The girls first full day of summer was busy running
Carly’s EPIC business (see previous post). Jason and Katie spent the morning of
their first summer day at swim lessons.
Unfortunately, Drew’s level was full and he couldn’t take lessons until
later in the summer when all three of the littlers did a four day session.
By the end of the second session Jason had
progressed from a Youth 4 level to the highest Youth 5 level. Some days Jason was the only kid is his
class so it was great to get some extra attention. Katie has a few skills left to work on before she can move
up from Youth 2.
People love Drew and he has the cutest little
personality, but he often plays hard to get. As a result, I wasn’t sure how Drew would take to
swimming lessons.He was totally
pumped to go to the pool, but got miffed when his class didn’t start until
after Jason and Katie’s was finished.So when it came time to get in the pool he was less than thrilled.In fact once in, he hung onto the
little swim stand for probably half of the first the class.I walked out of the pool and peeked on
him from the window until he started cooperating.He ended up loving the class, though he refused all week to
put on the floaties and instead would just try to swim without any
floatation.The kid isn’t at all
afraid of the water, he just wants to do it his own way.Stinker.Clearly he loved it.
The first full day of summer was Carly’s first EPIC
work day. Abigail wanted to get in
on the gig this summer since she knew she was going to be so busy during this
summer that she wouldn’t be able to babysit as much as she did last year. Over the course of the summer the girls
cleaned 67 containers – up from the 59 from last summer. Since Abigail got a cut of the profits Carly didn’t make
as much from EPIC as she did last year, but she more than made up for that by
taking on many babysitting jobs that Abigail had to turn down. I love to see my kids working hard and
learning the value of money.
EPIC only lasted through August 1 – I could have
reposted it on the neighborhood facebook page to get a few more before school
started but Carly was ready to be done and had made good money.That girl is a hard worker!She gets high praises on her work and ended
up with approx 9% in tips.Even
the trashman stopped to give Carly $5 one morning.Apparently, they formed a bit of a friendship last summer
and he has been impressed to see her out there each week working hard.
Carly will tell you that Abigail wasn’t the fastest
or most meticulous of workers.
The powerwasher was a huge help this year!
Some weeks we’d arrange to pickup the containers on
trash day and clean them the following day – that way Carly could work two days
a week instead of just the one.That meant our backyard looked pretty sketchy.
It was another great summer cleaning trash
containers! Hopefully
Carly will be up for another EPIC summer next year.
Our last day of school was a little later than originally
scheduled since we had a few snow days to make up – the kids last day ended up
being Monday, June 19. School was
only a few hours that morning so both the girls made separate plans to go
paddleboarding with friends that afternoon.
Carly was miffed I made her wear a lifejacket :)
Abigail was also supposed to be wearing a
lifejacket – let’s just assume they only took them off for the sake of a good
photo.
Lunch dates started right away – Carly was up first
and chose Cheesecake Factory.
The Squires asked us to join them on a double date
hiking up Little Si.This was my
first time up this trail.It’s a pretty
easy climb and doing it with friends made it even more enjoyable.We finished off the evening
replenishing the calories burned at the North Bend Bar & Grill.
It’s not unusual for Abigail to make us cookies around
here.This time Drew got to help
her and he loved being involved.
Also
not unusual is for Drew to be running around the house in only undies :)
Drew has gotten into singing lately and we’ll often
hear him break into song at the most random times.Usually they are primary songs.I took a video one night of Jason and Drew singing while
they were supposed to be going to sleep.It starts as just singing and then switches to a competition
{figures}.It’s a long video, but
it’s easier for me to just post the whole thing instead of trying to edit it down.Besides I love listening to Drew’s
little voice.
I posted this picture on Instagram with the
following caption:“We’re not big
gift givers around here so when my Mom asked for ideas of something she could
send Drew for his birthday I honestly couldn’t think of anything.To teach me a lesson she sent just what
every mother wants – TWO HUNDRED BALLS!!! #wishshewashere”
The kids are actually really good about keeping the
balls upstairs in the bonus room.But clearly that wasn’t the case on this particular day.
Abigail went to EFY with her cousin Hallie during
the last week of June.I’m sure there
are plenty of pictures she took, but these are the pre-EFY pictures Tami sent
to me when she dropped them off in Tacoma.
She had a great week and is already talking about
attending AEFY next summer in Idaho.
Working out in the summer was tough for me to fit
in.The girls were so busy during
the summer that when I was able to go I needed to take the littlers with
me.They didn’t mind since they child
watch areas usually took them outside to play.Jason actually preferred to exercise in the gym with me if I
wasn’t doing a class.He’s stamina
impressed me – he could plug along side me on the elliptical for an hour and he
enjoyed doing some weight machines afterward as well.He got into listening to audiobooks this summer and liked to
listen to them while he exercised.
Someday this boy of mine will run circles around
his Mama – stronger, faster, taller.
Can’t we just slow this growing up business down?
Justin
attended the Donuts with Dad event with Katie and Jason before school.
Jason had a fun field trip to the planetarium.I joined up with the 4th grade
classes afterward at the park for lunch and games.Drew was so excited to eat lunch with his big brother and
added bonus was that Jersey Mikes had an awesome deal so we stepped it up and
ate well.
This picture was taken earlier in the school year
(when he clearly needed a haircut) with Jason and his teacher Ms. Coleman.Carly had Ms. Coleman for third grade
and we loved that Jason was also able to have her as a teacher.
Jason was going to be the only boy at Aubrey Gibbs
birthday party – he wouldn’t have minded, but was glad that Aubrey’s mom
extended an invite to his best buddy Matthew.Unfortunately, both Aubrey and Matthew will be back at Fall
City Elementary next year.Good
news is that they will all be reunited the following year when they enter
middle school.
I don’t remember the story behind this picture, but
it was certainly unusual for Drew to fall asleep mid-day.He looks so nice and cozy in my chair
doesn’t he?
Oh, wait now the above pictures are making sense
when I see these next ones…
My little guy was sick.Despite the evidence of buckets nearby I don’t think there
was much vomiting involved, but he was running a fever off and on for several
days and was so, so sleepy.
I couldn’t miss Katie’s end of the year celebration
– in typically Katie fashion she didn’t have a speaking part in the little show
the kids put together.Instead she
was one half of the “curtain” and had a couple parts where she walked across
stage silently holding a prop.I
hope someday she’ll be more comfortable being in front of others.
Drew was truly captivated.Poor kid.
Ms. Hedger had a fun photo booth we were able to
get a picture of her with Katie as well as a few of her buddies.
