It's Summertime!!!

It is completely unbelievable to me that the school year has ended.  I fully expect to wake up tomorrow and begin our regular morning routine, sending Chad out the door to the bus. Truthfully, I welcome summer, as I really feel like I get my children back.  Yes, it comes with a price-all the fighting and the "I'm bored, what can I do" and of course, but it also comes with the fun, relaxing days, the snow cone sales, the picnics and hikes, and most of all . . . the memories. 

 Tyler finished up preschool with a field trip to Pizza Pie Cafe' and a program/graduation.  He had a good year but he is so excited to "never have to go back to preschool again. ever." because he is heading off to kindergarten next year.  (Wow!  That's hard to believe too!)

We upped the anti on our 'Welcome to Summer' sign this year.  Usually, it is just a small sign on the front door, but my kids have come to expect a sign when they come home on the last day of school, and this year, I thought I'd welcome summer to the whole neighborhood. 

The real question that always comes as summer approaches is what are we going to do to create memories?  I have great memories of my childhood summers, playing on the slip n' slide (which was really just big, black plastic with a hose set on one end), making wet body prints on the hot cement after running through the sprinklers, playing endlessly with friends and of course, camping.  But it seems that my kids could simply fill their entire summer with screen time if I let them.  And so . . .we create a summer plan.  It has evolved each year, and we take what works and improve upon what does not, but I'm excited to share a little of what we have in store this year.  Mostly just the plan for now, but I'll be sure to post as we are creating memories all throughout the summer.  So . . . here is what I have set up to create a little structure for our summer.

First, in years past, we have given a theme to each day of the week.  For example, Monday was called "My Craft Monday" where we did a craft each week.  We made summer shirts, painted rocks, etc.  We had "Wet Wednesday" and "Field Trip Friday" and one year is was "Friend Friday".  Last year, I tried to create more flexibility with our schedule and it seemed that what happened instead was we never got around to doing anything.  Probably, the "Summer Plan" is as much for me to keep on top of things as much as it is for my kids to know what to look forward to.  This year, I gave up the creative names for each day.  Instead, I chose 5 themes I'd like to do each week, and I printed them out and laminated them.  Now, instead of each day each week being the same theme, we'll (me and the kids) sit down together before the start of each week or even two weeks and we'll place the themes on our calendar that hangs on the fridge. 

 This is our family calendar.  We try to put everything that is happening up on here.  The tags, stuck on the side of the frame, can be placed inside each square to tell us what theme is coming up next.  We'll do this a week or two at a time.  Then of course, we'll have to plan our field trips and what we want to do to get wet on "Make a Splash!" day, but we've started a "Summer Bucket List" for these so that every time we come up with a fun place to go or a great movie we want to see for "Movie Day", we just add it to the list so we have ideas to pull from when we are planning. 

Here's a closer look.  The boys helped me by suggesting what they'd like to do, and we collaborated to come up with these five.  I also created a list of "Boredom Busting Ideas" that the boys can go to whenever they don't know what to do.  It has things like: play a game (Clue, Candyland, Dominion), build with Legos (use the Lego app for new ideas), set up a Kool-aid stand, fly a kite, blow bubbles, etc.  I tried to think outside the box and I got nearly a whole page that we can add to when we think of things.  I am going to try to still limit our screen time to 1 hour per kid each day, so having other ideas of what to do when we're not busy is a must. 

I think summer is a great time to strengthen or create routines as well, so we are planning to strengthen ours.  My boys will have to be up each day before Dave leaves for work to be at family scripture study.  Then, before they can play with friends or have any screen time, they need to make their bed and do a quick clean of their room, get ready for the day, and choose one job that mom says needs to be done.  My kids are getting pretty good at household jobs like cleaning the bathroom and dusting and unloading the dishes, so I imagine the one job daily will keep things in pretty good order. 

In the past, I've set up a "Summer Store" where my boys can earn tickets by helping out and buy treasures from the store throughout the summer.  We're still going to have a store this year, but the way we earn tickets will be different.  I'll offer one ticket daily for each of 5 areas: Order ticket-clean up bedroom, make bed and do one job that mom says needs to be done, Physical ticket-move your body for at least 20 minutes (ride bike or scooter, run, play tag, dance, hike, etc.), Reading ticket-read or look at books for 30 minutes, Writing/Homework ticket-do one homework page (I got a few really fun summer homework books at a local teacher store) or write a story or write in your summer journal (I got each boy a small notebook to record what we're doing this summer), Extra ticket-keep a good attitude all day, no whining, helping others, not being bored.  The goal here was to help my kids be motivated to spend time doing lots of different kinds of things all summer, and hopefully, to lessen the whining in the process. 

Really, there are so many ways to "do summer" and there is no one right or wrong way.  I find that this summer plan helps us to have some structure, which I think kids crave after being in a structured environment at school each day.  I also find it helps us to not over spend during the summer months (there are so many fun and free things to do-check your local library, go hiking, we even have a local bowling alley that offers each child a free game of bowling each day), and it helps us to discover and try new things.  I also find that when I have a concrete plan for our family, it allows me to say "no" to other ideas that might not be a good fit for us and to not feel bad about it.  So, here goes.  We embark on our summer adventure, and I can't wait to start making memories and sharing them here. 

Summer Wrap Up

To me, it feels like summer ended months ago, but I so wanted to post about our last summer trip with my family to Bear Lake.  We started this tradition several years ago, and it has become the trip my boys look forward to most each year.  We all stay at the KOA in Garden City Utah, which is arguably not real camping, but it is such a nice facility.  It's like camping in your backyard, with showers, flush toilets, a swimming pool and lots and lots of activities for the kids.  That's what I love most!  I love that my boys can head over to the playground or the jumping pillow and just play.  We take our bikes and ride through the city.  We did hit the beach on two days.  The lake was very high again this year and so the North beach was the only place with any real beach, and my boys had a BLAST! 

 They sure love playing in the water with Grandpa.  It's such a great beach because the boys can walk out for what seems like miles and still, the water comes just to their knees or chest.  I loved watching Greyson as he toddled out into the water, "Deeper!  Deeper!"  He sure enjoyed his sense of independence in that water. 

My boys played their hearts out in the sand.  The second day we went, a few cousins joined us and they brought much cooler toys than we had the day before.  It's amazing what having a boat to drive in the water can to for your fun! 

 Greyson, of course, was right in there with everyone else.  He just wants to be big and play with the big boys. 

 Tyler built quite the sand pile and had a lot of fun burying things in it.  It was just so enjoyable and many memories were made.  I know my boys are already looking forward to this trip next year. 

On the way home, we stopped in Soda Springs, Idaho at a park for a quick lunch.  We stop at this park each year on the way home, and I have a picture of my boys and Dave on this dino each year.  First, just Dave and Chad, then Tyler joined the ranks, and now w have filled the dinosaurs back to capacity.  Not sure where our newest little addition will go in the picture next year.  Here's to summer! 

Last Day of Summer

My kiddos start school tomorrow.  They are ready.  I am ready.  Chad is anxious to get going in 2nd grade and to see all of his friends again.  I'm super excited to be starting preschool again.  But there is still a little tinge of sadness as summer comes to a close.  Chad will be starting soccer this week as well (our first time signing up any of our children for any type of organized sport).  I'm already overwhelmed by the practice schedule.  I imagine we'll just have to give up dinners together as a family on those nights for a while.  I guess we'll see how this all goes.  

There are so many fun memories we made together as a family this summer, and I totally intended to record them, but this blog has taken a serious back seat, so for my own sake, here is my summer recap as we head in to school tomorrow morning.  

4th of July Celebration and Telena's Birthday

We had major fires in Idaho this year, and even lost 66 homes to fire in our own town, so there was a ban on fireworks for most of the 4th Celebration.  However, the boys enjoyed doing their fair share of poppers.  

 Of course we had to attend the parade.  

 As for my birthday, Greyson did a great job helping to unwrap most of my presents.  And Dave made me an ice cream cake (see below).  It's scary to look back even just a few years at past birthday pictures-I'm getting OLD!  

Salt Lake City trip, Airforce museum 

When I was down in Utah for my roommie reunion, I also met up with our old neighbors.  Boy, I sure miss them!  While I was there, we took our kids to the air force museum. 

I can never go wrong with airplanes and my kids.  We had a lot of fun together and catching up.  

Yellowstone Park w/ Grandma and Grandpa Jones

 It's not very often that my own little family and I get to take a trip with just my parents and us.  This summer, we planned a trip together to a campground and hot springs nearby, followed by Yellowstone Park.  My boys sure love their grandparents, and it was a special time that they got to have them all to themselves.  We had a lot of fun swimming, followed by exploring in Yellowstone.  

 I had to take the boys down to the Madison river, where I played my life away as a child.  There are several hot springs bubbling up throughout this river and as kids, we would play in them for hours.  I love to show my kids some of the things I enjoyed as a child.  

 We saw Old Faithful . . . 

 and took a few hikes.

 It was very enjoyable and we made some special memories together.  

Girls Camp

Well, I really missed the boat on taking pictures while up at camp, but I had such an incredible experience with our 19 girls up in Island Park.  These girls were the most helpful and positive I think I've ever known at a girls camp.  No complaining, no arguments.  Just lots of bonding, fun and friendships formed.  I love girls camp and I'm so glad that I get to work with these wonderful girls each week.  

We did have one more incredible trip to Bear Lake, which I will have to post separately.  It has been a great summer!  And now, we open our arms to fall as we start back to school.  

Farewell to Summer

Tomorrow morning, we will bid adieu to summer and dive into school once again.  This will be the first year that I have a child in school all day.  And Tyler will be doing preschool twice a week.  But still, it brings routine to our day.  (I'll post about our new school routine soon.)  I don't know why I resist the change so much.  I think we all long for a little more structure. 

But saying good-bye to summer is always bitter sweet.  This last weekend, we took our long awaited family vacation to Bear Lake.  We went last year and our boys have been talking about it ever since.  We stay at the KOA, which is, in my opinion, the most fun KOA ever.  There are so many activities for the kids, from the pool (which we had to ourselves much of the time), to the hay rides and train rides, mini golf, the jumping pillow (like a giant trampoline), and of course bike riding.  Plus, the lake is just across the road.  We met up with my family (3 out of the 4) and my boys just loved spending time with cousins. 

This is us on one of the tractor rides they do each night through the campground.

We visited Minnetonka Cave, which I have not been to in probably 15 years.  It was amazing!  The best part was carrying two kids up and down 888 stairs, while trying to calm Chad down because it was "too dark."  Once we got out of the cave, Chad admitted that he thought it was pretty cool. 

Just outside the entrance to the cave.  It was about 90 degrees that day, but
at the entrance and inside the cave is was just 40 degrees. 

These are just amazing!  And the vastness of the rooms was incredible!

The pictures do no justice.  This room was the size of a football field. 

We spent a few hours at the beach. The lake is really full this year, so it was harder to find a fun place to play.  And, Greyson was really tough at the beach.  (Heck, he's tough all the time lately.)  He liked the water for a bit, but then he wanted to be in the shade and he wanted food.  Maybe next year we'll spend a little more time at the lake.  For now, I reminded Chad and Tyler that our own sandbox makes a great "Bear Lake" when we put a little water in it.  They took me up on the offer the very night we got home. 

We had a lot of fun.  It's always hard to come back home after a great getaway. 

The school supplies have been purchased, and Chad insists that he is excited to start 1st grade.  He is most excited to have his very own desk.  Tyler can't wait for his friends to come to his preschool (that is until they want to play with his toys-then I'm sure he'll protest).  And Greyson, if only I can stretch out him taking 2 naps a day just a few months longer.  I'm fighting a loosing battle there. 

School, here we come! 

County Fair

This last week was our county fair.  As a girl, I participated in 4-H.  I always remember completing projects to enter in the fair.  I'm sure I didn't appreciate all the hard work my mom put in to help me get those done.  I know I resisted a lot.  My least favorite part was writing the essay about the project.  I finished many of those essays at the fairgrounds right before I entered my items.  Since those days so long ago, my mom and sister-in-law and I still enjoy entering items into the fair.  Sometimes, we are competing against one another.  Other times, we just do it for fun.  I even helped my boys enter several items.  It is always fun to see how they do. 

 This fair also provides many free activities for kids.  This is the boys waiting for the horse drawn wagon to pick them up and take them for a ride.  They told me they wouldn't ride without me, so off we all went on a leisurely ride. 

 Next, the boys were able to participate in a "treasure hunt" where by age group, they searched through this sawdust for canisters full of treasures. 

 They were able to retrieve 5 canisters each and then inside, there were "cowboy bucks" that they could use at the trading post to buy stuff.  This was so fun for them.  There was also a free station one day to make homemade ice cream in a bag, and another day, a cookie decorating station.  There were pedal tractors where the boys could pedal the tractors to make them go.  (I forgot my camera in the car for that one.) 

There were even little play stations like this sand box for them to relax in.  There was also a model train display which is always a big hit with my boys.  We went up several times and it is always fun to break away from the routine of summer and do something different.  The boys really had fun. 

                                      

Chad with his blue ribbon for his coloring page.  The boys had so much fun looking through the buildings for "their" things.  Even stuff that my mom had made for them and borrowed back to enter into the fair was stuff they wanted to find.  Next year, we'll have to put in more things. 

 This is them with their ribbons.  Tyler only entered his painted rock monster, and Chad put in his monster and a coloring page.  Chad earned $4 for his ribbons and Tyler got $2.50.  They are pretty excited about that!  I was able to enter 5 or 6 sewing items and about 10 canning items.  In all, I earned $26.50 and took home a slew of prizes.  I even was awarded a rosette for the "best sewing item". 
Going to the fair sure makes me reflect on a time when life was so much simpler.  A county fair used to be the culmination of a years worth of hard work.  Now, it is more of a commercial affair, but we try to keep a little of that "fair spirit" alive around here.  If your county has a local fair, check it out.  You may be surprised at what there is there for you and your kids. 

I had to put in this one last picture of the boys in the "Green Machine".  Dave got to drive it in the Chubbuck Days parade and the boys got to throw candy.  They threw two BIG bags of taffy in about one block, so I had to ration the rest to last the remainder of the parade.  I can feel summer fading but we are trying to suck  up every last bit of it. 

Whirlwind of Fun!

So, we just got home from spending the weekend with my husband's family and having a family reunion.  Whew!  I'm exhausted!  I always find it funny how we (or at least I) so look forward to a vacation, but it never fails that I need a vacation once I get home. 

So, really quick, I wanted to share what we did for our craft last week.  It was a lot of fun and super easy.  We made shirts, using fabric crayons (I bought mine at JoAnn's) and plain white shirts I found wherever I could get them cheap. 

 The kids just drew a picture of their choice on a regular sheet of paper, using the fabric crayons.  (Keep in mind that it will be reversed once it is ironed onto the shirt.)  They need to color as dark as they can.  I even went over them to make them darker before we transferred them. 

 Then, you just iron the picture onto a shirt.  Here are the finished products.  Super fun!  The boys were pretty dang proud of their creations! 

Alright, so onto the family vacation.  My husband's family lives about three hours away.  We used to get there to visit more often, but as we have had more children and our lives have become busier, it seems we only get there a few times a year.  So when we go, it is like trying to fit in 6 months of memories into 3 days of time.  Wow!  We had fun!  Here are a few of the things we did.

On Friday (Fieldtrip Friday) we took a fieldtrip to an art museum.  They had a display of shoes.  I have to say, I don't necessarily agree with what others call "art" but it was fun to see what some have used to create these shoes and some of the crazy designs.  This is a few of us outside the museum, since we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. 
                                      
 So, I love (no wait) LOVE the 4th of July!!!  Growing up, I always thought the celebration was for me, as my birthday is the next day.  To me, it is a holiday that never disappoints.  You know how sometimes at Christmas, you work like a maniac to make it special, but sometimes, the "feeling" of Christmas never comes.  Well, the 4th is always amazing to me!  Watching the fireworks is is tradition and I love every minute of it!  So, we had to do a few crafts and activities to make it extra special.  For our craft on Monday, we did firework art.  You simply take acrylic paints and thin them out.  Then drop a small amount onto paper.  Then, using a straw (it was easier when the straw was cut in half) the boys had to blow on the paint to make it "pop" into a firework.  It was pretty fun. 

 We also made these fun hats, by cutting stars from card stock and attaching them to a straw.  Then, we just stapled the straws at varying heights onto a headband.  Voila! 

 The boys wore them when we did our "parade".  It was just my older two and two cousins, but we let them wave flags and throw candy to the grown-ups who lined the sidewalks as the spectators.  They thought it was fun. 

 Here are our ducks lined up for our duck races.  We had to damn up the gutter to make a river for them to float in.  Ultimately, they didn't want to stay afloat on their bottoms.  They just bobbed around and we had to use the hose to spray them down to the end. 

 But we sure cheered loud! 

 We got back just in time to head over to see the firework display at our fairgrounds.  I've gone each year of my life (minus the one on my mission) and it is one of my favorite traditions.  It wouldn't be the 4th without it.  The show was awesome! and it sure makes me grateful for the freedoms we enjoy. 

 So, today was my birthday.  I had grand plans for pampering myself, but life as a mom requires some flexibility, and I have yet to get my pampering in.  But, we did celebrate with a cake (made of fruit) and presents.  I figured that we had had enough candy and junk over the last 5 days to last a while, so a cake made of fruit was perfect.  We'll do a party with my family when we do Chad's birthday next week and I'll have Dave make me a real cake then. 

 Dave and I were able to go out together while in Boise and do a little shopping.  He did surprise me with a beautiful flower (my favorite kind even)!  Most of all, I just enjoyed the time to spend with family and feel like the queen for a day.