It’s official, “The Summer of Fun!!!” began Monday morning, 9 am sharp.  Avery arrived with a backpack and bicycle in tow, and was met by 3 ladies who had been up before dawn, anxiously awaiting her arrival.  We made a banner, which means, we are fully prepared.  I ran out of snacks Day #1, but I have that banner.  The girls are blocking my great lettering which reads, “Welcome Avery to our Summer of Fun”.  The opportunity to spend an entire summer with my only niece makes me giddy right down to my toes.

I started us off perhaps a little too gung-ho.  What?  Me?  NO.  Avery fell asleep on the way home Monday and pretty much went straight to bed.  At least my house isn’t dull.

After a little play dough and drawing, Grandma Sally came over for some strawberry patch and sweet pea picking.  And picked we did.  And picked.  And picked.  And now we’ve nearly eaten them all because they are DELISH.  Goodness how my baby girls have grown.  Last year Kelly wasn’t even walking and this year she flew through the patch screaming that the strawberries were red and pink.  And “NO PEEK DA WHY ONES!”  (Don’t pick the white ones).

After lunch and quiet time (we’ll need to work a bit on the “quiet” part), we did some math lessons and a few rounds of memory.  Ooooo I luva a good game of memory.  Both girls are pretty solid on a 10-set, and I tried to push it to 16.  Nope.  Not quite there yet.

I have had my eye on this memory game at you know where for months.  I finally broke down and bought it with a little of the girls’ secret stash money.  Whenever they get money in cards, I put it away in an envelope, and spend it only when it is something I think they JUST MUST HAVE!  So thank you Pa Pa Bump, this gift is from you.

We ended with 2 hours of outdoor play that included the blow up pool, the hose, and several small watering cans.  After dinner and a bath, you’d think they’d be done.  BUT NO….how about a visit from BRYCEY?!!  It’s like someone won the lottery around here, and I think her name is Sara.

Brycey came over for a couple of days of fun.  On Tuesday we headed to the library with its kids’ computer games and green screen theater and beyond gigantic magnet wall (oh yes, and books…they have books there).  We tried to make a run through the sprinkler park at the Zoo, but the rain came, so we had to settle for a dolphin show.  What will today bring?  What adventures await us?  It’s Daddy’s birthday, so be on the look out for big birthday wishes and maybe some chocolate art.  Hold your breath, because it’s going to be MESSY.  Beyond your wildest imaginations…MESSY.  It just isn’t the Summer of Fun!!! until I get the kids to use melted chocolate during art time.

And I’ve discovered a new solution to getting caught in the rain at the Zoo: squeeze 4 kids into one wagon and cover them with the towels you were going to use at the sprinkler park.  THEN RUN!  RUN!  Get home, dry everyone off, and come down with the flu.  4 kids healthy as horses, and I woke up this morning with the flu.  I must have forgotten to dry myself off!