Memories in the Making

I love making memories! I love making GOOD memories. Sometimes not so good memories sneak in unwelcomed. Wouldn't it be great to have a delete memory button on our kids? Like last week when I yelled at E and made her cry because my impatience got the best of me. Click "Delete Memory". Bam, I'm a patient, understanding mom again. I guess the problem with that would be our children would have a warped sense of reality. And how could I apologize and show them my humaness if they never saw my flaws? I know we can't decide which memories they save and which they forget, but I can do my best to make sure there are plenty of fun ones to recall. We are chugging our way right along with our summer list. Some things are going to be carried over to our fall list of fun. Unfortunately, we never got to the water park and we can't very well carry that one into the fall. Everything else though, we have had a blast doing and look forward to completing in the next couple weeks. Yesterday we made the last minute (that's how I roll) decision to go to the drive-in movies. I was pleasantly surprised that my brother and his family were able to come along. **Warning: These pictures may be painful for a true photographer to look at. I need my camera fixed! And the blurry-ish ones....I couldn't leave them out. :-)

There was a playground to keep the little ones (and not-so-little ones) busy until the shows started.

I have to admit when I found out what the cost was going to be for a family of eight to watch movies outdoors I almost changed my mind. Plus, no outside food or drinks were allowed. I'm a frugal mom and this was hard for me.

Parked at screen # 3 waiting for Smurfs

We had our van inspected for coolers, weapons, and alcohol. Ok, not really weapons, but they mean business about no outside food! I was half expecting a pat down. (Good thing I wasn't or they would have found F's granola bar. :-) )

I had to mentally let go of thinking what all I could have bought with the $50 it cost to get in. I had to think of what I was really wanting to buy. It wasn't Smurfs or Zookeeper. Or Spy Kids 4 or Captain America.

Van #2 parked at Screen # 4  getting ready for Spy Kids

B and G found a spot as close as they could get

What I was "buying" was memories. And memories are priceless! We had a wonderful, memorable time!

I wasn't able to get lost in the first movie because miss F made sure I knew it was her adventure too. And her entertainment didn't include a movie.

The weather was perfect! Jeans and sweatshirts on a summer night is my favorite! The company was delightful! We sat at two different screens and didn't all watch the same movies but it was fun to be able to choose and go back and forth.

These cousins can't get enough of each other!

Most of the kids weren't able to stay awake for the entire second movie. I think a couple of parents also dozed off a couple times. I sat in my worn camping chair holding my sleeping baby feeling refreshed and content. The evening was a complete success! Even the two "friendly" skunks that came to visit didn't dampen the mood. Though they did make B and G relocate from the blankets on the ground to the roof of the van. Thank you, Lord, for my family! Thank You for memories. I am so blessed!