Last Week of Break

This week has been busy...we've marked things off the to-do list like haircuts for everyone and school shoe shopping.  And we've filled in the rest of the time with "let's-make-the-most-of-the-last-week-of-summer" activities.  

Tuesday:

It rained so we spent some time at the indoor playground. 

Then we went shoe shopping.  Mrs. Julie is so nice!

 Next stop-lunch date at Old Mill!

That afternoon Alexee had a hair appointment.  She told Mrs. Debbie SEVERAL times that she only wanted a tiny bit cut off.

C during her appointment--chose his own outfit.  And doesn't everyone take a Nerf gun to the salon?

Wednesday:

We met several friends at JumpZone and had a blast!  Hadn't been there in a long time, and the kids loved it.

 Then it was the boys' turn to "take haircuts"--that's what C calls it.  :)

 Big excitement about mail time that day...teacher cards were due to arrive!

Alexee and I made sugar cookies.  The boys didn't want to help.

 Thursday:

Shipley's Donuts for breakfast and a morning at the park enjoying this AWESOME weather we are having!  It feels like October--I LOVE it!

So glad my friend Emily and her kids were able to meet us there on short notice.  It was a beautiful day!

Thursday night was Meet The Teacher Night at R & A's school and Friday morning was Open House at C's preschool (separate post).  And to finish out the last week of break, our neighbor Laura organized a cul-de-sac pizza party and adults vs. kids kickball game!  We are blessed to have such nice neighbors.  Here are just some of the kids from our street (the boys are obviously outnumbered!). 

Branson Trip

We had a nice back-to-school trip to Branson, MO, last week.  Rhett has been excited about going to Silver Dollar City again so he could ride the new roller coaster, Outlaw Run.  The Treehouse Condo was great and had a beautiful view of Table Rock Lake.  It was also fun for the kids because it had a cozy loft bedroom--they all slept upstairs together.

 Crosby and I played a few games of Zingo!

It was raining as we were walking into Silver Dollar City, but it stopped shortly after we got through the gate and didn't rain again while we were there-yay!  It wasn't crowded at all until after noon when the sun came out!

We split up for most of the time.  Lane and Rhett went to ride all the big rides while I took Alexee and Crosby to the kiddie rides.  

 We all met up for lunch.

 The carousel at "Half Dollar Holler"

 They both loved the Treetop Trail--they went through this several times.

train ride around the park

(It's a small world--we ran into one of my sister's best friends.  They sat right behind us on the train.  Hi, DeeDee!)

 Rhett tried the Oreo funnel cake.

 It was such a fun day!

We hurried back to the condo to take baths and go to dinner with my parents.  We were so happy they drove up to meet us at Joe's Crab Shack!

Alexee coloring with Mo

Rhett enjoying a "Shark Nibbler"

After dinner we walked down to the water.

Ready for the water show.

 Mom & Dad

 Breakfast at Panera Bread

On Friday, Lane dropped us off with my Mom so that we could go to their house for one night.  Lane had to go back to work on Saturday.  My sister and her kids were coming to Flippin too, so we had fun with them.  (I didn't take many pictures).  My grandparents came over and brought homemade bread, we played on the swing set and the kids played basketball.  Rhett helped Mo feed and Crosby and Alexee went on farm buggy rides with Grandad and Alexee came back with a huge bouquet of surprise lilies (that made us all sneeze--ha!).

It has rained there every day in August so far, which is just crazy.  It's usually 105 degrees and the grass is usually dry and brown!  But everything is very green and pretty this year--I like this kind of August!

The kids never want to leave there, but it was extra hard for Rhett this time for some reason.  He said it was because summer is over and we won't get to go back for a long time.  I felt so bad for him.  And I agree...it's a sad feeling knowing summer break is coming to an end.  It has been a great 2 1/2 months.  I've enjoyed the time with the kids, and I'm not ready to get back into the busy school routine.

More School Supplies, Climbing Camp and more

Well, sadly summer break is coming to an end.  I can't believe it is August 11th...school starts a week from tomorrow.  I thought I'd try to catch up...

Fun morning swimming with our friend Reid

School supplies shopping with my FIRST GRADER!  

Rhett had a great week at rock climbing camp (week of 7/29).  This was his third year to attend, and he still loved it. This had to be good exercise!  I'm so happy he had fun.  This is him almost to the top of the wall on the left!  

Last Friday night we packed a picnic and ate dinner at the park.  The weather has been so strange here lately.  We've had cooler temps and a lot of rain for August.

I'm honestly not ready for school to start!  It's been a fun summer with these sweeties.  I'm going to miss hanging out with them. 

Last Saturday was pet clean-up day.  Bogart and Joey both had baths, I cleaned out Joey's cage and David (our fish) got clean water.  Alexee helped me with the guinea pig's bath.  He's looked so cute and fluffy after we dried him with the hair dryer!  ha!

Saturday breakfast:  monkey bread, sausage casserole and peaches

Watching cartoons/jumping on the couch

Saturday evening I took the kids swimming again.  No sunscreen makes for easier trips! 

 C said, "See, Momma, I'm like Spider-Man. I can stick to walls."

One rainy day we cleaned/reorganized the playroom and made a corner art area for Alexee.  She added her markers, crayons, paper, scissors, etc., and we hung her art camp canvases.

And, last Tuesday we had another fun day swimming with friends!  

Thankful for lots of sweet summer memories.