Pics for post below

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Vacation Week 1

So here we go, lofty ambitions as summer starts out.  Maybe, just maybe, there will be more blog posts about our summer activities.  It could happen, we will have to see.  But here is one to get started:

School ending and Justin having time off coincided nicely.  We were going to go camping up in the mountains because that sounded nice and fun and relaxing and a good way to kick off the summer.  Ben decided to catch a nice respiratory virus that made him pretty sick and changed our plans.  Having already told the kids we were going camping we opted for the tent in the backyard.  It meant things were easier and we could keep an eye on Ben.  We got our hammock out and set up and the kids all climbed on for testing it out.

We did a fire in the backyard and cooked dinner over it.  Hot dogs for the kids, veggies and sweet potatoes in foil packages for us.  Those sweet potatoes (or possibly yams, I don't remember which I bought) were quite tasty and a new favorite for me.  We did try smores in an ice cream cone.  I had seen pictures on pinterest and thought we would try it out.  Not the greatest hit because the one that worked the best didn't melt the chocolate chips and marshmallows and the others burnt at the tips which left the whole thing tasting somewhat charred.  So, if you try it out, don't stick them on the coals, these things need a grill rack.

 Here is a great picture of the kids in the tent, this was them posing, the other pictures before this showed the girls wrestling and Sam reading.  There was eventually room made for Dad in the tent as well.  Ben even joined them but since I had the option, I wimped out and slept in my bed (which meant that I got sleep).

And we pulled out the water stuff this past week.  We had both the slip-n-slide and the pool out one day and the pool was up all week.  The kids loved it and we learned that our little red head needs sunscreen all the time, even at 3 pm in the afternoon!  Another day the pool was used to water the plants in the backyard.  Everyone grabbed a bucket and helped haul water around. 

This is Sam trying to make something like a wet suit because the water was cold.  The kids would jump in the pool for a bit and then go stand against the back window to get warm before going back for more. 

Yeah for summer.  We all survived.  The casualties of the week were one plate, one small side table that had a glass top, and one lamp.  But the fun that was started, priceless (we hope). 

Spring Soccer

We are woefully behind but just forget that, we just finished up spring soccer!  This season we had the bonus of Sam and Hannah both being on the same time.  This means only one practice a week and only one game a week!  Woohoo!

Here you can see them sporting their medals.  And below they show off their mad soccer skills.  The kids have enjoyed it.  Sam is really getting the hang of it and he has some moves.  He makes an excellent midfieldman because he can anticipate where the ball is moving to and get himself there to stop an attack.  Sometimes coming in with the appropriate howl.

This was Hannah's first season playing positions and on the bigger field.  She did a good job.  The coach asked if we played defensive reels at home becuase of one particular great defensive move from Hannah.  When asked if she wanted to play again next season she replied: "Maybe I will  try something new.  Maybe art lessons."  I think we may stick with soccer but maybe we need to find an art outlet.  My question, will an art class help with all the paper pieces on the table and floor or make it worse?