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 :)

14 Day Summer Challenge -Challenge 1

I was doing a google search and came across some different blog challenges. I picked one out called 14 Day Summer Challenge. I thought it would be a good one as we are getting so close to having the sun shine that many of us love. The past week or so now I have gotten my thoughts together on what I wanted this spring and summer to bring. I've been working on a list of camping trips I'd like to go on, overnights I'd like to take, day outings I'd like to plan, people I hope to spend time with, the financial numbers behind what different trips are going to cost, etc.  Plus I have my sons birthday bash to plan and I love planning parties :)Yes, I am a planner. At least I try to be. I seem to accomplish more when I plan. I hate going through different stages in life when I feel like I can't plan.lol So here goes my Summer challenge 1. I might tweak some of these challenges as I feel some of them are kinda repeating.

14 Day Summer Challenge

1. What are your 10 favorite things about summer?
2. Where do you usually go in the summer?
3. What are some of your favorite summer memories as a child?
4. How tan do you plan on getting?
5. Beach or the pool?
6. Having any parties?
7. What 10 people would you like to spend your summer with?
8. What are your 10 least favorite things to do during the summer?
9. When does your summer officially start?
10. Do you plan on doing anything special this summer?
11. Are you traveling this summer?
12. Are you going to camp?
13. What’s the best memory you have from last summer?
14. What’s one thing you REALLY want to do this summer?

Challenge 1-
What are your 10 favorite things about summer?

1. It's warm outside..I hate cold.
2. The sun is shinning which seems to put people in a happier state of mind.
3.Swimming
4.Camping/ Bon fires/ Smores
5. Boating out on the river( I'm a volunteer for a local water rescue team and we patrol the river.)
6. My son's birthday is June 24th. I got stuck with a winter birthday but always wanted a summer birthday as I feel there is more to do when it's nice out.
7. I get to run around barefoot or wear flip flops. I love flip flops. I love shoes in general.
8. I get an amazing tan. I am very blessed to be able to tan so easily compared to some.
9. It's firework season. I love watching fireworks and it seems like every time you turn around there are fireworks being shot off.
10. It's the time of year where there are always carnivals, festivals and county fairs going on. I love amusement rides and games :)

Children, Confusion..

So for those who don't know, I am a single mom. This isn't the path I chose to go down. Things just simply didn't work out between my sons dad and I. Being a single mom, especially the main parent is hard. Some days harder then others. However, I wouldn't change having my son for anything , anyone or any situation in this world. I love my son more then words could explain. I am lucky that my son does have a daddy who is wonderful to him when he's with him. His dad and I don't always see eye to eye but that's okay. I know in the end us not being together is better for my son in the long run. I feel like a better person in some ways now. Maybe one day I'll go into the reasoning's behind all of that.

So this evening my son and I went over to a close friends for our kids to play together. Her son is almost 2 while her daughter turned 3 back in January. My son will be 3 in June so they relate to each other well. I offered to babysit for her and her husband so they could have some time away.

I love kids. They are precious and innocent. I love watching my son play with other kids. I always thought I would have 2-4 kids. However, after things not working out between my sons dad and I. I'm not sure I could deal with that pain again of having a child with someone and it not working. Plus I don't ever want my son to think he was the reason for us splitting the family. Or wonder why can my brother or sisters dad and my mom be together but not my dad and mom. I kinda came from a broken home. My mother and father were never really together, together. But for the most part my grandparents raised me. My grandparents have been married for over 50 years now. She was 13 and he was 15 when they first met at a football game. They've had ups and downs like every marriage but they still got that fairytale in the end.

As my son gets older, I have thought about looking into adoptions, foster parenting, etc. I know that it does not have to take 2 parents to raise a child. All it takes is 1 mom or dad to care and want the best for their child.

I see my friends two little ones playing with one another. It's sweet how they help each other do little things. My son would be a great big brother. However, I don't know if I'll ever be able to give him that special bond between siblings. So maybe one day I'll fall in love with someone and will decide to have a baby. Maybe one day I'll only have more kids by being a step mom. Maybe I'll be a foster parent or adopt a child. Or maybe my son will be the only child I'm blessed to have. I guess, I just hate not knowing, not having a definite idea of what I want. Most of my friends know either yes they want more kids in their family, no kids aren't for them, the babies they have are enough for them,etc. I just hope whatever our future brings, is best for my son.

I hope some day, I can have my fairytale.