Eagle Island

Samuelson Men's High Adventure

 The men's response to Girls Weekend. I was not at this High Adventure, so I cannot speak to it. It was reported, however, that it was the perfect camp site. Right by Warm River, a bike path, and a fire pit. All that they needed to have a great time! Of course the highlight was tubing the river!
The ladies got to come up the final day for breakfast and Zoe and I got to float the most ironically named Warm River.
You notice Liams cast wrapped in a plastic bag so it wouldn't get wet? They used all sorts of materials to makeshift a plastic cover. Ingenius!

Roaring Springs 2013

Lydia's birthday

 We had an early birthday party with Grandma and Grandpa Sam before they left. It was a combined one, since Lydia's birthday and Grandma Sam's birthday are just a few days apart.

 Lydia wanted to go swimming at the YMCA for her birthday. I think the kids had a lot of fun. I was freezing.
We came home to pizza, cake and presents.

 I think she enjoyed her special day. I say "I think" because you can never be sure with Lydia. I am not even sure she knows when she, herself, is happy.

 She did get some fun toys and lots of attention.

 Our little Pearly. Lydia is getting so big, it freaks me out a little. Okay, not so big in stature, but just grown up in attitude and age. Of course, she has always had a grown up attitude (meaning she acts older than she actually is).
She is beginning to loose teeth. 4 on the bottom, with some loose on top! She has started reading more fluently. She struggled at the first of the year but is doing so great now. She is still drawing and coloring obsessed, but mostly she LOVES being with people. She really can't get enough attention and love.

That is one reason that she and Felix do so splendidly together. She has a minion and he has an entertainer. Roles that they are both happy with. Occasionally, on a day that she has little patience I have to separate them but they are usually as thick as thieves. It is so great!
Lydia is imaginative. Her stories and pictures are detailed and elaborate. She loves music. She loves to dance and sing and is surprisingly really good at both. She got a guitar for Christmas and likes to pretend she is a rock star. She has that attitude to go with it. She loves hugs and wrestling with Dad.

Bathing Beauties

 Lots of fun waterplay so far this summer. Lydia is just LOVING her first swim lessons. She is actually doing really well.

 One hot day we went over to a city pool where the kids had SO MUCH FUN! The big kids go off by themselves (just checking in occasionally). I stay in the kiddie pool with the little kids. Lydia had a great time practicing her new swimming skills.

 Travis had a work party where they had some water games. I did get some videos, but this is the lone picture I got of Zoe. The kids also had a fabulous time here. I do believe that waterplay is one of the funnest things to do in the summer!

Ants in our pants

 While originally I had planned on having a slow moving, nothing planned, first week of school, it just doesn't work like that. To have an enjoyable summer (for me) I HAVE to have a schedule.
So, we started our summer plans right away.

 Monday was Water play day. We got all of our chores done, then headed outside to play with water squirters, sprinklers, and frozen water balloons (you DON'T throw them). I also froze some toys in some ice to let Felix play around at trying to get them out. Lydia just ended up smashing in on the cement.

Tuesday was Library Day and Wednesday was Park Day. Both were lots of fun!(not pictured)

 Thursday was Craft Day. Although I hadn't planned anything I thought of a craft that everyone would like and I had all the supplies for.

 We headed to the pond to gather some rocks. All of Felix's ended up at the bottom of the pond.

 Then we headed back to paint them. I thought we could leave them around the neighborhood just to give a smile to whoever found them. Zoe and Alexis decided to take it a step further and actually leave them on people's porches and ring the doorbell. They were excited to see later that one lady they had left a rock for had placed it on her porch as decoration.

They turned out really cute and we all had a lot of fun creating them.

End the summer with a bang...and lots of visitors/fun!

 We had the privilege to host  number of family members the last couple weeks. Leading up to Samuelson Men High Adventure camping trip, family was assembling at our place. My Texas brother, Todd, got to come. Bearing gifts (above). His family had made wands for all the boys and cousin Gwendolyn made the girls gorgeous beaded bracelets.

 Shakespeares arrived and Uncle Will distracted the kids with some mighty fun wrist rockets that were a hit!

 Xena, warrior princess.

 The adults got to go out to celebrate several birthdays by consuming copious amounts of cheese and chocolate at The Melting Pot.

 Of course, the kids didn't enjoy having a water fight unless the adults were involved as well. It was lots of fun and really cooled us off.

Searching for wildlife by the pond.
So after a few days the boys headed off camping while the ladies and the little boys stayed home and enjoyed ourselves. We had a list of things to do (which I didn't get pictures of) including:
watching a chick flick
making jewelry
going to a movie
go swimming
make slime
have more fun than the boys
eat doughnuts
exercise
play guitar
I didn't even get a picture of me and my sister, mom, and grandma. We had so much fun! I am fulfilled by spending quality time with people I love and this was very fulfilling for me. It was such a pleasure to have these lovely people here with me.

Top ten favorites from our trip: #8 Splash Park

 It was about 7:30 at night and not warm when we finally made it to the splash park. Oh well, the kids had fun.

 Believe it or not, they did get in the water at one point.

It wasn't ALL posing.

Soul Food Festival

When Steve and Shawna informed us that on Saturday there was a Soul Food Festival downtown, we decided to try to take the family down. When we got down there we realized that there was also a Basketball tournament.
Fun times included: basket tournament free throw contest, festival, bounce house, clown making balloon creations for the kids, people watching, and fountain frolicking.

Neighborhood fun

We've had so much fun this summer with all the neighborhood friends. All the mom's are so great about having all the kids come and play at their houses! I attribute much of our summer fun to the easy access friends!

splash park

Felix would stand right under the buckets that dumped water. Luckily, it never got him right on.

Zoe was off playing with friends so I didn't get a picture of her.