those summer days

In the summer, we try to get together with friends once a week or so. We've had a great time this summer: swimming, going to the movies, the museum, the Butterfly Pavilion. But alas, our friends must return to school next week. So we had one final outing today to the APEX Center. They have a great swimming pool, with two large slides and a water playground.

Everyone had a great time. I took Zane in the small pool with me and he loved it. But he wore himself out:

Now it's time to focus on curriculum and scheduling our fall activities.

Chase is home!

My 10-year old spent the last 2 weeks at my parents' house. He got back home Monday. We sure missed him around here. He's the one who can always find things we've misplaced. The rest of us can look and look with no luck. Then we'll ask Chase and he'll say, "Oh, I saw that. It's over there" and he's usually right.

He also loves to build things. Two years ago, he and my dad made some birdhouses. We hung two in our front yard and one in the back. The birds took to them right away and have used them ever since. In fact, we've caught birds fighting over them.

So they made two more. My dad did the cutting, but Chase assembled them and did the painting.

He also spent some time fishing. He brought a few small fish home, and really wanted us to cook them. So Scott cleaned them and grilled them along with our bratwurst for dinner.

We are so glad you're home, son!

Sunday

A couple years ago, we started a new tradition with Christmas gifts. As one of the kids' 3 gifts from us, we started giving them each 2 coupons. One was for a special time with Mom, one for a special time with Dad.

Brenna usually gets one for Build-A-Bear and for a restaurant of her choice. The older boys get a one for a restaurant and another activity. This last year Chase's activity was a Christian concert. Conner chose Dave & Buster's.

We don't set a date for each activity, as we tried that and it never worked out. But we tried to fit them all in within a couple months of Christmas. For some reason, Conner hadn't been able to use his yet so he and Scott went to Dave & Buster's today. They had lunch and a fun afternoon of playing games.

The rest of us took naps. =)

barely hanging on...

Guess I need to give diaper-changing lessons. But the effort was there, at least! =)

Spidey-Power

Aiden is all about Spiderman right now. And his alter-ego, Venom.