Mid-Summer Wrap-Up

Play dates

Fun with friends

Stayed cool

Visited New York...sorta

Demonstrated nose talents

Looked for career choices?

Went to VBS!

Didn't kill the garden...yet

Relaxed

Entertained baby cousin

Looked cute at the swim meets

Oh yeah, and swam at the meets

And swam some more

Had a sick daddy on Father's day

But we ate his cake anyway!

It's been a busy, busy summer. The older kids are attending a day camp three days a week all summer while Kate and I do our own summer activities like play at the park and swim. Swim team has taken a lot of time with practices and several meets. VBS at our church and also with friends at their churches has kept me shuttling kids around. We've taken a day trip or two and have a few more planned before summer's end. Lots of family, friends, sun, and water are keeping our summer going.

Year of the Cicada

Every thirteen years we Middle Tennesseans are bombarded by cicadas. Fortunately, our own backyard was not completely taken-over, but we had our share. I assumed my girls would be terrified and spend all 6 weeks of the infestation indoors, but not Claire! Once I gave her some info to read on them, she became a friend to them. Rescuing them. Catching them. Sharing them. Eww. Before they burrowed away for another thirteen years I had her pose with a few. Hard to believe she will be 20 when they reappear!

Fave

My favorite group pic that Betty took while we were in VA. Our goal was to get a shot for me to give for Mother's Day gifts. This is the one we chose, and I really love it!

Sleeping With The Sharks

Claire made an awesome fish printing pillowcase.
Our view at bedtime. It was very relaxing to watch all of the sea creatures swimming about.

My favorite!

The penguins were a lot of fun to watch.

Claire and I spent a fun night at the Gatlinburg Aquarium with her Girl Scout troop last week. They had several fun activities planned for the girls like touching the sting rays, watching them with a scuba diver, an art activity, and scavenger hunt. Then it was time to bed down with the sharks. There were about a hundred of us that all slept on the floor of the shark tunnel. Cool!

Not So Super

If only she could actually fly maybe this wouldn't have happened:

Super Kate got quite the shiner last week. She was climbing and fell off the back of the couch. Shocking, I know! She is such a toughie, though, and just kept right on being her active, daring self even after her boo boo. Maybe that is her super power, perseverance!

A Confusing Farm

Apparently on this farm cows oink. Works for me!

Virginia Part 3

We spent a warm afternoon at the beach on our first full day in Virginia. I sunblocked the kids but since I was not in a swim suit and the breeze was so cool, I failed to apply to myself. Mistake. My sundress with exposed back allowed me to get a pretty bad burn. Oh well! The beautiful day on the beach watching my babies play was worth it. The water was frigid! The kids didn't mind but after about 10 minutes of my feet freezing I managed to get Kate more interested in the sand.