Our Summer...

I have been a terrible blogger this summer...but it's because I have enjoyed every second with both my kiddos home. I hear so many moms plead for summer to end so the kids can go back to school and I desperately want it to continue. I love having my kids home!! Now, don't get me wrong...we have bad days...days when we all need a break from one another, but for the most part, it's just great!

So, since I haven't blogged much this summer, let me fill you in on what we did!

We went to Stone Mountain in Atlanta. My kids loved going to the very top so they could see 'the whole world!!

MeMe at the top of Stone Mountain with all of her Grands.

A little bowling.

Go-carting with my favorite lil dude

Meeting Blue, our newest pup. He found us....and the kids said he had to stay.

We harvested our first garden. This is Hulk's...grown all by himself.

We spent a weekend with all these amazing families who we adore.

Countless trips to the splash pad

Aliens landed in the back yard.

We fished until dark.

Morning movies, Dairy Queen and arcades

Bug learned to ride a bike.

Made a fabulous trampoline sprinkler that is still a favorite on hot days.

Spent a wonderful day trip to the beach with cousins.

And another pic of Blue...because he's so stinkin cute...

There is so much more to this summer and I was sad to see it end. I declared at the end of the school year that we would have a 70's summer....the kids would have to find their own entertainment. Now, that's not to say that I wouldn't do things with them, or we wouldn't go places. But it was by far a budget summer and I was not going to be providing all the entertainments. I wanted them to use their imaginations, and draw and paint, read books and take in the things in our own community. We had occasional treats like, morings at the theater, or afternoons at the splash pad or park. Bowling with cousins and a few rentals from red box. But mostly, they played and played and played. They created and enjoyed being with each other. They used their imaginations. The rocketship that landed in the backyard? It took all day for them to make it (and I'm still thankful to our neighbors for the fantastic box)...today, 2+months later, they are STILL playing in that rocketship. It now has lights and air conditioning, and they inside is tagged with their artwork. It is fantastic. This by far, has been the best summer break so far. And next summer, we will do it all again!

Hulk has now started 4th grade and I am ever amazed at how fast time is flying. My smart, compassionate, silly boy is now 9...and I have no idea how that happened. Bug and I will start Mommy school the first week of Sept. Our schedule of school and homework is settling in and life is returning back to normal. Well, whatever 'normal' means for our little family!