This has been one great and busy summer so far. Our two younger boys went to visit grandparents for a few days, then spent lots of time here at home playing with friends. Our two older boys went on a mission trip and to camp for several weeks. As a family we went on a service trip, then later to camp for a week. In the midst of it all, we have had lots and lots of company. What great opportunities God provided for the six of us this summer!
With all of the fun and craziness, I had almost started to forget what “normal” was. How many plates do I get out for each meal? How much food should I fix? It was different every day, depending on which boy was where, how many extras we had, and truly, by the middle of July, I just gave up figuring it out and just started grabbing a big pile of plates, replacing those left unused at the end of each meal. Food portions? I gave up on that too, and found that if I had too much, leftovers were welcome. If I didn’t have enough? I’d make it stretch by slicing up extra fruit or setting out veggies with ranch.
As of Saturday, we are now back to all six of us and just the six of us. It’s quite wonderful. Stories of what happened at camp, and oh yeah remember when we were painting houses on the mission trip, and has anybody seen the book I started reading back in May conversations fill the house. I’m back to making triple batches of waffles, knowing that this will be just the right amount.
At this very moment, I hear my boys playing Sting Pong upstairs. Sting Pong, you ask? Yes. You see, Ping Pong is sooooo regular. Why not see if we can smack the ball at each other from across the table to see who gets the biggest welt? Why??? Why do boys do this stuff?? Beats me, but they are laughing and proudly showing off the circle shaped rings on their skin. “It doesn’t really hurt that bad, Mom. And we need to get used to it for when we play Paint Ball at Dads-n-Lads in September.” Uh-huh, I’ll just stay downstairs and make waffles.
I remember now what it was like to have all of my family home together at the same time. Bliss.
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I admit to loving normal family life too. Just our family doing stuff~work and play! But I’m more of an introvert and both sides of my family have that tendency, so I guess I get it honest. :) It is fun to spend time with friends and extended family, but I am thankful for everyday ordinary!
I don’t think boys ever grow out of that. My husband still loves to rough-house with his younger brother like that!
I swear it starts young! My 4 1/2 year old hit my 3 year old in the nose with a plastic sword and drew blood. Then goes back to playing like nothing happened.
So glad to know that my boys aren’t the only ones that do that with ping pong balls. Glad to know it’s got a name tho! :)
why is it that summer’s schedules are so ‘off’. It drives me crazy some days. I know I will miss it but having a normal week is something I look forward to in the fall too!
I just love boys and their enthusiasm for life. My blog’s gratituesday is about showers of blessings.
Blessings Laura
Thank you for hosting the linkup party this morning.
Boys are great. I only had sisters growing up so having sons has been a real adventure. I will never understand voluntarily inflicting pain but I’ve learned to accept it as a guy thing. :)
My husband (26) still plays Sting Pong (though, until today we didn’t have a name for it!) with his brothers when he goes home!
We’ve been all over the place this summer too. My 5 year old just spent a week at my mom’s. Her little brother didn’t know what to do with himself. I just got back from a weekend girls’ trip as well. It does feel good to all be back home together. :)
We aren’t quite done with our summer crazy yet- the next few days are the county fair where I get to try and feed my kids and several others from a camper at the fair grounds instead of my own kitchen! After that we should settle back to normal….and my boys love to play rough games too, our 10 month old loves nothing more than to wrestle with his brothers. I fear for his only child friends as he gets older!
I am blessed by reading on your blog. Thank you for hosting such a sweet community! I hope you will come sometime and share your posts on the DRAH ‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday link-Up, too. Your content will be helpful to others and fits my homemaking theme. God bless you!