Keeping Busy

We've hit the walking trail on a rare cool day:

We've gone swimming on the hot days:

We've done some crafting.  We made sidewalk paint and it was a hit!  Here is Nathan's drawing:

Hunter's Avatar symbols:

Lily's friends:

Samuel's sun and Dad:

(I didn't purposefully cut everyone's head off in the last 4 pictures...I just wanted a picture of their creation but it makes me laugh...) 

We also made some fish on a rainy day:

We've baked and we've kept up with school 3x week.  I have bought play dough for the 2nd time this summer.  :)  We get plenty of at-home time, too, and I've been checking things off my list.  June has gone so fast!!

Summer Vacation Fun

The weather has been rainy and cool but we've been enjoying some fun, anyway.  I got a ton of work done reorganizing and rearranging the homeschool space one day so we celebrated by spending the afternoon at a park and then swimming.  I was the "best Mom ever" for a short time.  :)  Some storms had knocked a couple trees down at the park so the kids enjoyed exploring those:

After a rainy weekend, we had a really nice Monday so I talked Brian into taking the day off for a picnic.  It was gorgeous but oh so buggy at the arboretum.  The kids wanted their blanket in the shade but they quickly came to our sunny blanket because of gnats!  We had fun eating and then playing 'toilet tag'.  I impressed Brian and the kids with my fast running.  Ha!  Later on in the week we were at Target and all the kids were on the cart (which I hate) but I pushed them and they remarked that toilet tag must have given me muscles because I could actually push them.  :)

All the kids took turns wearing Brian's hat because of the bugs.  Lily, of course, accessorized it.  :)

We went swimming after the picnic, of course.  :)  The kids love it!

We have hit quite a few garage sales and that is always a blast.  The kids love it but I kinda like to go without them.  :)  I went with my Mom and found this great buy: a puppet theater with a big full of puppets for only $10.  Great deal and the kids love it!!

One night this week, I had my women's life group through church so Brian made an appointment at a Tires Plus and walked the kids to Toys R Us while they waited on his car.  It sounded like it went well until the massive bloody lip incident.

We did some early morning Menards shopping one day.  Lily is showing off her new dress while Brian loads up the hydrangeas we just bought.  :)

The boys loved trying out all the showers. 

And, we stopped at Subway for lunch.  Fun, fun.

We did start up "summer school" this week.  My goal is 3x week but we only did it twice this last week.  Just some math and reading skills that need more practice, especially for those who are forgetful.  :)