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| Emma watching passersby |
Back in June after vacation, we had a week of recovery, and then a couple of birthday parties, which are always fun. Laura had one at the Dublin Rec Center. We had never been there before, and it has a really fun pool with a slide and lazy river. The party was with her school friends, whom she hadn't seen all summer. She really misses her school friends! Sadly I still do not know many of the parents. Do you all know the parents of your kids' school friends? I really did think that we would know more people before second grade, but we don't. So it's a lot of small talk and awkward silences. Definitely not my forte.
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| Hannah lost her first tooth! |
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| Her sisters want in the action! |
Next the kids did a four-day stint with my parents, and Matt and I jetted off to DC. I had a conference there for work, but we fit in some sight-seeing and dinners. We ate at Filomena in Georgetown one night. So so good! I highly recommend it. We went to the Holocaust museum and to the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. I highly recommend both of them too. We probably only spent a few hours in the Holocaust museum, and I could easily have spend a whole day. It was amazing.
When we got back from DC, it was 4th of July already. Boom, one month of summer gone! (No pun intended.) We watched Red, White and Boom at the Manley's house. It was a fun night with friends! We went to my aunt and uncle's for the 4th, our annual tradition. We visited with family, fished, four-wheeled, ate, and drank. (And the kids swam.) We had a really enjoyable day/evening.
The next weekend we had a girls night at Aunt Ellen's! We swam all afternoon, and then we grilled out. Yep, no boys. Who needs guys to grill! Ok, it was a gas grill, which doesn't count in my husband's book. But it was tasty! Aunt Ellen is always good for a craft....so the kids painted on the back porch. That is an activity that they don't get to do often at our house - mostly because I don't like the mess. I'm not a fun mom when it comes to crafts. Part of it is that there is not a creative bone in my body, but the other part is that I don't like the messes that result from said crafts. Later we had popcorn and the kids watched 102 Dalmatians on TV and fell asleep on the couch. Perfect Saturday!
Last Saturday we went to a cookout at Mary's house. I work with Mary and have known her for about 16 years. Her husband has a man cave full of pin ball machines, race car games, game tables, TV and bar. It's pretty sweet. The kids played a lot of pinball, and they were hilarious playing the race car game.
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| That's teamwork for ya! Hannah has the gas, and Emma has the wheel. |
That brings us to this weekend, the last weekend in July! Another month of summer gone! Yesterday we went swimming at Ellen's house in the afternoon, and then we went to my parents' and had a cookout and bonfire. Other than the mosquitoes, it was relaxing and fun. The kids roasted marshmallows, and we had smores...mmm. What bonfire would be complete without smores. Matt didn't make it very long. He couldn't handle the bugs...hehehe :) The fire was peaceful and soothing. A nice summer night.
And Sunday was our first night of swimming lessons! I usually start the kids in swimming lessons earlier in the summer, but it just didn't happen this year. This was Emma's first round. She did really well, considering her stubborn demeanor. She isn't afraid of the water or anything, but she generally does not like anyone to tell her what to do. So when the teach told her to put her face in the water, she started protesting and arguing with him. Not surprising. The other two picked up right where they left off. Can't wait for next week!
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| Hannah practicing her kicks. |
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| Laura working on her strokes. |
So as you read, we having been packing our summer full. The kids have had plenty of fun during the weeks too with Grammy and with the neighbors. We have plenty coming up too - parish festival, baby and bridal showers, garage saleing, friends' picnics and school shopping and maybe a zoo trip too. Hopefully it won't rain anymore this summer! And then school will be here before we know it. I really don't want to rush it.
What we're having for dinner this week:
Monday - Hamburger with tomatoes, onions and zucchini
Tuesday - Not sure - something in my freezer
Wednesday - Chicken & broccoli casserole
Thursday - Soup (tomato or chicken noodle)
Friday - Chicken & veggies over toast
A few more pics...
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| Emma riding "her horse" Hannah |
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| Laura found a tree frog |
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| Hannah playing office. She would type on her laptop real fast and then turn and work in one of her books. So cute! |
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| Laura was giving Daddy and Emma a show as they were sipping on tea. |
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| Hannah always runs the restaurant. |
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| Then all the girls attack Daddy! |
