I posted about what it was like to be a stay at home mommy a month or two ago.  I thought I would post an updated version about what it is like for us in the summer.

We have been finding fun things to do in an attempt to keep sibling fighting down and to keep my house a bit clean.  Here is a picture of my boys and I on a little mountain hike we took a couple weeks ago.  Summer life in Colorado is great!

Here is an example of one of our summer days when we are not out hiking.

7:15 am- Hubby gets up and showers.  I roll over and take up his side of the bed. Ahhh, I can sprawl out.  The boys are still sleeping!

7:45 am-I hear Lucas playing on the floor of Ezra’s room.  Sounds like Legos.  Paul goes in and kisses the boys goodbye and then comes and kisses me.

8:00 am-The boys have been up for about 15 minutes so I guess it is time to get moving.  I get up and start the coffee.  Ask the boys what they want for breakfast.  Ezra says he wants to scramble his own eggs and asks if I would make them some sausage to go with.  This is an almost everyday regime during the summer.  Ezra loves to cook eggs when he has time.  I cook up some sausage and supervise while Ezra cooks.  The boys sit down and eat.  I grab a piece of sausage and sit down at the computer.  Check email, fb, write my blog post.   I find it harder to find time to actaully write during the summer.  I am pulled in so many directions the minute I sit down.

8:30 am- I ask the boys to go pick out clothes to wear.  I tell Ez to go ahead and put on his swimsuit since we have to leave for swimming lessons in an hour.  I clean up the breakfast mess and start the dishwasher.

8:45 am- I go check to see if they are dressed, Nope.  They are playing with toy knights.  “cmon guys, dressed please.”  I call as I hop in the shower.

9:00 am- out of the shower and I see that Ezra is dressed, Lucas is running around in his undies.  I dress myself and comb my hair and then go to assist him in getting a shirt and shorts on.  He still needs help, but I encourage him to try on his own.

9:15 am- The boys play while I get ready.

9:35 am- Help Lucas get his shoes on and remind Ezra to grab a towel.  He sets it by the door so he won’t forget. I put together a snack for Lucas to eat while Ezra is in his lesson.

9:45 am- Hop in the car.  I ask Ez if he remembered everything.  He hops out and runs into the house to get the towel he forgot by the door.

10:00 am- Swimming Lessons.  Luckily my friend Amy’s kids are in the same time slot so we sit at the pools picnic tables and chat.  I pull out crayons and a coloring book for Lucas.  He colors for a few minutes.  Then I give him some cheese and crackers I brought him.  He sits and eats.  Then he wants to sit on my lap.   I hold him while I chat.  He decides to run around the table in circles.  Then back on my lap. Then coloring again.  As long as he stays away from the pool, we are good.

10:45 am- Swim Lessons are done.  Ezra dries off and slips on his flip flops. We pad out to the car.  On the way home we discuss what to have for Lunch.

11:00 am- We get home and I immediately start Lunch.  I ask Ezra to unload the dishwasher.  I help him put away the higher items.  The boys sit down with bowls of mac and cheese and a plate of grapes and cantalope.  I wipe down the kitchen counters and straighten the kitchen.

11:30 am- Lunch is over.  The boys go play outside.  I toss in a load of laundry.  Then I go sit out on the patio and watch them play and have my own lunch.

12:00 am- I call one of my girlfriends and chat while the boys are still playing outside.  They have decided to make a water park.  They have the kiddie pool filled up, a sprinkler going and Lucas’ toy slide aimed right for the water.  They are having a blast.

1:00 pm-  I rally the boys and help them get dried off.  Lucas needs new clothes since his are soaked.

1:20 pm- We head to the grocery store.  I have a full list and even a few coupons.  They ask to ride in the car cart.  I agree, but as long as they get along.  They say they will.  Ha!  Ten minutes into the shopping trip Lucas is pushing his older brother out of the car.  Ezra is pushing back.  They are yelling.  People are looking.  I make Ezra get out and walk and give him a list of three things to help me find.  This seems to work for a few minutes, until Lucas starts reaching out of the car and knocking things off the shelves and giggling.  I scold him and tell him if he can’t ride nicely in the car he will have to ride up in the child seat next to me.  The rest of the shopping trip is a blur.  By the time I get to the checkout I am exhausted, frazzled and not quite sure if I got everything.  To be honest, I don’t even care, I just want out of here!  We check out and head home.

2:30 pm- We arrive home and each of the boys help me carry in the groceries.  I put them away and make them a little snack.  They sit and eat thier snack.

3:00 pm- Quiet Time.  Lucas recently outgrew naps.  I still insist that he needs rest though.  Ezra climbs up in his bunk bed and reads his book.  Lucas lays quietly on the futon in Ezra’s room and watches Go Diego Go.  I breath.  I move the laundry to the dryer.  Sweep the floors.  I hit up Lucas’ room and straighten up a bit.  I also go outside and water my plants for the day.  I should have done it earlier, it is really hot out there today.  I allow myself to sit and watch a bit of tv while I do some work on my computer.

3:45 pm-  I hear the boys giggling back in the room.  I go back and quietly insist that there is 20 more minutes of rest time.  They agree.  I pull out the laundry and fold it and put it away.

4:15 pm- The boys are playing restaurant now.  It is one of thier favorite games.  While they are in Lucas’ room, I go in and straighten Ezra’s a bit.  He is responsible for cleaning it but I like to help him a bit.

4:30 pm- Time to start thinking about dinner.  I pull out my fish and put some pesto on it and begin chopping veggies.  I get it all ready and preheat oven.  I do a quick once over of the living room.  I pick up all the toys and toss them in the boys rooms.  So much for the clean rooms.  By now they are a mess again. At least the living room will look ok when Paul gets home.

5:15 pm- Toss the fish in the oven.  Ezra asks if he can play the wii.  I say until dinner time.  Lucas really wants to play.  Ezra won’t let him.  They argue, Lucas cries.  I invite Lucas to come help me cook.  He agrees and I give him a spoon and some water to stir.

5:45 pm- Paul gets home.  Dinner is coming out of the oven, the boys are playing.  Actually I think they are fighting upon further listening.  I decide to ignore it.  I plate up our salads and put a piece of fish on top of each.  Yummy!  Paul tells Ez to shut of the Wii and come eat.  Lucas doesn’t want dinner he cries.  He wants to keep playing in his room.  I carry him to the table and tell him that he must sit with us even if he doesn’t eat.  This is a crapshoot.  Sometimes he will go ahead and eat with us, sometimes he sits there.

6:15 pm- Dinner over.  Paul and the boys hit the backyard and play.  Paul is doing some work, the boys are playing.  Ooops I forgot to empty the pool.  They are soaking wet again.

7:00 pm- I heard the boys into the house and fill up a bath for them.  They hop in.  Paul sits on the couch and surfs with his ipad.  I clean up the kitchen for the night.

7:30 pm- We pull out the skipbo cards and play a game as a family.  Lucas is watching and playing with a car while we play.

8:30 pm-  The boys head back to thier rooms.  Ezra begs to watch a movie.  It is too late for an entire movie.  Tomorrow night ok.  But MOooM.  Sorry buddy.  Tomorrow night we can start one earlier.  He digs into his legos.  I sit and check email, paul watches tv.  Some sort of sports.  We snuggle, him watching tv, me surfing.  Lucas comes and climbs up on my lap and snuggles in and falls asleep.

9:00 pm-  Bedtime. I put the boys down.  Paul comes and kisses them goodnight. Songs and Prayers.  Tuck Tuck Tuck.

9:30 pm- Paul and I hit the hot tub.  Ahhhh, warm water, quiet time.  No crying or fighting, or whining.  Lovely.

10:00 pm-  We flip on the tv to see if anything is on.  Nothing.  We flip through a few channels, get bored.

10:30 pm- Bed.  I read, paul sleeps.  Night night.  Start again tomorrow.

As you can see, things are a little more slow paced during the summer.  Yet, we are still pretty busy.  We also squeeze in regular play dates with friends and outings to nearby places.

Has your summer been this busy?