Summer 2012

Before our summer really began we headed to Texas at the end of April to say "goodbye" to Gigi.  We miss her very much but we are forever grateful that we had such a wonderful visit with her back in February.  We were also thankful that this time brought us all together and that the kids got to enjoy their cousins!

Our list of activities has kept us busy this summer!  So far we have seen Forts & Fairyhouses exhibit at Powell Gardens, as well as a Rapunzel puppet show!  We have been to Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, T-bones game, Science City & the Planetarium, The Nelson Atkins museum, the sprayground, had water balloon fights, gone fishing, caught fireflies, been on lots of picnics, gone to numerous story/craft times at the local bookstore, and lots of summer camps at church (Mini Chef, Fantastic Fairytales, Aloha over to the island of Hawaii, and Lego Camp!).  We have also had friends over to play and many evenings playing with our neighbor friends at the fountain! In other words we have been busy! And summer has gone by waaay too fast!
Here are some photos from our adventures below...

Gramsey & Clayton

Sam, me, and Auntie M

Cousins!

 

Having fun being silly!

Picnic!

All the cousins!

 Feeding the baby!

"Forts & Fairyhouses"

We never pass up a sample opportunity :)  These were all things grown in the garden at Powell Gardens

Then we waited for "Rapunzel" before viewing the rest of the forts and fairyhouses!

Sam was all smiles!

The "evil witch" (check out her scooter)

Picnic time!

More forts!

Then it was time to cool off!

We had a fun visit from our friend Mark from London!

Sam loves to paint!

Playing before the movie starts at the drive-in

Showing off his creative "rhino" costume

First night in his big boy bed!

We love to be outside!

Fun at the fountain!

Swinging at the fountain!

Clayton's latest artwork

Visiting an old friend :)

First day of "summer school"

CLAYTON:
- Clayton is very good at using his imagination in everyday play and amazes us with the contraptions he comes up with using just paper and a crayon
- He saw his first "drive-in" movie at the Boulevard Drive-In - Madagascar 3.  When we pulled in after having dinner at his favorite restaurant he declared it was "the best day ever!"
- His favorite show is "The Wild Kratts"
- He is enjoying his summer camps and Kids Day Out programs at church
- He enjoys playing soccer and baseball with daddy in the front yard
- He really likes to go off the high-dive at the pool, he is also tall enough this year to do the slides
- He likes playing on the playset in the backyard and using the swings as "vines" to get to the other side
- He is really liking baseball

SAM:
- Sleeping in a big boy bed now! (May 26, 2012)
- He is potty trained!(June 2012)
- Saw his first "drive-in" movie at the Boulevard Drive-In - Madagascar 3.
- Sam started Montessori school this summer and we have heard from the teachers he is "very eager to learn!"
- He loves to use sound effects when running through the house.  He will back himself up a couple of steps before "taking off"
- He likes to help in the kitchen
- He likes to play in the water, and LOVES the pool!
- His favorite show is Curious George.  Often his first words in the morning are "MONKEY!?"
- His favorite food is "yo-yo!", another first in the morning (referring to yogurt)
- He is putting 2-3 words together at a time, much improved over the last couple of months
- I close my eyes and say "where's mommy?" and he says "knock knock!"
- Really likes Worlds of Fun, talks about going to the "big boat!"
- Tells me to "GO!!" when the light turns green