It just keeps going and going

You know how life gets busy and you put things off till it calms down and gets back to normal? And then you realize that busy and crazy is normal now and they probably won't ever calm down? I'm there. Truthfully we aren't over-scheduled or running half as much as most people I know, but for us it feels like I need to stop for a breather.
Soccer started for Sammy the same week as school. We have realized that Sam is not competitive and has very little aggressive drive. Thad and I take turns going to games because there is no use in bringing Peter. So the first game my text report was "They are winning 3-1. Sammy is a sloth." Granted it's still upper 90's around here so it's hot, but Sammy would rather sit in the shade and relax then get after the ball. Game 2 we decided to bribe him, if he made a goal he would get ice cream. Not that we are super concerned with having to win, but just to encourage him to put forth some sort of effort and work hard. It worked, sort of. He scored a goal in the first few minutes of play and was really running and getting in there. But, once the goal was met, Sammy's efforts ended and we were back to sloth mode the rest of the game. One day we might find something that sparks his drive.

Action shot, tongue and all.

 

Andi on the other hand spent the game running the sidelines, yelling at the boys and generally acting like a lunatic. She got all the competitive drive, which may or may not be a good thing. She started volley ball this week, so we'll see what her team mates think of her need to win.
Thad turned another year older and told me no party. Usually we at least do family dinner, cake & ice cream, but he didn't want to spend his birthday getting the house and yard ready for everyone to come over. Solid reasoning. So instead we went out to dinner with some friends. After our summer of no date nights it was much needed and appreciated. 
The following weekend we went with some friends to the Pentatonix concert at the LA fair. The fair grounds down there are crazy and huge. The concert was so much fun, and the company even more so. And we had front row seats! I have only been to a couple concerts in my life and never ever even close to the front row,  it was fun being so close to the action. Thanks Divelbiss' for a great night!

 The next weekend we had a ward family camp-out at camp wilderness. It's a nice little facility that the church owns and some stakes use for girls camp. We left Peter behind with my parents because we wanted to be able to relax and enjoy the quick trip. Peter would have loved it, but several times during the trip Thad or I would say, "Aren't you so glad Peter is not here," or "Can you imagine if we brought him?"  He's just that crazy people.  We were the first family there, so after unpacking Thad helped the kids make a lean-to fort that was filled the entire time by some group of kids or another.

We had a campfire with smores, archery range, horseshoes, and just time to hang out with other ward families. The kids loved it, aside from Sammy falling out of bed three times in the night. And I loved the cool temps and clean air.  On the way home we stopped at the trail of 100 giants and went on a little hike. Sam was a bit disappointed when he realized that there were no actual giants, and that the name refers to the giant sequoias.

Thad helped the kids at the archery range while we were there and decided that "the kids" needed a bow of their own. Amazon to the rescue, and a few days later we now have a compound bow that adjusts for both kids and adults and a target to play with in the back yard. Totally normal right? I love the faces they are both making in this picture. Sammy could not be concentrating any harder, and I'm fairly certain he's holding his breath. Andi is anxious for him or something. I'm not sure.

Peter is up to his usual business. Stripping down at nap time if I forget to change him into his jail jammies.

And getting in to everything he's not supposed to.

I think I've mentioned before how much he loves playing in the car. Any car.

And this week he has decided everything belongs in the sink. It's nice that when he's done with a cup or silverware he puts them there, but last night this is what I found in the sink.

Sammy conversation of the week, happened on the way to the bus stop after I got on his case about putting his dirty clothes in the hamper so that he can have clean clothes. He was out of socks that morning and I found several pairs shoved in toy baskets and the closet.
S: "Mom, how about I get my own hamper in my room, so I don't have to walk down the hall to your room every night."
M: "Sam, you have toy baskets, and shoe baskets, and clothes drawers in your room right?"
S: "Yes."
M: "Do you ever put your clothes and toys and shoes in those baskets where they belong?"
S: "No, not really."
M: "So if I put a laundry basket in your room do you think you'll get your laundry in it any better than you do now?"
S: "Probably not. So how about we put in a tube or something that sucks up my socks and takes them straight down to the laundry room?!"
M: "You want a laundry chute?"
S: "Yes! Then I won't have to take my clothes anywhere. I just put them in the hole and they go to the laundry on their own."
M: "That's not going to happen. Just put your clothes in the hamper."
S: exasperated sigh and eye roll.
I can't make this stuff up. He is always saying the funniest things.