Sweet Summertime

Our summer has gone by in a flash.  We're only a few weeks from school starting.  But, let's not get ahead of ourselves; we still have 3 full weeks of carefree summer routine.  Here's some of what we've been up to...

Last day of Kindergarten.  Vera grew and changed a lot this year.  So proud of her for a successful year!

On Memorial Day Monday, Vera asked us to take the training wheels off her bike.  After practicing in our driveway for an hour or so, we took to the road to have more of a straightaway to practice.  Adam and I were really surprised that she had it completely mastered in just 3 days of practice.  She was so proud, and couldn't wait to show grandma at the campgrounds the following weekend.

Our second camping trip of the summer with grandma and the Homans.  Here, they're sitting around the pretend campfire with their babies.

Poultry Days parade was steamy as usual.  The kids really enjoyed it this year!

What a cute picture!  Vince and Scarlett "helping" Aunt Lindsey.

Annie has taken some hilarious pictures this summer.  Her faces crack me up!

This is once in a million.  Vin never, ever falls asleep while I hold him.  This was after a 4-day camping trip.  He was whipped!

Annie's shenanigans keep me on my toes.  An entire box of tissues here.  Super.

Vera's drawings make me smile.  The way she draws hair on her figures' heads cracks me  up.

Backyard swim events have been plentiful, and they have not disappointed.  Here, Vinners is doing a big belly splash.  Look closely.  He had no fear.  Full body splash with a major running start.  So funny to watch him stand back and prep for his splashes.  He gets the perfect stance, then says "Mark!  Set!  Dow!" and takes of in a serious sprint for the pool.

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

Funny faces!  Annie loves to see herself when we take selfies.

 It was a rainy Sunday, so I caved and let the kids paint.  It was moderately successful.  Annie was not happy that she couldn't do it all on her own.  She kept crying saying, "I [know] how...I [know] how!"  Hence the pouty face.  

Lunch on the patio.

They're either friends or enemies.  I think it will be like this for the next 16 years.  In this picture, Vince was proudly pedaling Annie around the driveway.  I walked out of the house and immediately felt a little uneasy about this.  Do I make them stop because it's unsafe or let them carry on because they're happy and getting along?  I chose the latter; thankfully, Annie's toes escaped this event unscathed.

They paved our road one morning.  Vince nearly lost his mind with all of this excitement.  There were so many dump trucks and other equipment going by.  He had so many questions, and watched in fascination.  The same thing happened when our neighbor put a new roof on their house and poured a new porch.  And, when the farmers across the road chopped their hay and built their new bunker, Vince nearly had the big one.  He was so fascinated and intrigued.  I answered nonstop questions on the days of these 3 separate events.  I really couldn't get anything else done.

So, we sat and watched on the porch.  We watched the cement trucks pour cement in our PJs one morning, and spent many-a-afternoon porch-sitting as we took in the neighborhood excitement.

Monkey See, Monkey Do.  In the worst way!

This boy has put so many miles on this bicycle this summer.  He's had it caked in mud, colored the wheels with chalk, driven it up and down the sides of our trees, and driven like a hot rod around the driveway.  There were a few times I swear he had it on 2 wheels.  Sometimes he tells us he has his TurboBooster on.  Not sure exactly how that got started, but I think it just means he's riding super-fast.  

We went to the local firefighters' challenge in town.  They held a bucket brigade for kids.  We couldn't convince Vera to participate, but Vince was more than eager to join.  He was probably the youngest kid in the brigade, but he knew just what to do.  He was excited to play in the water and ultimately receive this medal for his efforts.