Summer Vacation - Day #17

We had a lazy morning..................kids ate pancakes, we drank coffee and read the paper. Brian had to leave late morning to go to New Jersey for work so he was spending a lot of time with the kids. They got into the photo albums...............
and particularly loved the old fashioned ones, i.e. pictures from when Daddy was little. After Brian left the kids and I went to the Sky Chiefs game, came home and swam, grilled hotdogs for dinner, and watched our favorite Sunday show, America's Funniest Home Videos.

Summer Vacation - Day #16

Today was a great day. There were some errands and house work in the morning. We were supposed to do an early dinner, go to Blues Fest and then to Aunt Pam and Uncle Rich's for fireworks. The fireworks were canceled, so we decided just to have a family day at home. It was a wonderful. The kids swam and we enjoyed the sun. We had a fantastic meal off the grill. In the evening we had a campfire in the new fire pit the Dad and Patrick built today.
The proud boys by their new fire pit. The got the rocks from the stream in the woods behind Tom's. Tom let the boys borrow his 4 wheeler truck thing to bring the rocks up.
Pretty girl enjoying the fire.
First s'more of the season!!
Returning from a sunset deer hunt. None tonight. I am very thankful for nights like tonight. It was a ton of fun.

Summer Vacation - Day #15

Patrick made his own pizza for dinner tonight - and helped Dad with the big pizza.
Gymnastics is paying off!
Patrick being a big brother and trying to one up his sister.

Summer Vacation - Day #14

Liz and I hit the Farmer's Market for our fruits and veggies while Patrick was at swim and playground today. Then we packed a lunch to head to the zoo after we picked Patrick up.
Liz and I found GIANT cookies at the market so we grabbed them for dessert. Patrick was not thrilled about having his picture taken - a habit lately. Karma's a b_____ though - he got pooped on by a bird shortly after this picture and was unable to finish his cookie because we weren't sure if it got poop on it or not.
FRANKENSISSY!!!!
One otter was swimming around and so playful. I could have watched for hours...............but the lions are the next exhibit, so we didn't hang with the otters for too long.
The new elephant yard and barn are open. It is a great area. And there is a new animal to "ride". This redeemed me as a Mom, as opposed to a mean Mom who wouldn't let the kids "ride" the tiger for the 100th time because the line was ten families deep. I am just spoiled and used to going to the zoo when it isn't crowded.
As we were getting ready to leave our last stop was the barn, where we found Aunt Peg. She and other zoo keepers were getting ready to try to get a hen at adopt six chicks hatched earlier. Mr. Fox came and placed the chicks under the hen and fed her worms. They were trying to see if she would accept the chicks to raise as her own. It was a treat to see Aunt Peg in action.

Summer Vacation - Day #13

No pictures for today. The day was pretty quiet. Pat went to swim and playground. Liz and I grocery shopped. In the afternoon the kids just played and hung out because I was power cleaning the house - it had been neglected for a while.

Summer Vacation - Day #12

Our summer routine started today. Patrick rode the school bus to swim lessons and then back to playground program. He was nervous, and crying, about it this morning but had fun and realized it wasn't so bad. Playground is all morning and he has met some other kids that will be in 1st grade with him this fall. Elizabeth had an hour of gymnastics this morning with Leah and Davis.
The kids were watching a show for quiet time...............and all the festivities of the weekend and busyness of the morning caught up with them.
I let them sleep for two hours and then woke them. They could have slept a lot longer! Proof of lots of fun.

Summer Vacation Day #11

Our celebration continues.............Happy 235th birthday America!!
Happy 4th of July!! We are ready to party at Aunt Robin and Uncle Bobby's house!
There's lots of fun to have today. Look at those swings. Great for touching the clouds.
And big enough to share with friends.
The kids were excited to hang out with Aunt Di. They haven't seen her in a while.

Liz got lots of hugs and kisses from Aunt Di.
Aunt Robin's pool has lots of space for big jumps.
There were even some totally under water swimming going on today - holding the nose of course.
Patrick was trying hard to keep up with Sarah Jane. She is a great swimmer!
Swimming with Uncle Danny again.
Again, Patrick spent the most time in the water. He loves Aunt Robin's pool because the shallow end is so big.
There were lots of great treats. Mom and Dad were talking a lot so the kids got away with eating lots of chips (or scooping the dip with their fingers! Lizzie Lou :) ) Mommy brought red, white, and blue pudding pops for the kids too!
And then there were burgers and hot dogs too!!
Cousins and buddies!!

Summer Vacation - Day #10

We continued our 4th of July celebrating today. We headed to Otisco Lake to have dinner at Uncle Rich and Aunt Pam's, make s'mores, play with sparklers, and watch all the fireworks people set off around the lake. It was a great show this year.
Liz just loves Uncle Danny and went right for his lap at the dock.
Patrick brought his new fishing pole that he got from Pop Pop to the lake.

I was sort of surprised, but Liz wanted to venture into the water. She had Uncle Dan help her go for a "swim".
Megan hit Uncle Dan up for a "swim" too.
Pat fished away while the girls "swam". Unfortunately, he didn't catch anything. That water was a bit choppy.
Uncle Dan made his way into the water, and of course, his fans were right there too. Thanks for being such a good sport Uncle Dan!
Maybe?? Will Patrick make it into the water now that he's seen Liz and Megan having so much fun??
Nope. Just Dad made it in.
After swimming Liz and Mommy went for a boat ride with Uncle Dan, Kelley, Casey, Sam, Uncle Joe and Megan. Uncle Rich and Aunt Pam's new boat is great! Liz was still all about Uncle Dan. (Don't turn us in for the over sized life vest - it was just a quick ride)
Megan and Elizabeth both got to help Kelley drive. It was a beautiful day for a boat ride.

Summer Vacation - Day #9

This morning was filled with yard work and errands for the grown ups.
The kids were obviously left to take care of themselves......................and boy did Elizabeth :) This afternoon we headed to Grandpa's for the annual Louer 4th of July clambake. It was a great day and a lot of fun. There are lots of pool pictures because Patrick spent about 6 hours in the pool. No joke!
And he made some huge steps in the pool. This is our boy, who we couldn't get off the steps of Grandpa's pool two years ago, going down the SLIDE! By himself. And loving it!
His first time down he had Brian catch him but after that he was Mr. Independent.
The cousin train.
Lizzie Lou had fun too. She didn't spend as much time in the water as Patrick and Megan but was still in an
Patrick was swimming all around the shallow end with no tube, confident because he could touch the bottom.
And confident enough to jump in. Liz LOVED that Kelley came swimming too.
Mr. Sassy-I-don't-like -my-picture-taken. Yup, we're at that age :) Awesome.
When the pool was wrapped up it was time for baseball and a fire. Patrick had some whoppers.
Liz had some whoppers too, thanks to Aunt Peg.

Summer Vacation - Day #8

...........................better known as 7-1-11! It is finally here!! Patrick and Brian have been waiting for this day for months. Transformers 3 came out (well, originally it was supposed to come out today but really came out two days before). Pat and Dad went out for pizza, so the movie in 3D, and then caught the fireworks at the Inner Harbor after. It was a great boys night.