A Synopsis of Our Sensational Summer

lIt is hard to believe that we are already heading into the Fall, with little ones back in school(especially since it is, and will be 100 degrees for another month!)  Our summer was definitely eventful...I wouldn't call it relaxing, but we packed a lot in!  We started out with our yearly visit to Mammo and Papa's house, which we DROVE this time.  Since we had only driven the 12 hour stretch one other time, I had temporary amnesia on all the reasons it is not a good idea.  1) The first time we only had one child...now we have three!  2)  That one child couldn't talk yet...we have two blabbers now!  3) 12 hour trips turn into 14, 16, 18 hour trips when many potty breaks are a necessity.  Nevertheless, it was worth it and we had a great time.  I have always thought it was important for my kids to build memories at the grandparents' houses, regardless of how long it takes to get there!  I know the memories I have at my grandparents' houses are very special to me and it is a gift we can give to our children. 

Our next adventure was to the beach to meet my side of the family for a long weekend.  Of course, you can't tell we are at the beach in any of the pictures because we actually never took the kids down to the beach.  Because of the oil spill, they would not have been allowed to play in the sand or swim.  Lucky for us, who needs a beach when you have cousins!?!

One of my favorite adventures of the summer was Lion's first adventure with church camp!  We were not quite ready to let him go by himself for the whole week, so we made it a family affair.  That's right...I was in a cabin full of 7 year old girls with Monkey and Koala in tow.  Luckily, my sister did most of the chaperoning.  Jeremy was heading up the 7 year old boys cabin by HIMSELF.  Suprisingly he survived and all of the boys were accounted for at the end of the week.  The BOYS seemed to have a fascination with all of the butterflies at camp. It was all Jeremy could do to keep them from running out into the woods on wild butterfly hunts every time they walked outside!  Ha. I did get a kick out of the whole thing!  Camp was a great experience!  I really hope we can go back again sometime. I love the memories we create together and the spiritual development and growth that is unique to church camp.

Aside from these fun-filled trips, we took several trips to the lake, I taught 8-10 group fitness classes a week , we babysat 3 extra kids for five weeks,  and of course spent countless hours at the pool!  Whew!  I have to say...I will be glad when summer is back again, but for now... Hello School!