Kicking Off the Summer

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, we headed over to Indiana the day after school let out, to spend Memorial Day weekend with the cousins.  Scott's sister Kristin then made my kids' whole summer by inviting them to stay on for the rest of the week, after Scott and I headed back with Isaac on Monday afternoon.  

My kids were in heaven hanging with their cousins and kicking off their summer in style!  The only real downer of the weekend, was the fact that the baby was an absolute nightmare of a sleeper the whole time we were there.  To the point where I'm semi-seriously reconsidering our epic cross-country road trip coming up next month.  We're talking he screamed/cried for hours at a time when trying to put him to bed or down for a nap and woke up every couple hours all night long while we tried to sleep.  Apparently, he doesn't handle changes in routine very well.  Doh!  

{Matching braids!}

Before Scott and I left on Monday, we headed down to their neighborhood marina for some fun on a pontoon boat.  I get motion sick on carousel rides, so I hadn't even stepped foot on the boat before the slightly bobbing dock was already urging me to sit the fun out.  Hahaha.  Isaac and I had fun taking selfies on the side, while everyone else had a lovely time out on the water.  :)

{Alex and his mentor, Ben.  Hahaha.  We have all decided that Alex's personality is eerily similar to his older cousin's.}

Once Scott, the baby, and I headed home, the kids lived it up with the cousins for the rest of the week!  Highlights of their week included late nights, movies, lots of candy and treats, swimming (at the pool and the marina), snap chatting, and making a trip up to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  They had such a blast!  The only lowlights occurred with some random throwing up from Grace one night, and Jane the next.  Thankfully, no one else seemed to catch this bug, and it was SUPER short-lived for the two of them.  Kristin certainly deserves a prize for taking care of this crew.  :)

The boys raced against the girls to see who could make the fastest "pit stop" at the Indy 500.  :)

{Scuba Jane!  Hahahaha.}

I'd say the summer is off to a great start...  

From Mugshot to Man of the Hour

It's been almost a month now, but I can't NOT document Alex's passage from surly 3 year old preschooler, to smiling 4 year old Pre-K graduate...  

{last year's school picture vs. this year's}

When Jane graduated two years ago, Scott was out of town, and the boys didn't want to go, so it was just me and the girlie bugs enjoying the spectacle.  This time around, I convinced everyone we should make it a full family affair!  And for once, they agreed to come along.  :)

To our surprise and delight, Alex actually participated in all aspects of the graduation!  Parade of letters?  Check!  Singing of songs?  Check, again! Walking across the stage to shake hands, accept his diploma, and smile for the camera?  Check, check, and check!  He's come quite a ways since his preschool beginnings two years ago.

 {I love how his teacher is pointing to me to show him where to look and smile.}

 That kid.  :)

Once the program was over, he made a beeline for the treats in the reception hall and refused to pose for any other pictures.  Oh well!  At least I was able to convince him to take a picture with his teachers at the end-of-year school picnic a couple days later.  ;)  After scarfing down some cupcakes and cookies, we were on our way home to get the little ones in bed.  

 That face, though.  Hahaha.

Once home, I insisted on a couple more pictures with my graduate {and a few others with the schnookems --  since it was his half birthday} and that was our night!  I can't believe Alex will be starting Kindergarten in the fall.  Let's hope they're ready for him!  Hahahahaha.  :)

Getting This Party Started

***

12 Weeks of Summer Reading Challenge

1. A book based on a Fairy Tale or Mythology
2. Your choice
3. A book that's been made into a movie
4. A book you can finish in a day
5. A science fiction book
6. A book recommended by a family member
7. A graphic novel or mystery
8. A book published in 2016
9. Historical Fiction
10. A non-fiction book
11. An award-winning book (Newberry, etc.)
12. A book (or series) you started, but never finished

***

Because, oh yeah, we know how to party up in here!  Hahaha.  I devised a "12 Weeks of Summer Reading Challenge" a couple of weeks ago, and told the kids we could go to Barnes & Noble on the first day of summer vacation to pick out one of the books on their list.  So, last Friday, we kicked things off in style!  :)
Before heading out that evening to spend Memorial Day weekend with "the Aunt Kristins," we browsed the aisles and children's section of the book store and came away with a book for everyone, and only a couple of extra add-ons that I was promised I'd be reimbursed for.  ;)

{Our haul: Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Wednesday Wars, The Maze Runner, The Sword of Summer, The Day the Crayons Quit, First Look and Find: Paw Patrol}

I'm excited to see what the kids actually end up reading this summer and if our cash money incentive for completing the challenge is enough to get them to do it.  Haha.  So far, they seem more excited about it than I expected, so we'll see how things play out...

{On their docket:
Ethan -- Code Orange (school assignment), Uprising (school assignment), Enchantment, The Maze Runner, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School, Among the Hidden, The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Theodore Boone: The Scandal, Ender's Game, Fablehaven

Grace -- Magnus Chase series, The Wednesday Wars, The Maze Runner, Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Among the Hidden, Uglies, Smile, Echo, Fever, Hatchet, Cinder

Sophie -- Percy Jackson series, The Baby-sitters Club: Kristy's Big Idea (graphic novel), The Giver, Clementine book 3, A Wrinkle in Time, The Last Holiday Concert, The Baby-sitters Club: The Truth About Stacy (graphic novel), Rollergirl, Calpurnia Tate book 2, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Ever After High

Jane -- Whatever After: Fairest of All, The Wide Window, Aliens for Breakfast, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Smile, Rollergirl, American Girl book, state books, The Day the Crayons Quit, Clementine book 1}