Summer happenings

Baseball season is officially done for James. The play offs are still going on (and on, and on) due to so many rain outs this season. He now can concentrate on all the summer activities and just hanging out.


One thing that a 10 yr old boy and his friends like to do is catch tadpoles at the local pond. Not just catch them, but also bring them home.


We're still having fun watching for our "pet" foxes in the backyard. This photo above was taken one quiet morning. This fox just wanted to lay around in the shade. He sure is cute!

Then one day last week, we noticed they brought back a rawhide dog bone. I have no idea whose dog they stole it from! But the bone moves around every day, so I know they are playing with it. I've even seen them playing with branches that have fallen from bushes. I wonder what will be next?


Today I had a birthday party for James. A couple weeks late, but that's ok. His birthday was June 8, and school was just getting out. I couldn't plan on any weekend dates due to baseball, so we had to pick a weekday. I think we picked a perfect day for lunch and a waterpark party! Sunny (NO rain!!! NO thunderstorms!! ) and 82 degrees ~ perfect! He invited his 2 best friends for a fun filled afternoon.


After a quick lunch at Portillos, we headed a couple towns north to Woodstock and their waterpark. It has a zero depth pool with 2 large slides, and several activity stations/fountains. Of course, I had to get a silly photo of the boys.


And a more "serious" photo of them.


Ice cream break time. All had fun, even Matt and Rachel that came along for the afternoon.

I started a bunch more candle mats this week. After taking a break from crafting (ok, and blogging, too!), and back at it. I finished 2 of these Americana mats, and am working on some other ones. I cut and need to sand and paint a hornbook for the last punch needle piece, but my camera needed batteries, so you'll have to wait to see photos of that. I'll have to see what other crafts I can accomplish this week. It will be really quiet since Andrew and Matt leave for Boy Scout camp on Sunday. I'll be down to only 2 kids at home! Hopefully more crafting time! :-)

Laura

Where have I been?

Where have I been? No, I haven't been buried in a pile of rubber band bracelets. Just the end of the year activities. My three 8th graders (Andrew, Matt and Rachel) graduated from jr high last Friday evening. They all went to the 8th grade dance the night before graduation. Even Andrew went to the dance, although he doesn't dance or listen to "pop" music - only rock. But they all had fun.


They had to wear graduation gowns to the ceremony. It was in the high school gym, which was NOT air conditioned. Of course, it was hot and humid. So, lots of hot people sitting in the bleachers.

On Friday, it was the last day of 4th grade for James. He now goes to a grade center school for 5-6th grade. To celebrate the end of 4th grade, the kids had a breakfast for the parents. During the breakfast, the students had a mini concert with their recorders.


Here's James in the school cafeteria. The same place where I worked as a lunch supervisor every day. This school is closing forever, so it was a very sad day. I was fortunate that I am keeping my small part time job for next year, but at a different school. There's not too many part time jobs, so I'll keep it. I had been spending some time searching, but I don't want to work full time. Some part time is up to 30 hrs per week, which is too much for now. School hrs will be shorter next year, so James will get out at 2:30. My high schoolers (I'm too young to have 3 freshmen in high school) won't get home until after James, so I need to be home for him. I'm happy that I have a job, know when I'll start. Plus 2 other co-workers will be going to another school with me. At least some familiar faces!


I have had no time for crafting, but hope to get to some next week. This week is filled with dentist & doctor appointments (gotta get those high school physicals done). I also have a list filled with household projects to get done this summer. Don't know how many I'll actually accomplish, but I'll try! :-)