Summer Shenanigans

Now that we have started the "ber" months (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER... which are my absolute favorite months!!!!), I thought we should reflect on our fun summer before we move on in life.  Lol!  In some ways, this summer was a bit more low key than past summers: we didn't move anywhere, or make a trip home to Missouri (bummer), or visit Yellowstone or any other national park; but, we did add a whole other human being to our family this spring (which is pretty life changing), and spent a lot of time together this summer, just relaxing and adjusting to our new lives as a family of FIVE!  And that was quite a bit of adjusting:)  So, here are some of our low-key, summer of 2017 memories:  (Minus our 4th of July celebrations, and things we did while Papaw was visiting... since I already posted about those things).

We started off our summer by going to a Renaissance festival.  It was the first time we have ever been to one and it was really fun.  Mitchell brought his sword as part of his "costume."  Lol!  And I love how he is pointing at the camera in this picture, as if he's coming to get ya and saying, "You're next!"

People definitely went all out on their costumes.

A good 'ole blacksmith.  Watching him kinda reminded me of being at Silver Dollar City.  Lol!

Mitchell also liked the blacksmith... oh wait, correction, he just really liked these ropes.  Haha, what is it with this kid and fences?  Lol!

And as Colin is demonstrating here, our summer included plenty of naps:)

When we weren't napping, we enjoyed crab hunting with friends.

Mitchell found a few crabs, but he was more interested in throwing rocks into the water.

Well, he liked throwing rocks AND getting his shoes wet.  All those kids down there, and mine is the only one that managed to soak his tennis shoes.  Lol!  (Of course, the others had their mothers nearby, while I was on the dock taking pictures.  Lol!)

Time to hang out with mommy on the dock and dry off those shoes.

The rocky beach wasn't stroller friendly, so Duncan and Colin hung out on the dock with me.

I tell ya, the views aren't too shabby in our town.  Can you spot Mount Rainier?

Yay!  You found it!

We also had plenty of indoor playtime.  Beep!  Beep!

We worked on our hobbies (painting) and perfected our crafts; this really was a summer of enlightenment.  Lol!

I don't think you are allowed to call it summer unless swimming pools and popsicles are present:)

Showing off your muscles is scarier when you have popsicle juice blood dripping down your arm.  Haha!

Summer trail exploring is the best!

Of course, it's not summer without some park play.

We were so excited to see the ice cream truck in our neighborhood!  Until we realized that buying ice cream from him was like when you feed a stray cat, and then the cat won't leave... he started coming down our street almost everyday after that.  Lol!

Loved snuggling with this guy all summer!

I decided trying to perfect my baking technique was more important than losing the baby weight this summer.  Hahaha!  I caught this little stinker dipping his beater back into the batter bowl to try and get seconds.  That's not how it works little buddy.  Lol!

On really hot summer days we just hung out in our underwear diaper:)

We did go blackberry picking with some friends.  Mitchell was a little unsure about those things.  Haha!

And when a blackberry busted in his hand, he went from a little unsure to a lot unsure.  Lol!  Poor kid, he was not having it!

We did go on several outings and have a lot of playdates throughout the summer.  This was a particularly fun afternoon when we met some friends at our town's Harbor Fountain Park.

Duncan loved this park!  I don't think he quite knew what to make of the "giant bathtub" (as he saw it) he could run through.  Haha!

We also read plenty of books, made crafts, and learned quite a bit this summer.  Here Mitchell is playing a game about looking for our planets.  He loves space, rockets, planets, stars, etc.  If NASA is still around when he's older, then I think he would love to be an astronaut (if his height won't hold him back... womp womp:).

Speaking of learning... that will lead us into the end of our summer, which was Mitchell's first day of school!  Well, first day of preschool anyway.  He only goes two days a week, for a couple of hours each day, and he absolutely loves it!  He's growing up so fast:(
Grade:  Pre-K (age 4)
Teacher:  Mrs. Weaver
"When I grow up":  He wants to be a doctor on a big boat

Thank you 2017 for the great summer!

Renaissance festival memories!  If you weren't watching this on 21st century technology, you might get confused and actually think you went back in time.  Haha!

When playing indoors, nothing can entertain these two like a basket or box.

Mitchell was so excited to show me this trick he learned... he figured out how to drink pool water that was dripping off of his hair.  Hahahaha!  Of course, the only thing that can ruin sipping your hair's pool water drops is snot.  Hahaha (funny and gross!). 

For some reason we were crazy enough to take the boys to Chuck-e-Cheese this summer.  It was kind of a hectic time for Chris and I, chasing the boys around everywhere, but at least they had a great time:)  And Mitchell enjoyed playing air-hockey against himself.  Lol!

This is just a typical summer day for these brothers.  Just hanging out with each other.  I hope they always enjoy spending time together.

Hahahaha!  This kid is a clean freak!  It could have been worse... there were other kids wiping their hands on their shirts and really staining their clothes while their parents freaked out.  Haha, but not my kid:)

Saturday, August 19, 2017... mark this date.  It is the first time that Colin rolled over and I was lucky enough to get it on video!!  Several times before this he would semi-try to rollover and get about halfway there, but then he would just stop.  But for some reason, I felt today was his day, and luckily I had my camera ready:)

Summer dance parties are the best!  And let me tell ya, Mitchell has got the moves!

"Knock Knock!"  He totally surprised me with this joke one morning.  I have no idea where he heard it, but I thought it was hilarious that he knew a joke.  Also, saying the word "interrupting" is hard.  Haha!

On August 21, 2017, the U.S. got to experience a total solar eclipse.  We were just slightly north of the totality path, but it was still pretty cool to experience the 97% sun coverage that we did see.  And in case anyone has ever wondered what happens during an eclipse, Mitchell says it is the moon taking a bite out of the sun.  Then the moon shakes and spits the sun back out, and that's when the eclipse is over.  Well here, I'll just have him explain it....  Hahaha!

Enjoying our last days of summer with some friends at a city park.  It was nice to embrace our last few hot days before the temperature quickly drops here for Fall.  Bye bye summer!  You were fun, but we're excited to see what Fall brings!