Oh, What Do We Do in the Summertime?

It feels like we had two different summers this year.  The first one was spent gallivanting across the country.  And the second half was spent right here at home.  We didn't leave town once.  And we all loved it.  I think the van was happy to get a rest in the garage for a while, too.

But that doesn't mean we didn't have fun.  Oh, no.  We had plenty of that.  Here's how we kept busy.

TENNIS

Nicolle and I played in a doubles league again this summer.

Loved it.

We went 1-5.

But had fun!

And ate lots of consolation gelato after our losses.

PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD

One of the kid's favorite activities:

 having Andrew give them crazy rides in the little tikes car.

It's a risky sport.

Care Bear is a good little bike rider!

FRIENDS

GRASSHOPPERS GAME

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE
We had missed the first couple of chances to attend
these free downtown concerts.
Made the August one a priority and it lived up to our expectations.

So fun and relaxing.

BMX'ing

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

FREE STUFF FOR KIDS

 Mr. Nigel concert

A free concert ..in a toy store..with hands on participation?
Sweet!

Shadow Puppet show.
Involved a meatball luchador.
Cracked us up.

Melville Dewey, International Library Hip Hop Superstar
Also hilarious.

 Crafts at the African and Middle Eastern Bazaar

CHUCK E CHEESE'S

SWIMMING
I loving hanging out at the pool more than my kids.
What is wrong with them?
They were stuck going with me several times, though.
Thanks, kids!

B loved the diving boards at Bur-Mil pool.


Weee!

When the Wet n Wild passes went on sale at the end of the season,
I jumped on it.  So I could drag the kids to more the pool more often!
[cue evil laugh]

 Brandon and Whit jumping.

I figured out a trick:
go with friends.
When we run into the kids' friends
(or bring them with us)
they have a blast.

Cora and Whit on a steep slide.

They didn't even scream!

Brave girls.

On days that I don't force them to go to the pool,

they ask to swim in the hot tub.

Crazies.

GARDENING

The one and only zucchini we got.

It made delicious stir fry.

And left us wishing for more.

We got lots of grape tomatoes and just a couple of

these big beauties.  Mmmmm....garden fresh deliciousness.

And now we just have a few days left before school starts!  I will miss the freedom and carefree schedule.  But I suppose I should finish up that Child Development class one of these days.  And it isn't going to happen at the pool.