Summer: Week 3

 Have I mentioned before that I LOVE summer?  I really, really do.  I love that I get to make my very own schedule, and I keep my schedule flexible and simple, cause that's the way I like it.  I love that the kids play together all day long and use their imaginations.  Yep, I have "summer house", but I'm ok with that too.  I love the down days as much as the busy, fun days.

I got to spend some time with these three cute girlie-os:

They were thrilled to get some Dippin' Dots (simple pleasures, people):

 The cousin got some too, it's just hidden in this photo.

 The girls were good company, and the play was fantastic!

Here is my Everett boy:

 He tells me about every day that he's going to build a helicopter or airplane that really flies.  He gets so excited about it.  I love it.  He took apart this remote control car and was going to use the parts to build something that flies.  I have no doubt that someday, he's going to do just that.

So, we've had some exciting news this last week.  Nick got offered a new job!  He's excited about the new opportunities and the new commute (15 minutes instead of 1.25 hours - I think I may be more excited than Nick about this!).  This company invited our family to their summer family day at Lagoon.  Uh, yeah!!  What a perfect introduction to their great company!  They provided the tickets, lunch, matching t shirts, and even a fanny pack!  :)

We had such a blast!  It was crowded and we waited in line most of the day, but even despite that, it was such a fun day!  The kids were so content and just having fun together.  There wasn't much complaining, either!  Daisy was just tall enough to go on most of the rides with us, which was perfect!

 Ah, love my honey.

This was after getting soaked on Rattlesnake Rapids, which was the favorite:

 In fact, at the end of the day when the lines for this ride started dying down, we went again and again!  I don't think we had a dry spot on us.

 See the fanny pack?  It makes me laugh, but I tell you what, I'll be wearing that thing again!  So handy!

 My Daisy is a character!

Maren got the bravery award for the day.  She wanted to ride all the fast, scary rides with Dad!  (side note:  I wanted to ride the fast, scary rides with Dad too, but ya know, kids...)

Nick and I told the kids at 9 we were ready to go get some dinner and go home, but the lines were finally getting shorter, and we just couldn't resist!  I'm glad we stayed a bit longer, I'd say that was the best hour in the park!  Finally at 10 we convinced the kids it was time to go home and go to bed!  One of my most favorite days of summer so far.

But before that:

We spray painted some t shirts.  Easy and fun!

Father's Day:

 The decorations are thanks to the girls.  They are great party planners!  

We sure love this guy!

We continued the celebration that evening with my family.  The kids were THRILLED to find that Grandma and Grandpa have kittens!  They smothered the cute little things with love all evening long:

 I'd be tempted to bring one home with us except that Nick tells me he's allergic.  My poor, pet deprived children.

Grandpa is the best!

Summer: Week 2

 This Summer, my kids are making dinner:

I usually don't have much patience (me = no patience, remember?) for helpers in the kitchen, but it is time.  My kids love it!  I'm dealing much better than anticipated.  Win!

Just some cute pics:

Oh, Daisy baby!  You make me happy!

Doing Summer right: 

On Thursday, we went camping.  We headed to Huntington State Park and we had such a great time!  We were joined by my two sisters.  Cousins makes camping doubly fun.  We tried a little fishing (no luck):

Cousin M is still a big favorite:

We spent a lot of time in the water.

Boys (Everett and his cuz), fishing on the dock:

This inflatable slide was a fun bonus!  This is Nick and Maren having a go:

Swimming and paddling, paddling and swimming.

 Now, if that is not a happy face, I don't know what is.

While at the lake, Nick's swimsuit reached it's limit.  Thankfully (for my sisters) he was wearing some rash guard pants underneath.

  

My cute niece, showing off the view from our campsite:

Pre-dinner entertainment:

 This is the life!  Really, disconnecting with the world, reconnecting with nature and my family has got to be one of my favorite things!  Getting good and dirty is strangely satisfying too.

Lu's starburst/s'more creation:

 That was about the only bite she took.  Surprised?

After packing up Saturday morn, we headed back to the lake for one last dip.  The little girls were tired.  Camping wears a girl out! (So, so true!)

 Goodbye, Huntington!  We'd like to come back someday!

This morning, it hailed for a good bit.  The kids were so excited, they put on bike helmets and jackets and headed out.  So funny!  They were jumping on the trampoline with the ice pellets:

Summer: Week 1

 A week in and I already feel like Summer is slipping by all too quickly.  We've had a blast though.  Sorry, this is a long one.

First off, my roses are extra happy this year.  This is the biggest I've ever seen them.  Bigger than my hand:

We spent Memorial Day demoing the tile vanity top and then repairing sheetrock in our master.  Can we be done yet?

 We are currently down to sheetrock and subfloor in there.  It will start looking like a bathroom again soon, I hope.

I'd like my bedroom back, too:

Ok, that's enough complaining for now. Poor me, getting a new bathroom. I don't have much patience when it comes to stuff like this. Or at all, really.

We spent an afternoon at the pond:

My kids have been doing "art" with Grandpa for years.  Some of the projects they do turn out, uh, interesting?  He's so good to let the kids do their own work (despite him being the one doing it in this photo).  I'm so glad they have that time together.  The kids look forward to it, and I'm pretty sure Grandpa does too.

The kids and I took a hike to Battle Creek Falls.  They were little troopers!

 Daisy did it all on her own, and only had to be bribed once.

 Happy, DIRTY kids!

Also, we had a fire up the canyon:

 Green, green, G-reen!  So pretty!

 We can't keep it straight.

Maren was telling us all stories.  It was hilarious (to some, anyway), if you can't tell:

 Yep, she's just a bit dramatic.  She keeps our family entertained.

My favorite photo of the evening:

 This kid was in heaven.

And then, what's more Summer than a parade?

 Other highlights:  FHE picnic dinner at the park,  picnic lunch in the park with a friend from my childhood, slush, and fireworks (the sprinklers didn't go off on us this year!  Hurray!).  That is a good start to Summer!

And, June marks one year down for Nick's Master's program.  Hurray!  Halfway there!  I think we can make it!  If we had to go back and make the choice again, we would make the same choice, because I know this is the right thing for our family right now, but that certainly doesn't make the day-to-day stuff any easier!  We can do it.  We can do it.  We can do it.  Thankfully, Nick has a break coming up in a few weeks.  I'm very much looking forward to having a husband around again, if only for a short while.