Summer Lovin

In between beach trips, a baptism, holidays, and mud, we have stayed super busy and had a lot of fun this summer. I can't believe that it is almost over. Crazy how fast it has gone....and as usual, the days seem long and the weeks fly by. Today is August 1st which means we only have a few more weeks until school is back in session. I figured I would just dump a bunch (and I do mean a bunch!) of pictures and hit some high points of our day-to-day summer fun.

• I really wanted to keep a schedule this summer, so I made one up, and we have kinda stuck to it...when we could. One of my favorite times of our day is "Table Time." This is the time after breakfast where we stay at the table to do some summer learning. Eli is my main participant, but Jude would listen in and come over to join in from time to time. We always did Bible stories (Eli reads them), prayer time (we learned a lot about the Rosary this year), character development, and academic work. Each day had a focus, and Eli did well....learning to tell time, counting money, memorizing some math facts, reading stories, and writing a "chapter book" and other stories.

We made a math game that is like Memory, but to make a match, you have to find a pair whose sum is 10

Chapter 3 of his book...After a mini lesson on editing to correct letter reversals and review spelling rules I know he knows, he would illustrate each one.

• Our afternoons also had a scheduled rotation with crafts, games, cooking, and science experiments. There were many days I dropped the ball and didn't do a planned activity, but I tried. A favorite science day was the "What can we do with a balloon day?" We did baking soda and vinegar and made a hover craft. Both successes and both loved. Eli is a science experiment nut and created many of his own messes experiments all summer long.

Before

During....so intrigued!

Our hovercraft....it worked!

• One "Make & Do Monday" had Eli weaving craft sticks together for a fun cause and effect activity. He loved it and did it over and over again. It also sparked his interest and creativity enough that he found many other fun ways to play and create with the craft sticks. They have been a hit this summer.

• Homemade popsicles were our thing this summer. We made 4 kinds (so far....) They were a fun "What's Cooking Wednesday" activity and super yummy!

vanilla berry

raspberry lemonade

blueberry peach

Greensicles = fruity coconut water + spinach + cantelope + peaches

the boys had been exploring in the woods and were in need of a cold treat, so they found a shady spot in the woods to enjoy them

• Another super fun, tasty, and easy cooking day was microwave s'mores. Yummo!

• National Doughnut Day = yes, please!

• I decided to focus on manners this summer. Jude is at an age at which he is ready to learn them and Eli is at an age at which he could stand to be reminded of them. Each week, I chose a "Manner of the Week" and any time the boys use that manner...or manners in general, they earn a sticker. It has been working well and manners are improving around here. Jude loves to use his booming voice to announce the Manner of the WEEK! Both boys have been earning their stickers. I have loved seeing and hearing the manners in action and the team work they have to use to earn enough for their reward.

• The reward Eli picked for 30 stickers on the Manners chart is a trip to the movie theater. A perfect summer treat...especially with all the rain we have been getting. And there are so many fun movies for kids out this summer. We have been twice, so far. We loved both Monster's University and Despicable Me 2. 

• Eli did VBS a couple weeks this summer...at our church and another nearby church. He had a blast and came home sharing Bible stories and singing songs each week. I volunteered at our church and had a wonderfully positive experience. I was able to keep Jonah with me and Jude went to the nursery...which he loved. He still asks when he can go back for "BBS."

• Story time at the library is always a hit for Jude. He loves the stories, songs, and puppet shows! (Eli tags along and tolerates it very well.)

• It rained a LOT this summer, so to beat the heat and stay dry, we had lots of crazy fun inside play time. Not many days go by without costumes and creative play. 

• But when we were going stir crazy and really needed to get outside, I would let the boys play in the rain. We even swam in the rain.

• When it wasn't raining, we had to brave the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes if we wanted to play outside. Bike riding has been a favorite sunny day activity, for sure.

• Unless we found one of these! Poor Jude literally froze with fear and couldn't move. He trembled and cried while I, quick, snapped a picture before scooping Jude up and taking him inside.

• Jude is a super duper trouble making toddler these days. He is one that you have to keep your eye on...when it is too quiet, you know there is trouble. Not once, but twice, while using the potty, I left to give him privacy only to come back and find this: 

• My sweet, Eli will still take a nap if he lets himself. I love it! And I believe he still needs one and should take one everyday. I love finding him in crazy sleeping spots....like under the bed! What?

• Summer days are long and oh so very crazy, so an evening stroll through Target sipping on a decaf Frappecino....alone was truly a treat. 

• We road tripped on up to Atlanta the weekend after the 4th of July to see our sweet friend, Michelle, marry the love of her life. Michelle is one of our youth group kiddos. She was only a freshman in high school when we joined the Core Team....hard to believe she is all grown up now. We had a fun drive, and it was a beautiful wedding. Eli was quite smitten by the bride (who he lovingly refers to as, "my friend, Michelle"), and he even caught the garter. Awesome. Right? 

Look Mommy, I'm a walrus!

• Jude mastered his fishy face and liked to practice by taking selfies with my phone.

• Jonah has been the best little tag-along, go-with-the-flow babe this summer. He loves to watch his brothers play and giggles at them. He is getting so big and so strong....even scooched himself off of his playmat in the blink of an eye one morning

There are only 2 weeks left of summer, and I'm sure we will fill them with all the fun and adventure we can. I know we have a beach trip planned, Eli has a sports camp next week, and a few play dates lined up to end summer on a high note. All of that is in addition to our normal, everyday fun stuff. I don't know if these boys know how lucky they are.