Summer is melting away!!

It seems just like last week when we got out of school for the summer.  But, it's been much longer than that!  We've been so busy and have enjoyed ourselves immensely!  It's always so good to rest and recharge with lots of time with my boys!

I'll be back soon with pics.

Happy Summer!!

Summertime!!

I finished up this school year on June 1st.  Eli was finished with school on the 24th of May.  He had many "Daddy Days" until my year was all wrapped up!  Since then, we've made a list of things we'd like to do this summer and here's what we've done so far listed in so particular order:

- organized the pantry (6/5)
- been swimming almost every day
- lunch and play at chic fil a (with Kara-Lyne on 6/8)
- made our own laundry soap (6/2) - and it works great!!

- finished a quilt for my friend, Joan (6/9)

- used mod podge on a cardboard shelf (6/9)

- went to the movies (6/8 to see Madagascar 3 in 3D)

- rented movies and ate popcorn with Daddy (TinTin and I can't remember the other one!) on a rainy day

- Eli lost his first tooth (6/10) and the tooth fairy brought him $1 and a new toothbrush!

- made art with Mommy
- celebrated losing a tooth by having ice cream on a stick (and please notice that he's wearing his Blue Bell shirt while eating his Blue Bell ice cream!!)

- harvested our own tomatoes and jalepeno's
- took a couple of naps (not many, though, Eli's just not into that!  I sure am!!)
- rode our bikes - been working on getting the training wheels off of Eli's...

- playing with friends
- helping Daddy with the yardwork
- reading lots of books
- LEGOs
- spending time with Grandma

- feeding the turtles and fish at the pond
- Vacation Bible School at FUMC (6/11-6/15)
- Swimming lessons at McK High (6/11-6/15)
- had a water balloon fight
- ran through the sprinklers
- played at the spray park
- had a few picnics with our new cooler bag from 31 (of course!)

That's the short list!  HAHA!  We've also been working on cleaning out closets, sewing a bit, making crafts, bothering Daddy, cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, etc.  Doing some clothes washing and having lots of laughs!  I LOVE SUMMER!!

Lego Graph

Eli frequently plays in the sewing room while I'm working on something.  He has his own table in there now where he makes his art projects and does his homework, too.  Sometimes, though, he brings his Lego projects into the room so he can show me. 

Recently, I was working on a project and he was very quiet.  I wondered what had captured his attention, so I turned around to see.  He was sorting all the 2x2 Lego blocks by color and then placing them on one of his boards to make a graph!  I was amazed!

When I asked what he was making, he said, "This is a graph, Mommy. It will tell us which one is more, less or the same."  And his tone told me that he thought my question was dumb.  I'm sure this won't be the last time I get that kind of response.  What a smartie pants!

Aunt Jennifer!!

My BFF was here in February for a visit with her daughter.  They were REALLY here for a cheerleading competition but we were lucky enough to spend some time together!  We also got to see Uncle Fuzzy and JT!!

It had been awhile since Eli had seen Aunt Jennifer but it didn't take him long to warm up!

Boy did she keep us giggling!

Silly boy loves to play with straws!

Gainesville Zoo

We stayed home this spring break.  This is the first one in many years that we've stayed put but we had a lot of fun and made lots of memories!  One day, we took Eli to the zoo in Gainesville.  I hadn't been there since it was free - maybe 20 years ago - and it wasn't free this day.  But we had Grandma with us so that made it almost free!  LOL!!

Here are some pics of our day!

Grandma and Eli posing with the pretty bluebonnet pic!

Just how tall is he, anyway?

We watched the giraffes eating through the fence when they could've easily reached their necks over it!

Eli got a new frog!

Before we came home, we rode the train around the park.  We also ate a picnic lunch and played on the park for awhile!  Thanks for taking us to the zoo, Grandma!  We love you!

Fence in progress

Since it's been a full year now since the big hail storm that damaged our fence, our house, two of our cars, etc., I thought it might be timely to post a few pics of the changes we've made.  I'll get back to you with pics of the house before and afters but, for now, here are some pics of the new fence:

We now have a concrete footer at the bottom of the fence.  We are hoping that cuts down on the damage from the weedeater and from rot.  It's truly an experiment but this is the CRAZY FENCE!!

Our new airconditioner now has a fence surrounding it.  We are hoping this helps with some of the weather exposure our old unit took.

A/C unit fence finished without stain.

We extended the fence on the south of the house (by about 15 feet) toward the street.  This is the extension section.

Again the extension section.  This shows the new eight foot fence plus part of the old 6 foot fence we haven't taken down yet.  It's a common fence...

Eli says, "Thanks for visiting!"

Very Special Arts Festival

Every year for the past 26 years, people in Plano have gathered to support the arts for those with disabilities.  I've attended probably 20 or so.  I worked for the Very Special Arts state office when I lived in Austin and in Carrollton.  I have taken my students' artwork almost every year since I started teaching in 1995.  I've had a connection with VSAF for a long time.

This year, I didn't take any student artwork - although they did some...I just took Eli and planned to spend the afternoon.  Which we did.  We had fun seeing some of my old teachers from high school, some of the participants with Parks and Rec, some of their families and also some of my co-workers from Parks and Rec.

Eli got to use a potter's wheel to 'throw' a pot, use lots of glitter for artwork, string beads, play musical instruments and dance with the PSHS German Club Folk Dancers.  He had so much fun!

I can't remember what she said but he was concentrating very hard!  His eyes are closed!

The potter told him to use his muscles.  Look at that face!

Chicken dance!

Halloween 2011

I know what you're thinking.  I'm going crazy with posts today, right?  Well, actually, this is pretty therapeutic for me and I'm avoiding some things I should be doing...and, yes, I am going crazy right now.  Wanna go, too?

Eli wanted to be Spiderman for Halloween again.  So, we tried on his outfit from last year and it was skin tight!  I mean, it was indecently tight!  I found another one without any problem but he kept wearing the old one around the house!  (Mom did let him wear it to the grocery store, though!  Ewww!)

Anyway, Grandpa Jim was here from Ohio and we took him downtown to the city party.  Then, we came home and Husband, Eli and I went around the neighborhood a bit.  Eli had a blast jumping in the bounce houses and playing a few of the games.

Mom's neighborhood had an event so we had to check that out.

Eli had his face painted at the bazaar at Mom's church.  Spiderman, of course!

Eli grinning silly with Grandpa Jim.

OOPS!!

I did it.  I drove the truck and then Husband asked me to back it into the spot on the driveway.  I backed it up but didn't stop in time.  Truck is fine.  Garage door?  Not so much!

And was Husband mad?  Yep!  Didn't talk to me for a few hours!!