Summers Stories: Fun With Kids

Being gone for a few weeks means a LOT has gone on in our lives that I haven’t shared.

Let me start, though, by updating about the kiddos doctor appointment yesterday.

Sure enough, the doctor found signs of ear infections in both boys. However, either the virus had just run its course or the garlic oil helped, because she said it looked as though there had BEEN an infection, but there was no active infection at the appointment. Their ears both looked like they were clearing up all on their own.

So no antibiotics necessary. Whew!

While I was checking the boys ears the last week, though, I learned a neat trick. They were both much more cooperative about my peeking in their ears if I let them peek in my ears first.

So. Cute.

We’re supposed to give it a week and see if the boys are still coughing and sneezing. If they aren’t, great. If they are, we have to go back to see the doctor again.

Fingers crossed we don’t have to go back!

Other than a couple weeks of sick kiddos, we’ve actually had a lot of fun recently. Even better, it was all free or cheap!

For free, we had several beautiful days of warm, sunny weather, and took advantage of that to go to the park.

My boys LOVE the park! Zac is finally getting big enough to really play hard, and Jed is getting old enough that he’s making friends and playing made-up games with other kids.

Watching a gaggle of small boys running around, pretending the playground equipment is a pirate ship and the sandbox had buried treasure is more fun than I would have imagined.

My kiddos climbed, slid, swung, balanced, and pushed themselves to the the limits of their abilities. It was glorious!

Jed made some friends in the sandbox one day, and they all decided to bury him in the sand. He loved it!

One day, as we were leaving, the kids begged to go down to the creek. Sap that I am, I let them.

They were in long pants and I had no spare clothes in the car, but we were heading straight home after the park.

Yep. Both boys wound up riding home in just their diapers or underwear. They drenched themselves!

And had a blast doing it. 

Next time, though, I’m bringing appropriate clothing for the excursion.

Speaking of getting drenched, the next fun activity we did the last few weeks was to wash my car.

I know. I never would have thought of car washing as a fun kid activity, but both my boys absolutely LOVED it. At under $10, I got a clean car and some good, clean fun for the kids. (Pun intended!)

They were also pretty good little helpers at it, too.

Jed particularly got in to spraying and scrubbing, while Zac mostly enjoyed watching and running through the mist.

I tried to get Jed as excited about vacuuming the inside of the car, but after just a few minutes he announced “I’m all done, Mommy!”

Oh, well. 

Over at my parents house, the kids had a play date with a neighbors grandson, rolled in the mud and got disgusting, played with the chickens, helped gather trash, and “drove” the lawn mower.

All of it was free, and at the end of one day Jed reportedly told my mom “This is the most fun place ever!”

It really doesn’t take a lot of money to entertain kids. They can find fun anywhere!

Of course, I can’t help but think all that outdoor time helped get them sick, since it’s spring and pollen is going nuts. Still, after a long winter with not much to do outside, they love their outdoor playtime.

I guess I’ll just have to figure out how to minimize the effects of spring next year.

Zac successfully trialed zucchini over the last few weeks, and I must admit I’m madly in love with the new addition to my diet. Zucchini tastes SO good!

One night, I made kebobs for dinner. Darrel and Jed got cilantro-lime chicken kebobs, but Zac and I ate simpler fare: steak and zucchini.

This was the first time Zac had ever been served a kebob, and he really enjoyed them. He refused, however, to let us slide the food off the stick. Instead, he ate it like it was a big old ear of corn!

Highly amusing for all of us, and he ate like a little piggy that night.

Oh, just because I’ve written about his speech issues before, I thought I’d share this adorable video of Zac saying his alphabet.

 

It’s not complete; there are some letters he can’t quite say yet, and even the ones I know he is trying to say are largely unintelligible to anyone but Miss K or his family.

Honestly, with most of what he says these days, even I have a hard time understanding him…but I’m thrilled he’s trying and always congratulate and encourage him. Over time, his words become clearer.

Eventually, I just know he’ll be chattering away as loudly and clearly as Jed.

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I’m getting home from work late tonight, and this weekend is, of course, Easter!

Tomorrow I’m planning on making more gummy treats, conversation heart candies (in flower shapes this time), and roll out cookies in Easter shapes for Jed to enjoy on Easter morning. In fact, he specifically asked me to make enough that he can share with his Sunday School class!

He’s so sweet. 

I’ll share more about how Easter plays out for us next week.

If you’re looking for any ideas on how to treat your kids on Easter, here are a few previous posts you can peruse for inspiration:

Easter Baskets for Food Allergic Kids
Easter Basket for My Allergic Kiddos
Dairy and Fructose Free Chocolate Easter Bunnies

Have a wonderful weekend, and a glorious Easter!