Summer Recap (6/24-6/28)

This week I made a goal to swim everyday because I feel like we need to be outside more and I need to be better at  losing weight.  So Monday morning we went swimming with some friends and then did nothing the rest of the day.  Since the kids knew it was Make it Monday they really wanted to make something and Andrew had an idea to make Wolverine masks, so when Todd got home he helped make them. 

At the pool Monday I found out that our pool would be closed Tuesday and Wednesday for repairs so there went my plan to swim everyday.  Tuesday morning a good friend called and invited us to swim in her neighborhood pool (which is our old neighborhood).  It was nice to do something different but my kids weren't into playing with anybody but each other.  In the afternoon we headed to the library for Time to Read Tuesday.  The kids already finished the library's summer reading program.  They have really been doing well with reading, especially Andrew.  I got some bad news, on Wednesday, my stepmother died.  I still am in shock, but now our plans for next week will have to change because I need to be there for my dad.  But we still went to the summer movie Ice Age 4 for our What Ya Watchin' Wednesday.  It was a disaster at first. Because of the news we were a little later than usual and got out of our routine.  The kids ended up leaving our seats and having a meltdown and walking around the theatre.  I almost regretted going, but I needed to do something to get my mind off of things.  For Tasty Treat Thursday Todd and the kids made delicious Caramel and Chocolate Covered Pretzels.  I found the recipe here.  They were so yummy we will be making them again for sure.  Todd took off work today so we could pack up and leave for Utah early tomorrow morning and to allow me to take my mind off the situation.  So while Todd was home doing laundry and packing things for our trip the kids and I went with the Hatch's to The Phoenix Children's Museum.  They had received a coupon that made it a great deal that we could not pass up.  It was 3 floors of fun for the kids.  They have a "noodle forrest" which is over 2,000 pool noodles hanging from the ceiling that you get to go through and it was a big hit for my kids.  We spent about four hours just doing all the activities.  It was so much fun.

So even though our original plan was to leave Sunday for California to spend the week of the 4th of July with Todd's cousins, plans changed, obviously.  But I would do whatever I need to do to be their for my Dad (or any family).

Summer Recap (6/17-6/22)

This week for Make it Monday we made Firework paintings that I found here.  The kids needed a little more help with it than I thought, but I think they turned out nicely. 

Also my Mom got my family free tickets to the Diamondbacks game, so we took the train downtown after Todd got off work and enjoyed the game.  They played the Miami Marlins and it was an okay game but they lost by one run in the 9th. 

Tuesday we went swimming in the morning and for our Time to Read Tuesday we went to the library.  The kids are doing great on their summer reading program at the library.  The summer movie this week was The Lorax which I saw was on Netflix, so I just had the kids watch it at home so we didn't need to go to the movie theatre.  Then we went to my Mom's and watched shows on her DVR, so for What Ya Watchin' Wednesday we watched a lot of shows.  Thursday we met the Adam's at the San Tan Splash Pad. 

We also went and picked up some free books the kids received from the Barnes and Noble summer reading program. It is a lot smaller than most splashed pads, but the kids had fun.  Then for our Tasty Treat Thursday we made Caramel Rice Krispie treats which I did not think were very good.  Friday was Todd's day off so for Somewhere Fun Friday he took the kids bowling.  We always sign up for the Free Summer Bowling, but we don't go very often because it is on the other side of town.  Todd and the kids seemed to have fun though. 

Saturday we did another Lowes Build and Grow project.  The kids made Monsters University trunks.  Todd had a little trouble and put a piece on the wrong side but at least we can tell them apart now. 

Another fun week was had!

Summer Recap (6/10-6/15)

Okay so this week for Make it Monday we made some awesome Bead Suncatchers. 

I heard they make your house smell so I waited til Todd go home and melted them on the bbq.  I used this link.  But since we had to wait til Todd got home we decided to make some other things.  We made summer snow from this blog and we also made foam dough found here.

For Time to read Tuesday we went to the library.  We also had the Reed's over for some swimming fun.  What ya Watchin' Wednesday was the summer movie program's Madagascar 3 which neither Rory nor myself had seen before and it was a good movie.  For Tasty Treat Thursday we made cake mix cookie bars because I thought they looked pretty easy to have the kids help with.  I found the recipe here and we used regular M&Ms and chocolate chips.  They were tasty! 

Friday for our Somewhere Fun Friday we went to the Tempe Beach Park Splash Pad with some friends.  The kids and I had a lot of fun. 

Then Friday night the kids had a sleepover at my Mom's.  Todd had a hike planned the next morning with his Scout troop, so it allowed me to sleep in.  Saturday my Mom took the kids to see Epic and the kids seemed to like it.  It was another fun week.

Summer Recap (6/3-6/8)

Well I feel like the first week of my semi structured week went well.  Monday we made Sponge Balls or Bombs.  I found a ten pack of sponges at the Dollar Tree and used this link.  They were not to difficult to make and the kids like them so I guess that was a hit, especially on the trampoline with the sprinkler on.

 

Tuesday we had some friends the Hatch's over to go swimming and then went to the library in the afternoon.  Wednesday we went to the summer movies and saw Hotel Transylvania.  It is a weird but cute movie.  And the kids have been pretending to be zombies since.  Thursday we made vanilla pudding pops.  They were easy to make and turned out ok.  And again we had some friends, the Maabs, over to swim.  And Friday Todd had off work and it was somewhere fun Friday, so after a lot of deliberation we decided to go to Gameworks.  We had never taken the kids there or gone to the Gameworks in Arizona, but we had coupons and knew we could play for a couple hours for close to free so off we went.  I think we all enjoyed ourselves.  They had this fun driving game where the seats moved and there was a video camera that watched you while you were driving.

Saturday we had scheduled the kids to go make Monsters University scarers at Lowes.  The kids have made stuff there before, but I have never gone.  It takes a lot of patience but the finish project is very cute.

2 weeks down and 8 more to go.  I feel like it is going to go by so fast.

Trip to Utah

We found out a while ago that Nicole's cousin Kylee was going to get married in Utah. Since we haven't seen Amy's family since Andrew was a baby, we decided to make the trip to Utah. Mom and Trish decided to go also, so we loaded into the minivan and headed up there.  We left early Thursday morning and we made really good time.  We arrived at Aunt Cecille's house in Orem around 2:30pm.  Nicole's cousin Marcie and her family were going to come over for dinner that night, so we gave the kids a nap, so they could stay up a bit late.  The rest of the day we hung out with Marcie and Cami's families and got ourselves situated.  The next day was Kylee's wedding.  She got married in the Oquirrh Mountain temple.  We left the kids with some of Nicole's younger cousins who couldn't go into the sealing.  We went up to the sealing room and ended up waiting for a really long time (almost an hour).  It didn't help that the groom arrived at the same time we did, which was 30 minutes later than he was supposed to.  It was a very nice sealing, and Kylee and Spencer looked very happy together.  When the sealing was over, we went to find our kids.  They were with their cousins.  Apparently Andrew really took a liking to Danica and Kriselle and Rory to Kaitlyn.  While we were waiting for the bride and groom to come out of the temple Andrew wanted to borrow my phone to take some pics.

 The happy newlyweds finally came out and we took pictures and then headed to Highland for the luncheon.

The luncheon was really good, and one of the interesting things was that Spencer's family as a matter of tradition roasted the groom and Kylee's family followed suit by roasting her as well.  After the luncheon we took the kids back to Aunt Cecille's for a nap.  The reception began at 6pm, but our kids were taking a really good nap, so we decided to go a bit later since they were going to be up late.  We got to the reception and had a lot of fun eating, dancing, spending time with family, etc. 

Congratulations to Kylee and Spencer!

On Saturday we just hung out, ran some errands to get ready to head home, and then had a bbq that night with most of Nicole's cousins.  It was really nice to visit with family that we haven't seen for a while.  One fun thing that we learned was that Suzie's family have gotten into motorcycles.  Everyone but Kriselle and Suzie have one and Suzie is getting one soon.  I mentioned that I have always wanted to ride on one, but Nicole doesn't want me to.  Then Nicole said that she wouldn't mind, so I borrowed Kriselle's helmet and went for a ride with Bruce on his motorcycle.  It was a rush!  I'm sure I'll never have one, but I wouldn't mind going for a ride every once in a while.

Summer Break Has Officially Started

Rory and Andrew are both out of school.  The three day weekend has ended and it is our first day of official summer break.  This summer I am really wanted it to be semi structured and laid back.  I came up with a way to organize my weeks.  Monday is going to be our make something Monday and we will make crafts or fun things to play with.  Tuesday will be time to read Tuesday and we will either go to the library or read books we have.  Wednesday is going to be what ya watchin' Wednesday and we will go to the summer movies that day (Andrew's favorite day).  Thursday is going to be tasty treat Thursday and we will either make something tasty or go buy something new to try.  Friday will be our go somewhere fun Friday.  I hope this helps to have some structured fun.  Todd is losing his ride to work mid June so we will have some days without a car unless I feel like driving him everyday, so I wanted days we could do things around the house.  I am sure we will still watch some television and of course a lot of swimming.
So since Monday was a holiday and on Thursday we are headed out of town I won't be starting my weekly plan til next week but today we decided to make some fun star cookies.  Rory has been begging for.  So here are some silly pictures of our first official day of summer break.