Last week I got to travel with the kids to the 8th annual cousin camp. I drove our three older kids and the Reagen kids to KC on Thursday afternoon and we arrived back home on Saturday. Activities consisted of swimming, bowling, swimming, outdoor theatre, donuts, park, and swimming. Eight straight years is pretty impressive. Everyone still loves the annual tradition.
When we lived at the old house the kids and I used to spend a lot of time at Greenwood Park. Since moving we have only been there a couple of times and Lu has barely been there at all, that she can remember. Today the older kids were at the Reagens’ so Lu, Rose, and I dropped Susan off at yoga and then headed to Greenwood for a short walk. The highlight was the observation box, an in-pond concrete box that you walk down into to be at pond level. It had not been well-maintained and was always full of water when we have been there in the past. It was fun to finally be able to use it.
After work today we all hit the pool with the Reagens. We knew that Rose was going to be tired, but we forgot to bring the Boba, which is normally how she gets to sleep. Today she was so tired that when we gave her her pacifier after nursing she just fell right to sleep. Way to go, Rose!
In our house we have a rule that you can’t see a movie in the theaters until you are reading chapter books. Even then, we take a very soft approach to movies, with nothing too crazy. Today we went to see The BFG, Elliot’s first movie. We (I) have a thing for Roald Dahl and this was a great summer movie for the kids to enjoy.
We just wrapped up our nearly annual summer trip to Cincinnati.
Day 1: Drive & Skyline
Day 2: Mar-Mar’s birthday and Joyce and Dave’s for 4th of July
Day 3: Rob work, dinner & Smale Park with Romans
Day 4: Dinner at Holly’s
Day 5: Dinner with the Herrels
Day 6: Pizza night at Jill’s
Day 7: Drive home
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Andy has been staying with us this week. We have been watching him since he was 6 months old and now that he is in school we only get to hang out a few times a year.
This morning I dropped Elliot off at Camp Akela, a Cub Scout camp. He will be staying for a couple of nights. It looks like they have some fun activities planned and we hope he has a great time.
This past week Andrew attended CYC camp. He had a great time, as expected. He really enjoyed the new family format that they use in Jr High. His favorite activity was the climbing wall.
This evening we had the Reagens and the Liesses over to celebrate Mari’s 11th birthday. We hit the pool in the afternoon and then had everyone over for Skyline, cake, and presents. The weather was great – the kids had a fun time playing in the yard and we all got to spend the evening on the deck.
Mari loves to read and spends a lot of time sitting in the living room chairs reading. It is the first thing she does when she wakes up in the morning and before bed. Speaking of which, Mari is up around 7:30 these days, even in the summer, and goes to bed at around 10. She sleeps in her own bed, with Lu in a separate bed in her room. She reads with a little light while Lu falls asleep a little earlier. Her favorite food is Skyline. Her favorite song is Lost Boy. Her favorite color is blue. For clothes she is mostly wearing sporty clothes these days.
We just got back from a 4 day drive around the Midwest. We left this past Sunday afternoon, and spent the night in Bloomington, IL. On Monday morning we left the hotel as quickly as possible and headed to Indianapolis for my Aunt Mary Beth’s funeral. It was obviously sad to be there for the funeral, but it was nice to see a lot of family and meet Jill’s baby, Annie.
After the funeral we hit the road and headed to St. Louis, arriving just in time to swim in a nasty, indoor hotel pool, watch Full House, and then get to bed. Tuesday morning we hit City Museum with the Reagens and stayed until dinner time, when we headed to Nick & Molly Ehlman’s house, to meet their baby. We enjoyed some Imo’s Pizza, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, and some quality time with the Ehlmans. I had a nice group shot of everyone, but my phone died and I lost a few pics.
Wednesday morning it was time to head home. We met Mark Arminio at Tony’s Donuts in the St. Louis suburbs and then hit to road, headed home. It was a fun, busy trip.
Today we wrapped up the spring soccer season. Andrew & Mari finished last week and Elliot had his last game today – a make-up game. It was a fun year and we are already looking forward to the fall.
This evening was supposed to be our monthly Prairie Grass Guild hike, but, since it was going to be a small crowd, Jen invited us out to their new acreage outside of Earlham. It was fun to see their new place.
