Goings On

It always seems like once the 4th of July is over, the summer starts a slow and steady slide into fall and Back to School time.  This year it's no different.  There are really only a handful of weeks left before the kids will be heading back to school, which is so crazy to think about.  With the summer halfway over, it seems like a status update is due.  Here are the latest goings on...

Ethan

• Almost finished with A Series of Unfortunate Events -- he's got 60 pages left in the last book.
• Still engrossed in the Blog Books and waiting anxiously for 2012 and 2013 to arrive.
• Really excited for his first paying gig as a lawn boy.  Hahaha.  Our neighbors across the street are going on vacation and are hiring him to cut the grass while they're gone and water all the flowers every day.

Grace

•  Stayed up late last night to finish the last 200 pages of Anne of Green Gables!
• Has convinced me to pay her $150 if she can read 10,000 pages by the end of the month. {She's at 4,000 right now}.
• Really wants to buy an iPod Touch at the end of the summer with all of her "earnings."

 Sophie

•  Majorly skinned her knee the other day while trying to ride her scooter to the pool, and has been hobbling around ever since.
• No longer NEEDS a life jacket at the pool!
• Made a deal with Grace to buy a case for the future iPod Touch in exchange for the occasional screen time.

Jane

•  Started swimming like a fish this week!  At least underwater.  Seriously -- I'm kind of blown away with how LONG she can hold her breath while swimming underwater.  Now we just need to work on coming up for air while still staying afloat.
• Has become an emergent reader extraordinaire!  It started with some "I Can Read" Biscuit books that I bought at Costco, and has spread to other basic, beginner books as well.
• Totally made me laugh out loud the other night when she dreamily exclaimed out of nowhere:  "I love fireflies! I watch them every night out my window when it gets dark."  Hahaha.  How cute is that??

Alex

•  Parted ways with elephant a couple of weeks ago.  We lost him for a couple of night's in a row, and after the initial tears and sadness subsided, he kind of moved on.  And then -- even once we found him again -- he was no longer in need of his constant companionship. {This honestly breaks my heart, which I know is kind of ridiculous.}
• Requests made-up songs at bedtime on a regular basis.  His favorite is one I make up about the pool.
• Now includes Power Rangers in his inner circle of favorite super hero guys.  Hahaha.

 Me

• Signed up to run a half-marathon on AUG 30! Boom Shakalaka, baby!  Hahaha.

Scott

•  Still livin' the dream.  Hahaha.

And that is that.  Now the only thing left that NEEDS to be done before school starts is register Jane for Kindergarten.  :)

Summer!