Lake Mead

Lake Mead you must not dry up completely we love you.  We love your dirt, rocks, blue water and mountains.  We could spend every weekend on your shores and never be bored.  

Elise clearly in charge.

Renn's boat.  Jed can't really do things "small."  Repercussions of being 6'5" I guess.  Here is where I trap Renn and he is happy because he is out of the sand.  The other half of this party barge is not even in the picture so he has plenty of clean freedom.  The best part is where my feet are in the picture, a little net that allows just enough water for him to splash in.  It really is the perfect set-up.  Although I do have to anchor it to something or we end up half-way across the lake in a light breeze.

Jara and Jack doing a little tubing.  You can sit, stand or go on your stomach.  They prefer to jump.

I love my beach bum.

Jack skiing.

Jed catching some air.  

He finally has his own boat with a tower and he is very, very happy.  

Kanarraville Falls Hike

Sometimes you have to get out of the heat and take a little day trip/hike.  90* may sound warm but when it's 30 degrees cooler than what you left that's down-right chilly.  Most of the hike was in water and the kids were skeptical at first but didn't want to stop once we had seen the falls.  Jack and Jara were getting into it, Elise was a four hour pep-talk, and Renn was happy in his carrier but Jed was dying.  He's maybe outgrown the bjorn.

Posing in the slot canyon.  

Posing in front of the falls and the ladder to get up them.  Little slippery.

He even took a nap, he was so cozy.  Renn not Jed.

Switching positions.

The dry, dusty part.

Summer Time '16

The levels of creativity, cabin-fever, and desperation run high come August in NV.  Especially when all of July the temperatures hovered around 115*  I think it is time that we went to winter break from school rather than a summer break.  Wouldn't that be better?  All of November, December and January off from school, when you can actually sit outside and not risk heat stroke.  They can have a two week break in July.  

Here is what we have been doing to avoid boredom (besides watching too much TV)

A little archaeology/geology.  

One week we went to Wal-Mart and I turned them lose with ten dollars.  Jack bought a rock extraction kit.  Renn really likes to wear the safety goggles to the pool, he looks like a mad scientist scuba diver.  

Jack and one of his many k'nex creations.  He also has constructed lincoln log homes/neighborhoods and various lego projects.  He is progressing towards his contracting career.

Jara has made many lovely crafts.  Here she is sporting her hand sewn apron.  She has been crafting up a storm:  beaded bracelets, fabric purses, hand-knitted pot holders, key-chains, book-marks, picture frames, crochet chains.  I'm sure I am forgetting the rest.

Sometimes they aren't trying to destroy each other.  Here they are playing "Princess in Black."  Elise has a new heroine...."THE Princess in Black."  I highly suggest you read these books with/to your child by Shannon and Dean Hale, they are awesome.

Elise likes play-doh.  

Play-doh and cookie cutters while I'm making dinner have saved us.

Speaking of princess's in black...hmmm.  The life.  Lazy minx.  

There are no words.  

Now you know why there should be school in the summer.