Quiet Waters Splash Adventure

For our last day of Steve's off week before starting his summer job, we went to a water park. Quiet Waters is a great park about 10 minutes away from us. We went to the park in the winter and the water park section was not open. Titus talked about going to that water park all winter long.

It was well worth the wait. Both boys had an amazing time and could've stayed all day. We paid $5.00 each and stayed for 3 hours. The area around the slides and fountains was only about 18 inches deep. Steve and I sat in the water while Quincy would jump and fall into it over and over while Titus would go down the slides.

The days afterward Quincy kept talking about "splash adventure."












The huge red bucket dumping water-

Titus waiting in line for the tunnel slide-

Summer Days

Steve hasn't started his summer job yet so we've been enjoying some much needed family time. It's been a little taste of vacation for us. I can often complain that it's been forever since we've taken a vacation. We went for a family overnight trip to the west coast of Florida when Titus was one. Since that...nothing. Before Titus was born we went on vacation probably yearly. I guess it shouldn't matter since we live in a vacation spot. But when real life is always here we rarely have that feel of vacation. Knowing that there's nothing that needs to be done. No e mails to check, no housework, no chores, no work to be thought about. But now that school is out we have had days of relaxing without the stress of Steve's work creeping in.

Right now we're in the middle of this incredibly stressful time. We need to move out of our rental townhouse the end of July (the owners are moving back in) and we're really hoping to buy. We've been on this house hunt for over a month now. I've driven past so many homes. We've been to look at eight...dragging the boys to all but one of those. We've made offers on three. One of our offers was accepted but then after going back and forth with counter offers, we had to let that one go.

So in the middle of all this, it's been heaven to have days of relaxing with little to no schedule. Sunday and Monday both we went to the beach in the morning and then to the pool in the afternoon. My biggest complaint has been the amount of wet bathing suits and towels that have been produced. :) We did do a quick drive-by of a house we plan to see today {fingers crossed} on one of our trips to the beach so we do have little bits of real life sneaking in. But we've been enjoying days of Steve not having schoolwork! Yay!


high five dad-


fruit-spinach rocketship pops on the beach-











thrilled-

Summer Vacation

I'm now the mom of a school-aged child...and with that comes the dreaded summer vacation. Is it terrible to admit that I have been dreading summer vacation? Yes, it's nice not to worry about packing lunches or wondering what color Titus will come home with (Titus is given a color each day of school for his behavior). Other than that...well...school has been great for Titus and for me. He's such an active child and needs to be constantly entertained. And he talks all day long. It drains me. Having him in school has made my life easier. But I know that's not what parenting is all about. And I never want to be that mom who signs her children up for everything just to get them out of the house.

I laughed at the beginning of the school year because every form or letter to the parents talked about "co-laboring." I remember telling Steve that's CCA's favorite phrase. And it is. But it's been wonderful! Titus' teacher came along side us in our parenting of Titus. In his development academically and spiritually as well as socially and behaviorally. We are so blessed to be here. To have Titus in this incredible environment.

I am sad to not be seeing his teacher anymore. I will miss her love and encouragement. She was so understanding of the changes in our lives with moving. She was always so senstive to the fact that we were parenting alone here. One day she asked me about our house hunting and hugged me...I just started crying. Right there in school with her hugging me. I am so grateful for her love and prayers throughout this year.

So today was day #1 of summer break.

It is so humid and hot. It was drizzling this morning a little. I knew I had to run to the mall so I decided we would play in the play area of the mall before I had to run my mall errands. Coral Springs mall has a great play area. The boys played and then we bought Quincy his first pair of flip flops. We then came home and relized I had lost Quincy's Fanti somewhere. Not sure if it's at the mall or lost in this house. Either way, I am so tired of losing these dear Fantis and searching high and low while a child screams that he doesn't have it. So, I decided today we would just break the bond between child and Fanti. For both boys. Might as well do both at once I figured.

Quincy screamed in his crib at naptime. I moved the rocking chair from our living room to his bedroom and rocked him to sleep. Only each time I went to lay him down in his crib he would wake up. He ended up watching tv on my bed until he fell asleep. This might be a long process.

I was going to skip Titus' nap (he only occasionally naps) but as he was banging on Quincy's door as I was attempting to get him to sleep, I caved in and gave Titus his Fanti and sent him to bed. He says it's his best friend. How can I be so cruel?

Tomorrow is day #2. I have two and a half months until school starts up again.

End of the School Year

I am so grateful for Titus' school and his amazing teacher. She loves Titus and encourages Steve and I in our parenting of him. As the year is coming to a close, I am amazed at how much Steve and I have grown in our parenting over this past year. The trials that came with Titus being in school, the releasing him daily as we left his there in his classroom, the academic and social growth that we've seen in Titus. It's been an adventure. It's been wonderful. And we praise God for giving Titus Mrs Ramroopsingh as his first teacher.

This is an encouraging e mail from Mrs R last week-

Dear Steve & Morgan: Titus had an A #1 day today. He worked as if on to the Lord in actions, words and deeds. He was a JOY to behold in chapel and a song to be sung during music. We had a mixture of music today. He painted to classical music and he played the castanets to folk music. He insisted on using water colors to make Morgan’s Mother’s Day card and refused to play with cars until he made Morgan’s card! Now that true love Mom!! Please know Steve & Morgan that your family is always in my prayers. I know how you are both committed to walking in obedience to God’s will for your young family. I pray that your house hunting will bring you to a place of true rest and those boxes will finally get out of the way. Have a remarkable week-end filled to overflowing with pockets of peace and rest. May you feel His presence ~ Mrs. “R”

Friday when I picked Titus up he told me they had a toolbox in chapel. "We're God's tools" he said.

Titus was painting last week and told Quincy, "I'm working as unto the Lord, Quince. That's what you gotta do. Work as unto the Lord. Work until the job's done."

Titus answered these questions about me at school for Mother's Day (his answers are capitalized)...

All About Mom
Let me tell you about my mom.
My mom is FIVE years old.
She likes to TAKE CARE OF ME AND QUINCY.
The best thing she cooks is DINNER.
Her favorite food is EVERYTHING. {Thanks, Titus :)}
Her favorite thing to do to relax is RELAX ON THE COUCH WITH ME.
We like to SWIM together.
She is really good at DOING THINGS.
As you can see, my mom is special because SHE LOVES ME AND I LOVE HER.

Poolside

Easter break. We spent many days by this pool.