Summer Fun

School has let out for the summer and we have had a blast so far! WOOO HOOO! I have been meaning to blog about what we have been up to each time we have done something fun, but somehow time is getting away from me and if I don't start blogging about something soon summer will be over!

Last day of kindergarten

So school let out just before Memorial day. I had a little bit of a hard time with it. Not because my boys will be home all the time now- I am really looking forward to spending time with them! I had mixed feelings because Kindergarten was over. They are no longer little kids. They grew up right before my eyes. I went from praying to make it through the day to praying that time will SLOW DOWN now. They are so much fun!! I really do cherish every moment with them.

OK, back to the last day of school- we decided to celebrate by going out to lunch with Matt and then we went to Build-A-Bear workshop. Alex had been begging to go for awhile and so I decided now was a good time as any to go. I had no idea how involved this process was. It wasn't just a pick a teddy bear and stuff him. It was much more involved.
They had to warm this little heart they stuffed inside the bear. They "bathed" them. They dressed them. We got birth certificates. I have to admit it was kind of cool. I would have totally been into this if I was their age!
Our summer was officially off to a great start!!

Another day I took the boys to paint pottery. Each kid chose something different to paint. Zach chose to paint a mug in stripes. Josh painted a rainbow scene on a plate. And Alex chose a car box to keep his special treasures in.
It was fun. I do have to admit I had a hard time keeping my mouth shut- telling them what colors to paint where, what would look best, etc. But I did. After all- it is their art not mine!

We have been judo weekly. They are LOVING it!! Especially now that they have their uniforms.
Look out everyone- they think they are professionals now! In the picture its Josh, Alex and Zach- just in case you were wondering.

This week they have been doing tennis. I love this tennis camp that we do. We did it last year too. The coaches do a really great job teaching the kids AND making it fun!! Everyone smiles and laughs the whole time. As do I- as I get to hang out with some of my friends too!!
Alex has another wiggly tooth (number 2) and every time I look at him lately- no matter what he is doing- he has his hand in his mouth wiggling it away! :)

They also started their art classes. Zach and Josh are doing a general art class. **BRAG ALERT** I was sitting out in the hall waiting for their class to finish up and their teacher came out and told me how GIFTED they are in art!! Not that I didn't know this- they are REALLY creative. Zach tells everyone he wants to be an artist when he grows up- but it is nice to hear from an art teacher that they are gifted!!

Alex, of course, wanted NOTHING to do with that type of art- so he is taking drum lessons. Not sure that was the wisest parenting decision but he LOVES it!! That's all that matters right?

Today we went bowling. I think everyone had fun. Josh and Zach got a tad jealous that Alex got a spare and they didn't but that's ok. It's not like they will never get one themselves! They have in the past they will do it again I am sure!
As you can see we are having a blast! And this doesn't include all the playing with the neighborhood kids (or other various play dates)! Have I mentioned lately how much I love our new neighborhood? I really do. The kids get along so great and have so much fun! It's heaven!! I think this may just be the best summer yet!

And the Sports Have Begun

Matt and I decided long ago that we weren't going to sign the boys up for activities until they started to ask to do them. We have various reasons for this decision- partly cost, but mostly time. It's a big commitment one makes when one signs your kids up for stuff. And if that said kid isn't interested anyway- it just seems silly. Time is a precious thing. With that being said- they have been in swimming since they were very little. That is a skill we feel is important to know. Anyway, this year the boys started to ask to do stuff. A couple of weeks ago they went to a tennis camp in Elkhorn.

It was great! At first, Alex fought me the most on it. He didn't want anything to do with tennis. But I knew that if I signed up Josh and Zach and not Alex then I would spend the next week and a half listening to Alex whine that he wanted to play. So I went with my gut feeling and "forced" Alex to try it out. And he LOVED it!! All three of them did!! They had a blast!

Zach (orange shirt) Alex (blue shirt) Sam (red shirt)

The head coach from Elkhorn HS and an assistant coach taught them, along with help form the Elkhorn HS tennis team. It was great.

Josh and Zach

They played games while working on skills! I may be biased, but I think all three of them are pretty good. I am excited to take them out and play with them!! If it every stops raining that is!

Ben, Sam, Alex

What I loved most about it (besides the awesome coaches and teachings) was that we did it with a couple of friends. While our kids played tennis I got to chat with 2 great friends (Amy and Missy) for a whole hour for 7 sessions straight!! How often do I get to do that?!? Not very! Plus the boys had fun seeing their friends Sam and Ben, too.

Ben, Zach, Josh, Sam, and Alex

On a side note-Did you notice that both Josh and Zach are wearing orange?!? That week and a half they decided to dress the same/similar every day. They said they wanted to confuse me! Sigh. And so this begins. :)

They loved tennis camp. What's cool is that they practice in our front yard now. Hmmm, maybe that isn't so cool. But as of yet no windows have been broken. *knock on wood* We have lost some balls down the sewer. But they are having fun and that is what matters! Right?

After tennis camp we moved onto golf. I blogged about that here. After golf, we will move onto swimming lessons again. Its the summer of sports! That's ok. Its been fun. Now they are asking to play baseball and soccer. So I guess that will be what's next for us. Good bye "free" time- Hello to my new job of chauffeur! Now, tennis anyone?