The Foreign Times: July 2014

31 July 2014

The Longest July EVER

After mum left, we felt such a void at home. With Jermaine gone ALL day for his classes at Lee, it was just me and the kids. We had a fun time but I wont lie it was tiring keeping them busy the entire day. I guess I should add that Jermaine decided to do summer school since the last of his grad classes were being offered in the last session. He actually thought he had 4 more classes to finish which would have had him graduate in December or May next year, depending on when the classes were being offered. But, they changed the requirements and he found out he could graduate in summer if he got through these classes. It wasn't easy though ... he had to get approval to finish cos grad students are only 2 classes in one session and he had 3 to finish plus he had to do his graduate portfolio and take his licensing exam. No easy feat in one month. He thought about it and the choice was to either power through it on one month and be done OR stretch it out for the next few months all while teaching and coaching full time. Of cos there's more to it but this basically sums it up. He left every morning around 7:20, got home around 8:30pm, ate and then dove right back into his books til about 1 or 2am every night. That was one LONG, rough month.

While he was at school, we spent most of our days at the pool, the library, the park, at play dates etc. I am really thankful we have kids who are so flexible and easy going. Yes they missed daddy, and yes we sacrificed our summer plans and had to nix the road trip we were planning, but we had to look long term knowing that once school started back we would get a little more time with him each day.

here's a recap of the rest of our July

we visited Suzanne and Andy at the new home in Atlanta

pouty lil baby

Love watching Javan play with his baby brother. He is so sweet with him and really, really enjoys being with him.

listening intently at story time

little tike on the trike

snuggling with daddy while we walked around the neighbourhood

early morning snuggles with mummy

park play date with Luke, Nathan and Peter

Evan's first time on a swing with Steph

Anne is a baby hog :) She loves loving on Evan.

keeping him busy while I cook

We've had this car since Javan was one. My parents actually got it for him for his first birthday and we have definitely made good use of it. Here's Evan enjoying his first ride.

these are Javan's size 3m jeans ... Evan is just a petite little thing! They practically fell off him :)

The Freeman crew just hanging out on a rainy Friday night .... always tons of fun when we get together.

love these two little firecrackers!

visiting Elsa and Anna at the Princess Parlor

Evan is 34wks old: me at 34wks pregnant (few hours before he was born) and him 34wks

he loves his fruit!

he thinks he owns our bed!

Javan and Ria finished up their summer reading at the library. Both of them did really great and read an insane amount of books this summer. Javan got the top prize in his age group. Ria was in the top 5.

River front play date with Jackson and Claire

I love this one of my babies

we got a yummy ice cream treat after our picnic and splashing around

Jumping Junction play date with Elleina, Nathan and Luke

And this was so last minute ... as in Jermaine calling me on his way home from Knoxville (he had to take an exam there) at 2:30pm saying he was on his way home and I might make it to go see the Pioneer Woman aka Ree Drummond at the SHE Expo in Chattanooga at 4pm. I got there about 10mins late but it was worth it. She is so fun to listen to in person and as a bonus I got some much needed 'me' time. It was heavenly!