Summer Bliss

We are loving the summer of 2014. Campfires (and s'mores), playground time, friends, food, soccer, frisbee, swimming, birds, bug spray, running and bbq-ing.

Of all of the parts of summer camp, Colin comes home with more science experiment ideas than anything...and well, Justin, is always game for some at-home science fun. (yes, Justin loves to wear my sunglasses.)

 Colin loves mall Chinese food. And Justin just loves the mall - specifically the candy and cookie store.

Justin misses his old friends so much - so we planned a playdate with some of them...

And he went to a birthday party for another preschool friend - he was SO happy to see familiar faces.

Bike ride to Starbucks - the store that sells juice, chocolate milk and cookies. We have never bought coffee there. haha. Although, I'm a total fan of Oprah's iced chai tea latte.

 Background playground set.

 "If you throw the frisbee through the swing chains, it's 5 points." - Colin.

Our good friends are moving to NYC, so we enjoyed one last dinner with them. They were one of our first family friends in Ohio, and we are going to miss them! Hopefully their NYC stint will only be 2 years and they'll head back to Cleveland again. =)

 Don't you love how Andy moved his chair all the way back from the campfire?!

Colin does a great job with little kids...

 and Justin does a great job with big kids...using sticks to battle.

 Doesn't Colin look huge here? He set up a game where he would throw frisbees, and the 3 other kids "fetched" them. Solid 45 minutes of this.

 Campfire season. =)

 We missed 2 days of summer camp notes because Colin used them as origami. Crazy kid.

 The kids wanted a snow cone maker this summer, so Jack told them that they had to sell their toys. Luckily our friend was having a yard sale, so we tagged along. Boys sold $120 worth of toys! And our friend was selling a $5 snow cone maker. Win-Win! Colin spent his half of the money on legos (surprise, surprise), and Justin forgot his wallet so he couldn't buy anything, but didn't seem to care (surprise, surprise).

 Colin said he saw this in a magazine and wanted to recreate it. Can you tell what it is? Swim lanes with swimmers doing backstroke. =)

 Now that we are a beach family again, we headed to the beach this past weekend!

 Justin and Jack played football...

 Colin started building right away!

We are having so much fun with the start of summer - and are truly enjoying everyday of this sun and warmth!

Fun stuff:

• Justin paid Colin $1 to make his bed. And then directed him on how to make the bed exactly the way he wanted.
• Colin was ALL over that yard sale and was our family accountant. He kept track of the money and he could tell you how much we had at any moment in time. 
• I told Justin that some books are made into movies. And he responded, "because they don't want their arms to get tired from turning the pages?' haha.
• Colin absolutely loves music and songs. He taught himself "Let it Go" from Frozen (even though he has no desire to see the movie), and loves to learn words to new songs.
• Colin swims up to 3 times a day at summer camp and has turned into a fish.
• Justin is still adjusting to summer camp people and places. He's a brave little boy and we're so proud of him.
• My new job transition has been smooth and I'm enjoying the people and new responsibilities.
• Jack is busy in rental repair season. =)