Slacking For Summer

It's that time of the year again! The summer is over and school is getting ready to start tomorrow. I just can't believe how fast this summer went, and I have been a slacker when it comes to keeping up on my blog. So here is a quick recap of our relatively uneventful summer.

We did hit the beach for a weekend with my best friend and our families in June for the kids to play sand soccer but it rained the entire weekend so we only had a few short hours to enjoy the beach.

and how we spent most of the trip...

 For the last 10 years I have been working at a performing arts camp at our community center every summer. We teach dance...or I teach dance rather , music, and theatre and at the end of camp the kids put on a performance. It's something I love and have been passionate about since I was a child, and now my kids are doing it. This is Madison's 3rd year and Caden's first, they start at age 6. This year we did The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (it's like the knock of children's version of The Wizard of Oz.) Madison was a lead monkey and Caden was a rapping munchkin. It was adorable. We also went on some pretty awesome field trips this year to Port Discovery and the Lyric Opera House. 

Caden the rapping munchkin

And an angry tree lol

And Maddie the flying monkey..........

and a poppy

And now the Summer is coming to an end and school is getting ready to start. I'm usually that parent who is counting down the days but honestly I'm just not ready for school to start just yet. I've enjoyed having the kids home with me, even if it means having a messy house. The price we pay to sleep in for just an hour. Now it's back to the hustle and bustle of the school year.

Summer's Here!

Today is the first day of Summer, and boy is it HOT! We hit 102 today, so needless to say we didn't leave the house. Partially because we went to the pool yesterday and I am sooo sunburned. The tops of my legs got it the worst. They are on FIRE. We ended up staying in with the nice, cool AC and baked S'more bites and chocolate chip brownies.

S'more Bites. YUMM!

Also a fun fact for the day: I met my oldest friend 21 years ago today on her 7th birthday, and we've been friends ever since. Happy Birthday Amber! Here's to 21 more years of friendship, Love you!!

 

Madison and Caden left last Friday to road trip to Missouri with their grandparents. I miss them like crazy. I'm normally not one of those crazy parents who wont let their children go anywhere without them, and I generally welcome any and all breaks but I do miss them terribly. I keep thinking of fun stuff to do but I don't want to do it without the kids. Not to mention it's so quiet here without them. I'll be glad when Sunday comes, although ask me Monday when they are running and screaming through my house and that may be a different story. haha

Before they left for Missouri on Friday we took them to the Inner Harbor for the Bicentennial Star-Spangled Sailabration. It was pretty cool, we went to see all of the big ships from all over and they had a huge festival with the Blue Angels flying over. It was crowded and hot but the kids had a great time. Here are a few pics:

The Kids had a blast playing in the fountains.

The kids on one of the boats

Matthew (Caden's best friend) & Caden 

Love Baltimore

I didn't take this pic, but I love it! so cool.

Yesterday we went to the pool with my sister in law and nieces. The kids had a blast and I got burned. 

My niece Lexy and Alanna soaking their feet (the water was freezing!)

This was a HUGE step for Alanna. Back in March while at a pool party she slipped off a step and went under. From that point on she was terrified of the water. She wouldn't go within a foot of it, even if we tried to hold her in the pool, above the water, she would scream her head off. She slowly made her way into the water yesterday although still apprehensive, she ended up all the way in with us.

Big girl and daddy

Monday starts training week for Summer camp. I'm looking forward to it as always, but even more so I am looking forward to the beach! Happy Summer!