Summer Fun!!!

Because our children are in year round school (not our favorite thing) they really only have a three week summer vacation, so we try really hard to make it a fun time for them. Here are some of the exciting adventures we have explored the last couple of weeks!

The fourth of July we spent with cousins and Josh's parents and then did fireworks at our house. We didn't have anyone this year who was scared of the fireworks, so I got to stay outside instead of watching the show from the front window.

The three oldest kids have been in swimming lessons the past couple of weeks. They are all doing really well. Bryce and Aubrey are finally to the point that I think they could get to the side of the pool before drowning, even though it wouldn't be pretty. I wish we could take them swimming more often to get them more practice, but it is a little on the expensive side for us. There is no picture of Aubrey on the diving board because once she got out to the edge she panicked (never mind that she has been on the diving board countless times) and it took all her dad's coaxing and a nudge from a teacher to get her to actually go in the water.

This week, Gavin kept asking when we were going camping in our tent. We decided that a camp out in the backyard would be perfect. The kids helped me set up the tent, their favorite part was using the hammers to pound in the stakes. We pulled out our sleeping bags and I pumped up the air mattress (7 month pregnant women don't sleep on the ground...actually I don't sleep much at all anyway, so I guess it wouldn't have mattered...but if I am going to toss and turn all night I am going to do it in maximum comfort). We got the kids all settled, and did our bedtime routine. Josh and I went inside for a bit to finish up some chores, when suddenly our youngest appeared at the door with his two older brothers. As we all went back out to go to bed we found that in order to get out of the tent the three and five year old had split the zipper and mangled it to the point that it was completely ruined. With no way to contain the nearly two year old to the tent and no way to keep out bugs and stray cats, not to mention the skunks that frequent the yard in the summer (boy does our dog go crazy when they stop by), we opted to head back inside. It was an exciting 90 minute camp out and we did get to play in the tent all day, but the kids and I were disappointed with the ending (I think Josh was just relieved).

So, the first half of our "summer vacation" has been fabulous. We'll see what the second half holds. Should be fun!!