Concerts

I love concerts, there's something about seeing someone singing live that is magical to me.  I don't know if it's the energy of the crowd and being part of that or just the mere fact that I'm seeing some of my favorite songs sung by some of my favorite singers...who knows.  But not everyone shares my love of concerts, one of those people is my husband. In fact everytime I try to talk him into going to a concert he says, why? I can just turn on my music and listen to them and not have to be around all those people.  

So I'm extremely lucky that I have good friends that share my love of concerts and will go with me!  This year I've been to 2 excellent concerts and secretly hoping there will be even more concerts before the end of 2015.  The first concert was in Cincinnati to see the Zac Brown Band, and they were great!  I love country music again, primarily because of that band.  I went with my good friends Angel and Dana (and her boyfriend).  So much fun!

The next concert I went to was a week later and surprised me in that it quickly became my all time favorite concert to date.  My good friend Sophie really wanted to go see the Rolling Stones and I primarily agreed just so I could hang with her.  Kid Rock was the opening act and I love him, in fact at one point he had the audience all on our feet.  He was playing a patriot song and said, I love this country and I'm proud to be an American, and I'd like to introduce to you the most decorated member of the military, the man who killed Osama Bin Laden, it was unexpected but chilling at the same time!  After Kid Rock came the main act, and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were A-Mazing!!  That is even tonght of a word, it was so great!   To make the concert even better, it was outside at OSU football stadium called the shoe.  There were fireworks and lighting, there are just no words!  

4th of July

Collin looking all cute with his hat we got from NYC

This 4th of July kinda had lost its thunder for me before it had even begun, I was just not looking forward to celebrating when I didn't have my husband by my side, I know he is fighting for why we celebrate the 4th and all, but I just really was craving him, I just wanted him close on that day.  All in all, it turned out to be a fantastic day, thanks to friends and family.   First off, Amber had signed the boys up to march in the YMCA float for a parade over in Columbus (Karl Rd parade), which is not what I usually do, which is go to the Westerville parade, so I went with a bad attitude but ended up having a blast and enjoying the community feeling from the neighborhood and churches in the area serving cotton candy and popsicles (sugar does it for me apparently) afterward Amber and the kids and I jetted over to Westerville parade, getting our usual spot by Favoli's, we have claimed it for about 5 years now with the exception of last year when the parade was re-routed and we had to go to a new location, it was good to be back in my old spot with Amber and Rachael and my cute neice and nephews and then I had them and the Christoff's (minus Sophie who was sick) and the Laugheads over for a grill out and just playing games.  Most of the games were inside since it was so stinking hot (what a year not to open the pool...) anyway later in the evening we squeezed into a spot off at the side of a building and watched the fireworks which I don't usually do (1. because I hate the crowds of Red, White and Boom and 2. Josh usually does fireworks at the house for the kids and I) but it was a lot of fun and I loved the not so big crowds of the Westerville parade vs Columbus.  All in all, it was a good 4th, I just wished Josh was there to see it too.  It's one of my favorite holidays, especially with the pool and all the yummy summer food (watermelon...) and family and parades and fireworks, I mean really what's not to love.. 

Here's the boys the night before at Red, White and Boom with Amber 

 

End of school ritual

 

The end of school, is the start of summer (I don't care what it says in the calender, that's summer time for the kids) and each year for the last day of school, I will take them to Tim Horton's and let them pick out any sugary donut they would like, (add chocolate milk to your order?  Sure!!).  Then I send them to school, all sugared up and let them spread their havoc on the school (muwahahaha...).  Anyway on the last day of school, I'm always prepared with a poster and a water balloon fight to attack them with as they get off the bus, but this year Sophie stepped it up a notch or 20.  She had this sign and we hid around the corner with 2 big water guns and after they started the attack which was actually short lived because they started attacking eachother instead of us... but I'd say the mom's side ruled this year... Afterward, they enjoyed popsicles and discussions on how much they were going to miss school (yeah right) and how they will never have such a good teacher as so and so (we have the best teachers, always! just saying).  Then we went home and stayed up late eating pizza and watching movies, quite fun!  Think I might add this last part in each year too.

Last Day of School

Today was the last day of school and the kids and I have a mini tradition that we go to Tim Horton's and I get them all "sugared up" before school. I like to think of it as a fun last present to give the teachers before finishing out the school year. Something to really help them appreciate the summer that much more... I'm just a giver you know...

After Tim Horton's, I drop them off and plan for when they get home. I made a big banner this year (which I should have made a picture of before the boys came home because it was ruined pretty quickly after that, and I attacked them with water balloons! It was so fun!! and now I have officially a 4th graders, 2nd grader and a Pre-Ker...