Rain, Rain Go Away

Our summer came to a temporary halt last week when we had 7 straight days of rainy, cloudy, gloomy and stormy weather.  Tropical Storm Debby hovered over Florida just long enough to make us have to get really creative in entertaining our kids.  

Rainy Day Activity #1:  Sand Art.

I'm not really an artsy and crafsty kind of gal, but we needed something to do last Saturday morning.  So, the kids and I headed to the craft store in search a of a "fun" and "easy" craft, appropriate for both a 2 and 4 year old.  We came home with a Sand Art kit and let's just say, thank goodness Todd was home to help!

All smiles as she ripped open all the colored sand!

It just became easier to do Ross' for him and let him do his own thing with the sand!

Ta-Da!  Our finished Sand Art!

Just hangin' on the couch

Rainy Day Activity #2:  Bowling.

Kids Bowl Free all summer long, so we though we'd give it a try.  Ross was up first.  We threw the ball together and he was so proud!  So proud, in fact, he ran down the lane after the ball.  Oops.  Neither of had a clue how slippery the other side of the lane was.  We had a big crash, but after tears were wiped and tailbones were rested, we got back out there!

Who knew they had little ramps for little kids?!  Perfect for our first time bowlers!

Rainy Day Activity #3: S'mores on a Stick.

Stick, Dip and Roll...they were delicious!

The sun has finally returned and just in time for a little R&R over the 4th of July holiday!

The Great Outdoors

I finally got around to uploading my pictures from my camera to my computer and there is clearly a theme going here.  We've been outside.  A lot.  Swimming, playing, eating and just enjoying the summertime.  

Right before school got out, Bridget got to bring Daddy to school for Donuts with Dad.  So special that they squeeze this day into the very busy end of the year.  She was so proud to bring her Daddy to school with her!

And of course, Ross did not want to be left out of the pictures either...

Still lots of swimming whenever we can.

A fun dinner and game night with Grandma and Grandpa.

Last day of school for B.  Can't believe how much they've both grown since the first day and I can't believe we'll be sending BOTH of them off to preschool in just a couple of months!

Out front on a not so terribly hot night.

Loving on Daddy on Father's Day.  We made a road trip adventure down to Everglades City with my parents for some seafood on the water.

And while this picture doesn't fit it in with the outdoors theme of this post...HOW cute is he???

Just posing for mom early one morning!

Pool Rats

We simply can't get enough of the pool.  Yes, the summer is young-in fact technically it hasn't even begun-but so far, spending the day, the afternoon or even just an hour in the pool has yet to sound like a bad idea.

Bridget has finally turned into the little fish we had hoped she would.  Her swim lessons last summer freed her of the swimmies, but she was still a timid swimmer.  She didn't want to jump in, didn't want to get her face and head wet, and "swimming" was really just keeping afloat.  

Over the past month she has gradually been trying new things in the pool and we now have a real swimmer and a real jumper!

The swimmies have been passed down to Ross and so has a bit of that timidness.  He loves the pool, but is not quite ready to jump and go under.  But that's okay...we know it will happen when he's ready!

Having a Cheerio dinner one night after a dinnertime swim!

And chocolate donuts for breakfast the next morning:)

We've added a new feature to our backyard...a beach!  We did some re-landscaping and added a beach area for the kids to dig and play in.  It's messy and sticky just like the real beach, but tons of fun for the kids!

Sand Angels

Summer 2012 is underway!