being a volunteer, got depressed, etc etc. But now I am determined to get things back.

Summer Challenge # 7-What 10 people would you like to spend your summer with?

What 10 people would you like to spend your summer with?

This is really hard for me to pick because I enjoy spending time with all my friends and some of my family. I guess I'll try to narrow it down.

1. My Son
2. My Grandparents
3. Vanessa & Brian ( friends)
4. Claudia & her family ( friend)
5. Tiff, David & Kids (  friends)
6. Jodi, Jason & Daughter ( Friends/Water Rescue Family)
7. Justin ( friend/fire dept.family)
8. Jess ( friend)
9. Sam C ( friend/Water Rescue Family)
10. Eric( friend/ fire dept family)

That was really hard for me to narrow it down. Those are just people that I can be totally me around. A lot of those people are ones that I can share anything with. I can say whatever I want to any of them and it's never held against me in any way.

Summer Challenge # 6- Having any parties?

Having any parties?

Yes, I love throwing parties! I love the planning, decorating and then getting to spend the time with friends. Parties create some great memories.

My little man will be turning 3 this summer, so of course I will have his big birthday bash. Were looking into the options at Coney Island( amusement park & pool), The Florence Aquatic Center( outdoor pool), and CoCoa Keys Water Resort( large indoor water park). We have it narrowed down to the following themes; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse , Rock Star or Nautical theme. I love the emergency service theme, go figure right. lol. But I want to wait till a larger birthday and have that theme. So he can invite all his little friends from school and we can have his party at the firehouse I volunteer for. His 1st birthday was jungle themed featuring monkeys mostly. For those who don't know, my son has the nickname Monkey. His 2nd birthday was Sesame Street themed featuring mostly Elmo. He went through a 6 month period of loving Elmo, not so much now.

Will also have a few pool parties through out the summer. Along with one of those being a night we all camp out and have a nice campfire. One of the main reasons I love the country :)

Who knows what all this summer will bring just yet. I am just hoping to be able to spend it with the people I love and create wonderful long lasting memories.

Have a great one :)

Summer Challenge # 5- Beach or the pool?

Beach or the pool?

That's a tough one for me to chose between. I love being in the pool, and I love being around the pool. I grew being in a swimming pool all summer long, every summer.

But I think I would have to chose the beach because I don't get to experience that as often. I love walking around the edge of the beach; collecting sea shells and feeling the water splash against my legs. I enjoy making sand castles and sand forts. It's beautiful to watch the sunset. The sound of the waves is relaxing. To see children running around and playing; you just can't help but smile.The beach just brings a overall calmness.

Either this coming summer or the following summer; I hope to take my little boy to the beach for his 1st experience. I'm leaning towards this summer or early fall :)

Summer Challenge # 4- How tan do you plan on getting?

 How tan do you plan on getting?

I get as tan as I can get. I love being out in the sun and feeling the heat on my body. Not to sound like I'm being prejudice cause I'm not. But some summers I start to look like I have African American in me and I don't. In the winter time, I'm a pale looking white girl in less I go through a phase of going to the tanning bed for a few weeks. Bring on the nice sunshine!

Summer Challenge #3-What are some of your favorite summer memories as a child?

What are some of your favorite summer memories as a child?

One of my all time favorite memories is getting to go swimming every day, as often as I wanted too. I was very lucky to have grown up with a in ground pool in the back yard. I was always swimming. It was great for entertaining friends epically as I got older. Still to this day, I have quite a few pool parties at my grandparents house. Their house has a perfect location in my opinion. It's out in the country with acreage. Great area for pool parties, camping and bon fires.

I was also very blessed to grow up traveling. Every summer, we traveled all over. I loved going to the Beach, Disney World, Disney Land, Universal Studios, Mall of America,etc.

Another time period that stands out is all my summers I spent in the marching band and drum corp international. Yes, I was a band geek. But I also did varsity track, student council, FFA, FTA, FCCLA an started the fire department my senior year. As other kids were laying around the house during the summer, I was at marching band practice. I spent 3 years in the marching band from 9th grade through 11th grade. My senior year instead of doing high school marching band, I did a summer of drum corp international. By being involved in band in general, I learned what dedication was all about. I saw that if you put hard work into something, it would push you closer to your goals. I loved being a band geek. We got out of classes early at times, missed days every once in awhile, traveled, got to hang out with friends and actually got to experience high school. The summer before my senior year, I got to travel all over the United States by doing DCI. It was great to be out in the world like that at 17; parents weren't around making choices for you and you hand to be responsible for yourself. I really learned a lot about myself. I had planned to continue on into college by being a band student. For years, I wanted to become a band director. If I would have had a different teacher then what I had, that's the route I would have went. I had a full ride into one college and got accepted into three others. But that final summer of high school changed my world. I was shown that it would be okay to try something new. That's what I did when I came back home. I quit everything band related by October of my Senior year. I joined the fire department. I turned down my college acceptance letters and decided I didn't want to leave the firehouse. If it wouldn't have been for that one summer; I wouldn't be who I am today. I wouldn't have my amazing son. I wouldn't have met some of the greatest people if I would have went the other route. That summer changed my life direction.

Summer Challenge # 2-Where do you usually go in the summer?

Summer Challenge # 2- Where do you usually go in the summer?

• My son and I spend lots of time in my grandparents pool. My little man is a water bug!
• Coney Island ( a smaller amusement park)
• Our local County Fair..I am there all week long, thanks to friends :)
• Camping.. we like to explore new places almost each time
• I enjoy having a day out with friends by going to Kings Island(a large amusement park)
• Our local parks to play
• Our local parks for their family movie nights on Fridays
• YMCA Kiddie Pool Play Area
• Out on the river for boating
• We go to as many local festivals/firework shows as possible
• Outdoor Flea Markets
• Yard Sales/Garage Sales..I love my bargain shopping. I have bought so many items with original tags for next to nothing.
• The Beach Water Park
• Strickters Grove for a company picnic( Small amusement park)
• Airport Viewing Site for Picnics..My son loves to watch the planes take off and land.
• Library- We do the summer reading challenge every year.
• Small Kiddie Water Park in Hamilton Ohio
• Totter Otterville- Play center for kids of all ages
• Annual Firemen's Picnic

Those are things we do the most and what we do every summer. However, I am always looking for new places for us to explore. I believe that is a very important way for little ones to learn.

Thanks for checking in :)