Quick Update

I've been away... Life has been busy!  So.. let's get right to it!

Thanks to Becky, we were able to swim during the long 4th of July break for Vince.  My cousin joined the fun as well... Okay, we dragged him along!  But since it was so hot he quit complaining once we were all enjoying the nice cool water!

It was nice to actually have Vince in the pool with the children and enjoying the activity with them.

 So they did a lot of showing off. :)

 MG and Daddy:

 E, MG, and Daddy:

 E playing with Daddy.  MD was in the deep end most of the time so no pictures of him!

On the 4th we spent the morning just hanging out... so Vince decided he was....ummm, going to cut the boys' hair!  E was happy to start... Then he got crabby when Dad took so long!

 Once he got the nag of it -it was a bit smoother... I'm talking about Dad, not E.  E still fussed...

 Here's to saving $20 every 2 months! Woohoo!  What will we do with the extra cash???  lol

Then in the afternoon we hung out with Uncle Matt and Uncle Leo.  We had a nice BBQ -- ribs, sausages, hot dogs, corn, chips, soda -- how much more American can we get for the 4th?!

  Then Uncle leo helped the children prepare for a quick balloon fight:

 Prepare your weapons!

 He ran to hide...

 But uncle Leo found him and... well, he was soaked!!!!  But he sure loved it!

 After dinner we set off to see the fireworks...

 We trekked up the hill by our former house:

 First ones to arrive!!!

 How is this picture different from the one above? (you tell me!)

 Almost ready....

 Still waiting....

And then it started and my camera ran out of batteries!  But I was able to capture a video before the battery died on me... I will upload that later.

The very next day M & M started their second week of Science Camp.  I didn't attend as often as i would have liked... but you will know why in a sec.  I managed to grab 2 photos during the week:

 They were practicing getting the tablecloth off the table without dropping al the items on top! VERY exciting!!

While they were in class, this little one was practicing his swimming.  He did all this by himself... while I sat on a chair outside of the pool!
Checking in:

 He pushed himself out to the side then swam to the steps:

 almost there:

 made it!

 another angle:

He also taught himself how to dive for objects.  He started putting the item on the first top step and then gradually moved them down a step further as he became more comfortable.  I am a very happy momma!

That weekend we went to Matt and Leo's to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part1.  Leo thought it would be good to review the movie before the new one comes out.
What's an outdoor movie without popcorn, right?!

 They all helped and then enjoyed the hard work afterwards!  :)

It's been busy and we are loving the summer!!!!

Science Camp Day 5 -- Last Day of this session

What a successful week it was for M&M.  They enjoyed all science experiments, learned a lot about fore and motion and always came home eager to help E build the same experiment they had from class.  Thank goodness a lot for the projects could be replicated!  However, today's last class could not be replicated (with the few items we have on hand at home.. but can be if Daddy helps!)... they made bottle rockets!  And the project fit the weather... it was a HOT day!!!
When E and I arrived, they were at the end of this so we grabbed a few photos.  Can you see MD in the yellow pumping???

 Them they chased their rockets!

 And they cleaned up...

And played with some balloons -- the parents and I had a good laughed as they blew them up with a hand pump then released the balloons and watched them maneuver through the air above them hoping they would land near by... at least not on the roof!

 E took these photos of MD and MG:

They are now looking forward to another week (a shorter one due to holiday on Monday) about magic!  Oh boy... Harry Potter movie moves may be haunting me again..... Wish me luck!  Hope doors don't get locked or something strange happens!

Today we went swimming after class --- it was perfect!!!  

Science Camp Day 3 and 4

On day 3 I walked in a bit late to take lots of photos, so I grabbed what I could... but the following 2 photos cannot tell you a story.  This is MG just after she shot a cork up toward the ceiling and helping a fellow classmate pick up  his cork before looking for her own.

 They had fun but couldn't tell me what they made... something that shot up a cork to the ceiling and back.  AND a noisemaker too!  Yup - banned from the car! ;)

 Day 4 (today) I tried to arrive earlier... and this is what I found them doing...

Not sure what but they all had some small containers then they walked over to the instructor... and he gave them ice and yes... the good stuff!

 They experimented and made lots of observations...

 And discussed about nitrogen and how cool it was...

I love that they always wear goggles!   I love that these two always pick each other as partners!  I love that MG keeps an eye on MD. When they were called back to sit she looked around and he wasn't in the room.  So she quickly went to get him.  He was in the other room... trying to sneak over his cup of dry ice... but was informed he couldn't take it home anyway.  His sad face returned and sat next to his sister.

No worries - all was forgotten when we went to Becky's to swim and had pizza for dinner!  :)
Tomorrow is the end of their first session.  Tuesday begins their next session -- they are going to love it!  It's about magic!!!!

Science Camp Day 2

Crazy weather brought rain to our neck of the woods today... Yes, rain!!!!  Hello... It's almost the END of June?!  How is that possible?!  Regardless, they still continued with their class and experiments!  Today they were out launching straws... who knows what they were doing inside!  I was outside a few minutes after dropping them off trying to decide what to do.  A few minutes turned into an hour and guess, what? They came out and I was able to grab a few photos:

 I love that they were running around and launching their straws as far as they could get them -- and all they used were a balloon, a tube, and some straws!  Of course, when we came home, we set to make E one so he could launch his straws around the house.  Soooo fun!

While they were here... E and I visited my dear friend, Becky.  She lives about 5 minutes from their science class - so nice!  I hardly get the chance to see Becky during the school year because she teaches (we were teaching partners for years before I left to stay at home with my 3).  So this summer we promised to have more visits so we can get reacquainted and our children can be better friends.  MG and Emma are 2 days apart.  MD and Sydney are about 3 months apart. And E and Audrey are 1 month apart!  I know... crazy, huh??? Whenever we get together, we feel like we've never been apart.  I am comfortable at her house and always feel so relaxed.  Today was no different.  When I arrived, she had just agreed to bake cookies.  But there was just one minor problem...
She couldn't find the other mixer part...she dug through her drawer...

 And then went here:

 And here...

 And even here... hmmm, I asked her why she looked there.  She thought maybe one of the girls took it when she gave them batter to lick and never returned it.  Oh, okay... I guess... I laughed.  :)  Oh, she couldn't find it - but she found a bagel!  I laughed some more!  She laughed some more...

Then Emma came to the rescue!   (Now, may I tell you all that Becky and I looked in that drawer numerous times???  I don't know how we missed it!  We must be getting old!)

 "It was right there mom!"   (don't you just love it when they laugh at you?!)

That's why I love Becky - she is such a good sport about things.  She and I had a good laugh... and focused on another cup of coffee... It was what we needed today to get our brain cells working!

And this is what E and Audrey were doing... One day they are holding hands.  The next day they are cuddling in front of the television... Should I worry that they are starting out so young?! ;) 

Good friends are the best!  We enjoyed the Snickerdoodles she sent home with us... only, they didn't quite make their way home!  We ate them while driving home.  Does that count as almost making it home?!