Surviving Summer

How's your summer going so far? With kids?

Minute by minute we are either loving it, or we're wondering how we're going to survive it all.

I found this quote on instagram that I could relate to:

"5 min. ago, I was pulling cookies out of the oven and thinking how much I [love] my life.

4 min. ago, all 3 kids were screaming like horror movie extras.

3 min. ago, I crammed cookies in my mouth to keep from shouting.

2 min. ago, I took off my shoes so I wouldn't go outside

and hide in my Cheerio receptacle, I mean minivan.

1 min. ago, I was thinking how much I hate my life.

Right now, everyone is quiet and drinking smoothies, [I love my life]!"

Here's some of my summer survival tips:

Some things I've done through the years to enjoy my kids a little more, and SURVIVE.

Summer has started!

My kids finished school last Friday.

Lindy finished Middle school and 8th grade - High School Next Fall!

Kyle finished 6th grade

Tate finished 4th grade

Sadie finished 2nd grade

Brandon finished Preschool -He'll be at 1/2 day kindergarten Next Fall- I'll be a little bit of an empty nester next fall for a couple of hours.

The kids ran in the capitol classic race kids-only 1 mile race in downtown boise over the weekend.

Always a fun tradition.

We went to a ward social on Friday. We are in a brand new ward that was created in our stake.

We've all been calling less for 3 weeks now, it can feel a little nerve racking, wondering what you'll get when every calling is up for grabs. EVERY CALLING.

We burned our kids' school papers on Sat. night in a campfire in our backyard.

That was fun.

This week Kyle goes to band for the saxophone, Tate will start the banjo.

The kids have an art class this week.

Sadie will do a little cheer, and Tate also wanted to try karate.

We are sleeping in, and so GLAD to be done with school work and papers!

City of Rocks Camping Trip

Real Signatures from Pioneers

Make Something Monday - Stained Glass Poster Board Painting

In the summer, I try to let the kids make a craft or art project on Mondays.

Last week we got our idea from the July Friend Magazine.

I loved telling the story to the kids before we got started of

the man who makes stained glass art for the LDS Temples.

His story of stuttering as a child, and not getting accepted into college

I thought were inspiring examples of overcoming challenges.

Supplies:

Poster Board (I got a package of 1/2 the size of normal poster size.)

Masking or Painter's tape

Paint (washable is preferrred!)

Foam or paint brushes

Let your kids put tape on their poster board.

 After taping, let the kids paint the colors in between their tape.

The paint can overlap on top of the tape.

Try not to let different paint get inside the other taped shapes, though.

After the paint has dried, remove your tape and

see your design and art!

Horse Camp for Tate and Sadie

For a couple days, for a few hours, in our first week of summer,

Tate and Sadie went to horse camp.

They learned how to care for the horses, how to clean up around horses,

and some basic horse riding skills.

I wasn't able to be there to take pictures of them actually riding horses.

But, I did get some photos of them leading the horses and cleaning up after horses.

The clean-up may be my favorite part of the horse camp.

I love watching my kids clean up!

It feels like a rare thing.

Here's Lindy blog post when she took the same horse camp.