Finally, a Play Date

All summer Reganne has begged me to setup a play date with her friend Robyn.  Life has been so crazy it fell through the cracks.  Surprise Robyn has been begging her Mom Ann for a play date as well. We finally connected and had our play date.  The girls were so eager to go to their house and play.  They are the fun house with turtles, snakes, guinea pigs, and a dog.  They were able to feed them and even hold the guinea pig.  Watch out it might pee on you.  They played in the water and even played a new game of Marshmallow Dodge Ball.  We learned that those large ones are good for something, but remember not to eat your ammo. 

 Everyone gets two.

 Ready, aim, fire!!!

 Ooey, gooey, messy.

Come back I will have one left.

Snacks and another round of petting the animals it was time to go home.  We won't wait so long to have another play date.  Next time is our house and all we have is a jungle gym and trampoline.

Family Activity Night

After a busy week full of running to and from school, trying to get all the school supplies purchased, and ready for school.  We all deserved a break for some family time and water.  Who knew a local orthodontist was having an appreciation party.  The pool was packed.  It didn't bother the kids they were off to play.

 Oops!!! someone threw up in the pool everyone out.

Let's be crazy while we wait.

It took much longer to clean the pool out so we left for home and finally dinner.

A New School Year

A new school year has begun.  When you think of  the beginning of school it should be cooling down and more fall like weather.  Not so the heat has returned and along with it the monsoon weather.  Which means that not only are we 110 degrees but the humidity is over 70 percent.  That may not seem like a big deal but we are in the desert and have a dry heat.

Wednesday morning arrived with a flurry of activity getting ready in new outfits and shoes.  Who has time for pictures.  Me of course I always find time for pictures.  It's amazing how each year it's amazing how much they have grown over the past year.  Little Valley Elementary is bursting at the seams with 106 new students.  This makes us the largest elementary school in the district.  The awesome staff greeted everyone with smiles and excitement for the day to begin.  Of course I get this second hand since Dave is the one taking them to find there classes.

 Rylee - 5th Grade, Mr Stewart

 Reganne - 2nd Grade, Mrs. McBride

 Shawn - 4th Grade, Mr. Larsen

Christiana - 5th Grade, Mr Orchard

Let's hope the excitement continues when the homework starts.  Let's hope we can keep up with them and maybe this year I may finally pass 4th Grade Math.  

Washington County Fair

Let Freedom Ring was the theme of the country fair this year.  Everything was decorated red white & blue.  We almost didn't go due to the heat the thermometer readings at 5:00 was 112 degrees.  I was content to sit home in the cool ac.  The kids begged and pleaded to go.

First stop was the Stingray Exhibit.  There were much smaller than the ones we saw at the aquarium.

 Horseshoe Crabs

WOW they are cool.

 Who can pass up looking a an army tank.  Not the boys.

 Ryder with the big tractors just like Grandpa Waters used to drive.

 Petting zoo....trying to pet the llama.

 Horses...To close for comfort.

 Cows...Where does hamburgers come from?

 Babies...Little baby chicks were the best.  Each one got to hold one much to the mother hen who got out of the coop and went looking for here babies.

Abe Lincoln with many faces.  They also had election booths to try the voting machines out.  Each child wanted a turn to press a button.

It was soon time to go home.  Everyone was hot and tired.  Too bad they didn't fall asleep on the way home.  Time for bed anyway.

Be Careful!!

No matter how many times you tell your kids to be careful accidents happen.  Saturday afternoon the kids were horsing around and Rylee's thumb got the wrong end of the game.  After a trip to InstaCare the diagnosis a sprained or strained thumb.  She is in a splint for at least a week.   She is trying to figure out how to go swimming with it.  She is very inventive and may just figure out a way to do it.  Lucky for her there is only one week left of summer camp.

Family Fun Night

YEAH!! it's finally Friday and time to play.  The kids have been dying to try the rock wall again.  Of course we arrive at their dinner break so there is time to shoot some hoops.

Dinner break over time to suit up to climb.

How high can I go?

 Put your foot there.  Now move your hand there.

Nothing like getting instructions from your little brother who hasn't tried it yet.

 Go Shawn, ring the bell and we all get ice cream.

 Next up Rylee

 Finally Rylee talked Ryder into trying.

 I'm doing it

 Look at ME!!!

I can do this with a little help from my friends.

Go Christiana, conquering fear to go a little higher. Even with Ryder swinging from the rope next to her.

It was a fun night full of competition and hard work.  They were a little sore the next day.  But now a few want to take climbing lessons.

Camping Treat....

S mores... We  promised the kids after getting rained out on our camping trip we would make S mores at home.  Ooey, Gooey, Yummy Treat.

 Shawn digging right in.  Can I have more??

 Girls roasting marshmallows

 Look my hands are sticky and I want more.

Cross eyed for S Mores.

They soon lost interest and wanted to play on the trampoline until bedtime.