Summer is Coming to a Close

This morning I saw the big yellow bus drive past our home.  Our local school system is collecting kids for their first day of school.  The school district where our church is located went back last Wednesday.  The tiger lilies are long gone.  The zinnias are almost spent.  And I think that I have seen the last of the overabundance of zucchini from the garden.  Tonight is my first planning meeting for our homeschool group's fall semester.  Yes.  Summer is coming to a close.

This year Josh and Matthew were in the last full session of swimming lessons.  Two weeks of splishing and splashing in the cool morning breezes.  It was unseasonably cool this year for swimming, but that made it more enjoyable for William and me as we waited during lesson time.

Here are Josh and Matthew on Fun Day...the last day of swim lessons when they can show off what they've have learned.

Paul took off the day and the weekend so that he could see the boys swim and we could go camping!

My swim lesson buddy.  He drove the boys and me to swim lessons every morning.

 I started at Josh's pool this year and watched all of his newly acquired strokes...

I was able to peek across the pool to see Matthew with his class...

 After their class time, they had free time.  Matthew wanted to give Josh's big pool a try.

 I think I was trying to talk Matthew into dipping his head under the water here.  He's still pretty hesitant.

But he showed me all kinds of other tricks!

The audience...

I cannot remember what Matthew was explaining to me here, but he looks pretty serious.  Just look at those eyebrows!

Paul enjoying the start of his three-day weekend...

Matthew and his very patient, very knowledgeable teacher, Anna...

Josh and his super-sweet, high-fiving teacher, Adrienne...

I really enjoyed this summer, as short as it was.  I had no transcript worries, a thriving garden, and a happy, content family.  The Lord has been good to us through sunshine and rain.  We are happy to be enjoying the sunshine right now and are looking forward to the adventures that await.

And fall.
Did I mention that I am looking forward to fall?
It's my favorite!

Vice President Dick Cheney...The Younger Years

I'm off Facebook.

I've never been much for tweeting.

I'm a little bored with Pinterest.

I get too much junk mail in my email inbox.

My favorite online activity is still blogging, but I have so much to catch up on.  So...why don't I make some real headway and post some pictures of Matthew in the eternally belly-laugh producing Dick Cheney mask?  

Yes, the part about making real headway by posting about something other than what I really "should" be posting about was sarcasm.

But still, you have to admit that the Dick Cheney mask is blog post worthy...

Its original purpose was for trick-or-treating.  William was the first to dress as Dick Cheney, all dressed up in his hunting attire.  He was referencing Mr. Cheney's not-so-successful hunting trip with a friend.

Since then, the mask has made its occasional appearances when least expected.  One of my favorites was at one of our garage sales several years ago...

Josh went from laughing to not being so sure...

Matthew seems to appreciate Mr. Cheney's smile.

Always funny on little shoulders!

Once again, the Dick Cheney mask is safe.  When going through the boys' room last week in search of things that they are all done playing with, the Dick Cheney mask was returned to its place of honor in the dress-up box for future laughs, reminding me that I really never know where Dick Cheney may be lurking.

Eyeball Bender Treasure Hunt

I love the Fourth of July!

When I was a kid, the Fourth meant throwing candy out of the Wilson Coal and Grain truck at the Lakeville Parade, a fresh-smelling, windows open, clean home, treasure hunting, late-night fireworks, and cousins!  Now, as a mom, it is still one of my favorite times of the year.  I love cleaning up the house, making special snacks, watching the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, and organizing a "supposed-to-be-annual" treasure hunt.  We've missed a couple of years of hunting, so I'm excited about this year's hunt!  Instead of following written rhyming clues, the hunters are going to follow eyeball bender clues.  That's another fun memory from childhood.  Mom and Dad subscribed to the magazine called "Games."  Inside every edition was a game called Eyeball Benders...photos of common objects taken with uncommon perspectives.  

Here are some examples from our 2010 Treasure Hunt...

The challenge of planning this type of hunt is to decide if object can stand alone...like in the mailbox above...or if there needs to be some background clues...like having the barn behind the tree.

Most of the time, there are two teams competing.  This year, I think the kids want to have one big team searching for the treasure.  Speaking of treasure...I better get moving.  I still need to get to the Dollar Store for treasure shopping!

Let me leave you with some pictures of Charlie, who turned 4 years old on Tuesday!

 A new Bobo Dog!

 Some treats...

And a "tuggerwar" rope.
I think it was Josh who used to call it "tuggerswar."

Like this, Charlie.

See?

She likes the Bobo Dog best.

Sorry...food picture.
Enchilada Stacks.  Mmmmmm...

And this?
Josh has no idea who Billy Idol is, thankfully, but he's got the look.

Happy Fourth of July!
Thank You, God, for the freedom that we enjoy, and so often take for granted, in this country.
And thank You for the freedom that we have in You!