Springs Preserve x 4...

Tuesday we headed for the Springs Preserve, you know, trying to squeeze all I can out of our year pass.  The kids always have a good time and we haven't even seen it all yet.

We discovered this whole new section that was mostly Egyptian and a lot about snakes.  The swinging bridge was a big hit.

There was also this huge snake that the kids could climb in.  Sort of gross to think of being eaten, digested and discarded.  Of course, the kids thought this was the best part of the day.

We stopped to paint snakes.

They love their snakes.

Dino Museum...

Lucky me, I managed to get sick the very first week of summer.  I spent an entire week on the couch while the kids watched Netflix.  Kendyl was an awesome babysitter though.  By Friday, I hauled myself to the doctor where I got a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia, had a breathing treatment and came home with 3 prescriptions for antibiotics, cough syrup and an inhaler.  The next week, I had plans to take the kids to the museums and have fun before we start up swimming lessons for the summer.  So I drug my sick self off the couch and took the kids out.  Big thanks to Arielle for coming with me and helping!!!  Our first stop for the week was the Dino Museum, aka the Natural History Museum.

The kids LOVE the dinosaurs.  They are also deathly afraid of the roaring of the dinosaurs and yet they cannot stop themselves from pushing the button.  Is there a name for this disorder?  Compulsive-phobia?  The irresistable urge to scare yourself.

The kids had fun and I only had to endure a couple of hours and then returned to my couch to rest.  It was good for all of us to get out of the house.  :)

Camping in comfort...

The kids had been talking about camping ever since the boys went to Valley of Fire on the father and sons campout.  So Steve set up the beach tent we have in the family room and the kids made themselves comfortable.

So convenient...perfect temperature, lights, food, bathroom, and when the kids won't sleep, beds are in the other room!



Cooling off...

The kids were ready to celebrate summer so we filled up the little kiddie pool and let them play.

They jumped off the slide, splashed each other and slid into the water.

Sawyer had second thoughts about going down the slide.

 

Leightyn was a little confused as to what all the fuss was about.  :)

 

I'm so cute!

 

First time in the pool.

 

No one told me the water was cold!!!!

 

I think we've outgrown this pool--we need a bigger one!

Last day of school...

Thursday was the last day of school and the kids only went for the morning.

Teacher gifts and snacks for class parties.

Loved this idea on pinterest.  I filled a bucket with fun things to do this summer.  The boys were so anxious to pull things out they could hardly wait!

Thanks to Mrs. Aubrey for carpooling with us this year!  She picked up the kids for the last day.

The girls were so surprised and they were all happy to tear into the bucket!

Happy 1st day of Summer!!!!