Summer Bucket List Recap

We are slowly settling into the school routine here. It was nice that the first "week" was only two days and this first full week is warm and sunny - very much summer weather. We are all sad the season is changing and our long carefree days of playing and pool are over. So I might as well share our summer bucket list recap while I'm mourning. 

We hit nearly everything on the list this year and the one we missed was something Kip added and not one of our typical summer occasions. So it's okay that didn't end up happening. We were far to busy doing other stuff to fuss with hotwheel tracks.

Cape May

We got our beach vacation in the weekend before summer break even started. It was a perfect way to kick off the season and we're hoping to go for a bit longer in the future. 

Park hop in the city

Dan and I had a great little day-venture with the kids when we hopped along the playgrounds on the west side of Central Park.  

Rock N Air

Mandy and I took the kids to the Rock N Air on one of my summer Friday afternoons off from work. Kip loved it and Ivy loved to cry about it.  

Legoland

We all had a blast at Legoland. It really was a fun excursion and unique and new experience for us.

Pool and Splash Pads

We lived at the pool this summer and definitely went more times then we every have before. We especially loved going in the early evening around dinner time once Dan and I got home from work. It was super simple and super fun. 

Dan and I never ended up getting to a splash pad but Mandy more than made up by taking the kids to a different one nearly every week of summer. She won the gold for that. 

Hasbro Arcade

We squeezed this one in just under the wire. It was fun to check it out but it wasn't any different than any other arcade (except the cost). We came, we saw, we are unlikely to go back.

Storybook Land

We tied our summer visit to Storybook Land into our Cape May trip and it was bliss, like always. We're looking forward to a fall visit in the next month. 

Camping

Oh camping. So many dreams. So many expectations. So much rain. But, we did it!

Kansas and Colorado

I think the kids would say our trip out west to visit family was their highlight of the summer. They really got treated to so many fun experiences and it really was a "vacation" for them. We're so grateful for all the family we got to see and time we spent making memories.

 

We hit our list and so much more. Frozen treats were consumed, Chuck-e-Cheese was explored many times over, birthdays were celebrated, the library was visited, tractor and lawn mowers ridden, fish were caught and eaten, fireworks were seen, Joy Jumps was melted, mini-golf was played, playgrounds were climbed, and swim lessons were accomplished. Kip learned to ride his bike (more on that later). Ivy rode a Subway for the first time. Our skin was sun-kissed and our bank account was drained. 

But we loved it. Every single second. 

So long summer! It will be an agonizing wait for your return.

First Day of School

Yesterday was the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL and we're off to a great start.

I've been nervous about Ivy starting school since forever. She is our little shy pandemic babe and not terribly social. I learned just last week that I would not be able to accompany her into the classroom on the first day since the district shifted the policy since 2021 when Kip started. Ivy would have to walk into the school solo and have a full first day. We had prepped her all summer with the thought that I could go with her on her first day (like I did with Kip). When we heard that wouldn't happen, we consoled her with the news but letting her pick a first day gift. Kip got a Lionel on his first day of school because apparently everything is an occasion for a gift in this house. Eesh. Anyways, she focused on that anticipated toy and didn't seem to care one bit that I couldn't come to her classroom. 

To help me (more so than her) I ended up getting this cute little mom and me bracelet set which I gave to her the night before. It worked remarkably well. She was really happy to have something special and something to remind her of our love. 

I tried not to cry when I put her to bed that night. Starting school feels like such a huge milestone.

It was a relatively smooth morning which we started with a minor surprise celebration for the kids for completing their summer workbooks and participating in Mandy's summer reading program (lol). They both worked nearly every week day during the summer on their workbooks with relatively good attitudes and we ready every night. 

They each got a certificate, mini trophy, and a small toy. 

These toys ended up helping occupy their time in the morning instead of getting anxious and flustered for the start of school (mom took care of that herself). 

Both Kip and Ivy were very compliant for our porch letter board photos (always a stresser for me).

And shout-out to Kip who was tremendous with Ivy all morning, giving her attention and comfort and all kinds of tips as we headed out the door and waited for drop off.

First day drop off is always CHAOS since everyone seems to bring the whole family and kids are wailing and/or hyper. We got Kip into his line and then Dan and I took Ivy over to her door. Thank goodness, she has the same teacher Kip had so Ivy was familiar with her and marched right into the building. I was sad and worried but her confidence really helped to perk me up and be proud for how brave she was headed off into a new world. 

Dan and I didn't know what to do with the quiet empty house. We ended up going for a bike ride and took care of some chores before I got to work. In the afternoon Dan and I parked the car by the playground and got to spot Ivy with her class. Ugh, my heart. She is still so itty bitty and she was SO adorable out there making her own independent choices about what she wanted to do instead of just following Kip. When we picked her up her teacher said she had a great day and Ivy was super chatty with us while we waited for Kip to get out. She said she got sad at nap time and wanted to cry but she looked at her bracelet and remembered Mom. She ate all the lunch we packed her and she said she went potty once. She did not recall the name of anyone in her class and said she didn't make friends because no one waved at her. HA! Also, our play kitchen is "way gooder" than the play kitchen in her classroom. Lol.

Kip had a great first day as well. He has so many friends in his class including his best bud from his Pre-K class. His teacher seems really fun and has the entire classroom and schedule themed around Harry Potter. The kids earn coins throughout the week and can spend it in the classroom Honeydukes. Kip is not very familiar with Harry Potter so I sprung and got the illustrated books that I've had on my list for us to start reading this weekend so he knows what's up with all the names and activities. Apparently they all got put into their tables/houses with the sorting hat and he is in Slytherin. It should be a fun year!

After school we surprised the kids with their favorite flavors of Rita's Italian ice for snack and Ivy got to open her much anticipated first day toy (a Hatchimal tree house). 

The second day went just as well as the first and now we have the weekend to chill out and try to squeeze just a few more drops of summer.

Last Weekend of Summer

While Dan and I were in Cape May for our anniversary overnight trip, Mandy was at home entertaining Kip and Ivy to some end of summer fun. She took them to a place called Life Town where the kids were given money and able to explore a little town with shops and places to take care of business like the Dentist and the bank. They were there for two hours and while Mandy said it was a little intense on all the enforced rules, the kids had fun.

They got Shake Shack for dinner. Woot!

On Sunday we had one more activity on our summer bucket list so we all went to the Hasbro Arcade at the American Dream Mall. The kids earned this activity by filling-up their kindness jars over the spring/summer months. The place was packed and not at all unique compared to any other arcade (save your money and go to Chuck-e-Cheese) but both Kip and Ivy love arcade games so we enjoyed it anyways. 

Dan and Kip loved the car and racing games.

And Ivy was much more into games that earned tickets and attempting to get loot from the claw games. 

The claw games at this place were legit RIGGED. No joke we played one game for over 30 minutes. Mandy had picked-up a stuffy with the claw fully grasped and raised at least 6 times and EVERY time the claw opened before it should have and dropped the stuffy. We eventually ran out of money on the game card and gave up. We tried one more time on Kip's card and still lost so after over 30 attempts we got nothing. We walked away and a mom and her daughter walked up to the machine we had just been playing and in their FIRST ATTEMPT they picked up THREE stuffies in one grab and the claw stayed closed and dropped all three into the hatch. 

Mandy and I were STUNNED. I walked up to the mom and I said, oh boy you better play the real lottery today because we've been playing that machine for over 30 minutes and got nothing. The little girl looked down at Ivy and asked her which one she wanted and offered Ivy the stuffy of her choice! It was the sweetest most genuinely kind thing and Ivy was so happy. It was so sweet of the girl and her mom and I thanked them profusely. Ordinarily I would have turned down the toy but for real, we legitimately had that toy won several times and the claw kept dropping it and Ivy was really disappointed. Ivy offered the little girl a piece of her candy in return and the girl gave her a hug. It was really sweet. The girl was probably ten years old and I think it was really a life changing experience for Ivy (at least I hope it was). She was able to experience an older kid she didn't know and didn't look like her being genuinely nice and generous all on her own. It really touched my heart and I think it did for Ivy too. Look at her in this photo below with the gifted stuffy.

Have you every seen that Friends episode where they are in Vegas and Phoebe is talking about the people that lurk around waiting to take the slot machines that other people give up on? That's what this felt like. We paid into the game solidly and poured all of our positive energy and manifested so hard. And nothing. It was crushing and then the next person hits the jackpot. That's life. But in the same hand, it opened the opportunity for someone else to be generous and that's something I'll never forget. 

We left the arcade and no one was in tears and that's an accomplishment.