Summertime

Only 4 weeks until school starts.  Don't think I'm not counting.  Depending on the day, it is counting the moments of,  "now I'm going to have one in school we will never be together and free again," or counting the moments of "holy crap is it ever going to start and can't I send Jack too?"

Here is what we have been up to...

Sleeping.  

Every now and then I can coerce Jack into a nap and that is a blessed, peaceful day when Jack AND Elise are sleeping and Jara, being the dutiful oldest child, goes in her room and will have productive "quiet time."  The best part of this picture is Jack's guardian stick horse. 

Reading

Thank goodness they like to read.  Not only will it pass many a quiet minute at home, church and in the car but I would feel like a failure if my own children wouldn't sit happily with a book.  Wouldn't that have been the great irony?  All those years of thumping my reading soap box to parents of first graders only to have my own offspring reject books.  And no I don't strap them in the car seat to read.  That was just the comfy spot of the moment.  I think they were playing "going on a trip" hence the buckets and car seats.

Swimming lessons.  

Jack was very annoyed you had to actually put your head in the water and not wear floaties.  Jack's teacher "highly recommended" he repeat beginning swim lessons.  The times you don't want them to take after you.

However, Jara passed with flying colors.  (It's ok Jack you are only 3.)  Jara loves the water and is now able to float, glide, retrieve objects-without toes, and paddle about.  The best part is her confidence in the water, she has worked hard this summer.  Look at that cute tutu and professional, orange goggles, no messin' around here.

So brave

Bonding

Not just reading, bonding too.  Isn't that a nice feeling when they play lovingly together and are not thumping each other over the head with the guardian stick horse?  

Fishing

Jack caught a big one right in our living room.  It's 115 degrees out there.  We don't go outside, unless we are swimming. Fishing is not to be confused with swimming just because they both involve water.

Pool time

Rub-a-dub-dub three kids in the kiddie pool tub.  We even got a custom slide set-up.

We have also...

-been to Jed's b-ball games, that involve a lot of bribery for good behavior 

-watched "Brave," we were brave, especially me, I drank a whole sprite and then sat for a full hour and a half with Jack on my lap without sprinting to the bathroom

-Had sock wars, good fun, using Jed's socks to bean my kids. 

-Made paper airplanes, thank goodness they are still young enough to admire my "planes."

-Made egg carton boats, guess what? they did float!

-Constructed numerous blanket forts