Samples of Summer

Summer if flying by way too fast around here. There are only two more weeks until school starts and I feel like I'm being cheated. I don't like school starting in August at all. School needs to start in September. We go back on August 24th and that's the earliest it's ever been around here.

We've been hanging out have a nice time and enjoying not having a set schedule to keep. Next week we are going to go on a little extended weekend family vacation and are thrilled that John is actually going to take two days off work! We'll see if it actually pans out, but the intent is right on. After that, Madison gets to go to her first girls' camp and will be away from her family longer than she ever has.

I've taken a look at our goals we wrote out at the beginning of the summer to see if we've accomplished anything and I've been pleasantly surprised.

Ashlyn learned to tie her shoes and ride a bike.

Christian got really good at riding his bike, started piano lessons and started Tae Kwon Do and is even testing for his yellow belt tomorrow.

Brooke is learning to surf, sewing and reading a lot more.

Madison is teaching Christian piano, and becoming quite adept at many complicated pieces herself. All of them have been keeping up on schoolwork.

For now, here is a small sampling of some of our summer happenings . . .

We live in flip flops.

Having fun with the iphone camera. See what happens when the kids play with your phone?

Lots of fun beach time.

Tandem surfing, sort of.

Making forts all over the house.

Hanging out at the campfire.

Late night talks by the fire with Julie while the kids are playing games on the beach in the dark.

Ward(s) beach day. Every Thursday. A nice group of people congregate - put up an umbrella, beach chairs and towels and have an instant party.

My favorite . . . going swimming after the beach. Nothing like getting all that sand out before going home! The maximum capacity on this spa says 6. I think we exceeded it by a couple.