Summer 2014

 This summer was CRAZZZY!!!!

With a capital Z

I am not sure why I felt the need to make sure we "did it all," but that we did.  Here's a few of the things we did that I have photos from. 

Alyssa's 8th Birthday

Branson Vacation: inside the zoo's bird cage.  Carter thought it was pretty neat

Branson Landing

Shopping in Branson - huge rocking chair

Circus

Trip to the farm to pick strawberries, but it raining.  Still had a lot of fun with all the attractions

Alyssa visiting her cousin and God Mother at EKU

Kids at the splash pad.  We went here a few times this summer.  Both kids love it there.

 

 

First time eating at the big table instead of the highchair

Visit from Carter's Great Uncle who was in from Florida

Grandma C's 50th birthday party

Lowe's build and grow clinic.  We also did several of these this summer.  I've gotten kits for Carter and take them home for him to do when he gets older; however, Alyssa builds hers at the store.  She really enjoys it.

Kids super tired after the day at a water park.  No pictures from the park b/c of the fear of water ruining a camera.  But we needed to run into Home Depot on our way home and you can tell they are wiped out.

Nintendo event at the mall.  Carter got to meet lots of the gaming characters.

First painting experience at the Magic House.  He could have painted all day, he really really liked the paint. 

Silly boy, gets himself stuck under chairs and stools and cries for dear life for someone to rescue him. 

Mommy watched Carter's buddies one day and they all had a fun time hanging out and playing

backyard splashing in his new shark swim trunk set

Trying on sissy's make up (shhhh... don't tell her)

4th of July before the fireworks

Popsicle and the 4th of July parade

Alyssa ready to ride on the firetruck for a parade with her daddy

A day at the farm.  Playing with kitties, chickens, and horses

ANOTHER hair cut.  We are up to 6 now

Summer reading program at the library

Alyssa's first time lighting candles at church

Dropping sissy off at her BIG week long girl scout camp

Alyssa's first official friends slumber party

Playing at the YMCA kids room while mommy worked out

Rock climbing

Mother/Daughter Day!  Roller skating!

Alyssa with her favorite horse Gabby

 

 

Sissy's 1st day of 3rd grade!

We really enjoyed this summer.  Carter was finally big enough to come run around and have fun with us although he still needs a lot of close attention.  I think after last summer we just stayed in so often (hottest summer in decades last year), that we needed to make up for it this year.  Alyssa went on 3 vacations, had girl scout camp, and 4 vacation bible schools.  She also did swim lessons, the reading program at the library, and an online math course.  Besides that we celebrated 4th of July, a couple birthdays, went to parades, the circus, the Magic House, the park and spash pad, had playdates at home and away from home.  I started 5K training 3 days a week till 5 weeks in I broke my toe.  We had church every Sunday, went to the county fair a few times.  Steve has Fire Drill every Monday.  I made it out of the house a few times ALONE to hang out with "the girls."  I also had quite a few visits to the dentist to have some work done.

And now that summer is "over" (school is back in session), I hope that we can slow down :)  HA!  Guess that's probably not the case with Girl Scouts starting this week and more dentist appointments for me and Alyssa both.  We are all ready for fall, the fall weather, the rich colors, the comfort foods, the fun of Halloween and so on.

What a blessing this summer was.