Fabulous Summer

I put Evie on the bus this morning, so summer is officially over for us. I have to say this has been one of the best summers, and I have enjoyed the kids so much. Here's a look back at how we spent the summer of 2010:

Played at Cocoa Beach

Visited Downtown Disney (same thing as Disney World to the kids)

Watched a rocket launch ~ Andrew still tells people it came from LC-37 (launch complex @ Canaveral)

Had fun at Saddleridge Ranch

Hiked in Cades Cove

saw Toy Story 3 (twice!)

Played with their 1st sparklers and fireworks

Learned to swim like little fish

Enjoyed many trips to Dollywood

Fell in love with Skippyjon Jones

...and now it is off to 1st grade and 5 day Fives.

Kids Workshop

We took the kids to their first Home Depot Kids Workshop this past weekend. It is held the first Saturday of each month at every store in the country and is completely free. I knew Andrew would love working with the tools, but the Queen of Crafts enjoyed it as much as her brother. They are already looking forward to doing it again next month.

Kentucky Splash

The kids have been asking to go to Splash Country for over a year now, but I was nervous about keeping up with them there and it is pricey. I kept hearing commercials on the radio for Kentucky Splash, so Phil took the day off and we headed north to try it out. The kids loved it! It reminded me of hot summer days I spent at Ogle's in Pigeon Forge when I was little. KYS has two waterslides, wave pool, kids splash pool, and a lazy river. Andrew barely squeaked by on the height requirement for the the big blue waterslide, but he loved it and rode it more than anyone else in our family. I am sure we will make it to Splash Country sometime, but for this summer Kentucky Splash was perfect!

Rainbow

We don't have many strict rules in our house, but one of them is never wake a sleeping child. I've been breaking my own rule this summer though. Evie loves rainbows, so we just had to let her see this one. Apparently, rockets and rainbows are worth getting out of bed and any crankiness that may follow the next morning!

Fearless Andrew

When I signed up Evie for swim lessons I asked Andrew if he wanted to do them too, and he refused so I wasn't going to push the issue. He changed his tune when he saw his sister and the big kids going off the high dive. His class got to go to the regular diving board on the 7th day of class and most of them had to be dropped in, but Andrew took a flying leap off of it and asked his teacher if he could go off the big diving board next. They let him go on it the next night and he loved it. I couldn't believe he actually climbed up and jumped off twice. He looked so tiny jumping from up there. In 8 days he went from being afraid to put his face in the water to going off the high dive!

Andrew up on the high dive

Jumping down to his teacher

Swim Lessons-round 2

Five days ago Andrew was afraid to get in the water without his float and even more afraid of putting his face in the water. Five minutes into swim lessons he was happily doing both!

Swim Lessons

Goggle girl

Going off the high dive

Fearless!

Day 6 of swim lessons. We have been very impressed with the instructors @ UT

Toothless

This is the 5th tooth Evie has lost, but I think it is going to be the most missed. It is going to take some time for me to get used to seeing the gap in her grin and eating is going to be an adventure for a few weeks. Nonetheless, she was thrilled to lose a tooth and get a visit from the Tooth Fairy last night.

Abrams Falls

VBS 2010

I was ridiculously proud of myself for making these shirts for them.

Cowboy Andrew

Andrew milking a cow

Evie working on her craft