And We're Live

We are now into the 5th week of Summer vacation.

In the weeks before school got out I did a lot of planning about how I wanted the summer to go. I had a mental schedule of our days, loaded up a backpack with essentials such as sunscreen, Neosporin and Band Aids so we'd always be ready to go on a whim, filled up the first few weeks with activities, and was pleasantly surprised when everything seemed to go as planned.

The first week started by taking care of business. J had an appointment with the dentist so he could put up a door that would keep the pesty sugar bugs away!

We went to Ikea, played with friends, had a couple of picnics and experienced the first 75 degree day since September 2009.

The next week was Vacation Bible School at the church. The theme for this year was:

The kids learned about the mass, worked on service projects for a kids' shelter, made jam for their families;

they worked on a craft each day -- painted a plate, decorated a candle, made a prayer book, and put together a necklace.

They sang songs and performed one at mass on
July 11th.


On the last day, Father Jim came out to say mass. He encouraged the kids to make the Mass Come Alive.


And Alive it Came!

Obviously Father Jim has never had the pleasure of driving home with a six-year old boy in possession of a blower.




Everybody had a good time. Even M enjoyed her time in childcare while I volunteered.

J started track and field that week. And the weekend had us going to Gig Harbor for a day trip where I found some free art.

It also brought Fourth of July. We went to the Tumwater Parade in the morning.

It was complete with all things parade and a few we hadn't seen before:

Interesting is the word I'll use. I'm glad we went, though, for there's no better way to celebrate America's Birthday than with all things Redneck, White Trash, and Blue!

In the evening the boys went back to Tumwater to watch the fireworks show which J dubbed "awesome."


Week three J started swimming, we went to the library, the fountain, hung out at home and watched movies and played games one day when the thermometer hit the 90+ mark. J had his first track meet and he took 1st in the 400! We even got a playdate in w/ Js best buddy from preschool, H, and his little sister. Family Fun Friday that week consisted of a picnic at the park and a walk on the beach.

There's been no shortage of McFlurrys and ice cream around here. M had her first Popsicle for which I had a really cute picture that I accidentally deleted and because it's quite an affair to upload them you'll just have to take my word for it.

The kids set up a lemonade stand....


.....in the backyard. Needless to say there wasn't much revenue.

Next summers' curriculum: Business 101.

Last week J had another week of swim lessons, another track meet where this time he didn't win anything, a trip to the farmer's market, and , oh, Lakefair ~ several of my Oly friends have told me that nothing speaks summer to them like Lakefair.

It's a yearly event that makes way for the carnival trucks to roll into downtown and park themselves and their wares in the area that surrounds Capital Lake. Aside from the fact that it uses the beautiful capitol dome as its backdrop, it's just a carnival like thousands of carnivals across America.....and just like thousands of kids across America, my kids loved it.

Two days later I drove J to Portland to meet his grandma so they could go back to Corvallis where he'll spend the rest of the week. He's enrolled in Jr. Beaver Day Camp there.

Next week we're flying activity-less, and the week after that as well. Until things pick up again mid-month we're looking forward to $1 movies, concerts in the park, the Thurston County Fair and the birthday party invitations have started to roll in. We still have camping, a Washington/Idaho trip, two more weeks of swimming, and Sand in the City to look forward to before the school bus pulls up.

This is no dress rehearsal, folks. Summer is finally here and we're live!