SUMMER

I always go into summer thinking it will be more relaxing and low key than the school year.

Especially this summer after a pretty crazy school year, I've been looking forward to slower days.

I guess I have to keep on looking.

Is it just me or did July just fly by?  

Between library events, family events, vbs x2 and 4-H--we've had a really full plate!  Plus add into that all the meet-ups/playdates that we can't do during the school year!  All these things are good things but whew! I'm hoping August will not be so jam packed.  I know fair week will be busy--but I'm aiming to keep it more low key next month.  I'm hoping the kids will have TIME to get bored! I also need to get our school year in order and get my co-op classes prepped! Eek!  I'm not ready for all that yet!

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying your summer!

HERO CENTRAL

This year our VBS was in the evening!

A first for us, but hopefully not the last time!

It was shorter and certainly went by faster--BUT there was no time for the kids to be bored and we did manage to fit it all in.  I also talked to several of the parents at the end of the week to kind of gauge how they felt about evening versus morning and it was an overwhelmingly positive response!

The fact that we also provided dinner for all the attendees could also have contributed to that! ;)

I helped with the pre-k group again.  It is always the largest group and requires the most people.

Pretending to be Goliath!

Craft time!

!

Silly girls waiting to greet people

Another day of crafts--shields!

err..hats??

Our monster vehicle came in handy for VBS week.  I took some of our neighbor/friends with us every day and then added some cousins to the mix!  We were almost to the max!  A smaller vehicle would just not have worked.

Closing program!!  Family BBQ, followed by performance and then ice cream!!

It is too bad a LOT of kids were not present for the closing program, due to leaving for vacations etc.
It worked out though and the kids in attendance did a great job!



Until next year's program!

ELEVEN ON THE ELEVENTH

Our eldest Rosebud turned 11 this month!

Due to the busy-ness of July, we decided to celebrate with family on the 4th of July.

Cake..(5+6=11..don't judge, that is what we had)

We did picnic-style with swimming and games.

Later on, everyone was invited to join us for local fireworks.  

Most people went home, but a few did come along.

Sparklers!

And fireworks!

On his actual birthday, we did the usual birthday menu request but for breakfast.

VBS fell during birthday week and we had an evening VBS this year-- per his request, he wanted to go to VBS on his birthday rather than missing a day.  So we did birthday dinner on Sunday evening instead.  He had to wait all day to open gifts until Dad got home.

I guess it was worth the wait.

Lego tape!

New filaments for his 3-d pen

Happy Birthday, MJ!

We love you !

FIELD TRIP

One of the benefits of being a part of a co-op, is getting some serious discounts on different attractions.  We jumped on the opportunity to go on the year-end trip to The Land of Make Believe!

A lot of these pictures are not mine.  I can take no credit for more than half.

This year was the first  year I haven't had to lug a stroller or diaper bag and all that paraphernalia. I was able to actually go on some of the rides with the kids.  Unfortunately, part of the water park section was not open, but everyone had fun anyway.  

We had the park to ourselves for a couple of hours.  I think maybe some of the groups cancelled due to a threat of rain, but it turned out to be a really nice day.  Later on, several groups came, but even so--it was not over crowded and THAT was really nice.  

Boogie and his cousin were buddies for the day.

Bubba there surprised me with enjoying ALL the rides!

We pretty much did the "dry side," ate lunch and then spent the rest of the time in the water section.

I stayed with the ones that were not allowed on the big water slides and my sister took the big kids on the slides..over and over and over again!  ;)

We finished up with the train and hayride before everyone was herded out of the park.

They were serious about closing time.

I hope we can do it again next year!

END OF THE SEASON

Softball ended earlier this month with dinner at the park and a parent versus player softball game.

Oh yeah, awards too.

Coach  made up special awards for the girls, including something like "The Speedy Award,"  "The Strong Arm Award," "The Most Improved Award," and such..focusing on a strength or skill each girl had or worked on during the season.  

Missy received "Slugger of the Year."

They got a certificate, cookie decorated like a softball, and a trophy.  A nice added touch was an actual softball for each girl to keep signed by all the teammates.  

After dinner and awards, it was parents/siblings versus the team for a couple of innings.

It was actually a really nice way to end the season, plus the weather was nice.

There was a playground right there for those too young to play as well.

The girls were a bit outnumbered, but it was all in good fun!

Good job this season!!