I know with all the hustle and craziness of having two sister under two years old, Peyton gets forced to step up and be the “big sister” a lot of the time. She loves it, but I know it was probably a huge shock for her to go from an only child to sharing the spotlight with two sisters in a year and a half. We try to have special outings with her, but this summer has been so busy for us, so it hasn’t been a priority. We’ve been checking off the bucket list, and having the best time ever doing family things, but making the special effort to make Peyton feel special on her own has been somewhat of an afterthought. Although, last week, I did wake her up one night, to go catch fireflies in a jar with me! Not that we, like, forget her at home when we load up the little ones in the car!! I decided we would take this weekend to be a Peyton Weekend.
Friday, Peyton and I headed to the zoo nearby. It’s a very small zoo, and you can feed almost all the animals, and then take a bus safari ride and see other animals. She had so much fun, and once she got over her initial fear of the giraffe’s tongue, she fed him!
We raced home from the zoo, and packed up the little ones, and headed to our friend’s house on the river. Peyton jumped right into the river, and swam around with Dave and our friends’ kids. Even a month ago, she would have thrown a fit about going in the water – despite nearly 4 months of swim lessons over the winter. She was swimming around the boat, and having the time of her life, when she really threw me for a loop. Our other friends drove past us on their boat, with their daughter in a tube. They stopped so say hi. Peyton asked what she was doing, and immediately wanted to go. I jokingly told her she would have to swim to the tube if she really wanted to go – and she took off. She got a little nervous at first, and wanted someone to go in with her – I volunteered as tribute, and we were off. While we were bouncing around on waves, Peyton told me, “Next time, I want to go without you, and I want to go FAST!”
Saturday, was the hottest day of the summer yet. We had our babysitter come to watch the little ones, while Peyton, David, and I headed out to meet our friends on Lake Michigan. We spent the entire day on the lake, and Peyton swam to shore, to play on the beach TWICE. The second time, when it was time to head back to the boat (because mommy was over being in the water), she swam around the boat like an old pro. She seemed so at ease, and it was one of those parenting moments when you look at your kid, and you’re really proud of them.
We headed back to the marina, and grabbed dinner. The restaurant had one of those claw machines, where you can win a stuffed animal. She need an animal inside Cherry, and insisted on winning it. After her third try, she was getting really upset and asked for help. I had two glasses of wine with dinner, and apparently that made me Claw Machine Rain Man, because I got her Cherry on my first try, and then a little pink penguin she was eying.
As she was going to bed that night, she gave me the biggest hug and told me she had her favorite weekend in a whole year – which made it all worth it!
peyton’s green dress | coral necklace | and sandals | my black shirt | my green shorts | my sunglasses | peyton’s rash guard is old (find this season’s here) | straw hat (it’s dave’s) | denim shorts | navy tank
And with that, the Monday grind has begun! Time for monumental loads of laundry and grocery shopping. Happy Monday, friends!
Marie says
This is so sweet! I bet she remembers this weekend for ever 🙂 tell me, what is that pizza??
Jenna says
It’s a spicy mango pizza! Lots of mango, papaya, and pineapple with chicken and onions and hot peppers, then with spicy drizzle! So good!!
Amber says
Aweee so sweet!!!
Jenna says
Xo
Trish says
She looks so grown up with the hat on!! What a beautiful girl!
Jenna says
Thank you so much!!!
Dianna Strimple says
Cutest! I bet she’s so exctited!
Glenda says
How fun for you all!