Summer Wrap Up

Here are a few pictures that didn't make it in to any of my summer blogging stories.  I miss the carefree days of summer already.  I had big plans for summer - I wanted it to be super special since it won't be just the four of us for much longer.  It didn't go exactly as I had hoped.  I was really tired and we ended up doing a lot of things out of town.  It was nice just being home with them, though.

My mom's siblings do a family reunion every summer.  Although not all the cousins could be there, it was great seeing everyone.  I always enjoy family get-togethers.

Keystone State Park

This summer we have been out of town a lot.  Summer is a great time for Will to do work for family who live elsewhere.  Its nice because the girls and I are able to tag along and visit with family.  Because of this though, we hadn't done anything with just the four of us.  So I planned a spur of the moment trip to Keystone Lake in Oklahoma.  I mean very spur of the moment.  I planned it on a Wednesday and we arrived at the Lake on Sunday.  So spur of the moment, in fact, that I didn't look at a calendar and forgot about the girls having swimming lessons.  We (or maybe just me) really needed a break.

We booked a cabin because being pregnant, I didn't have any desire to sleep on the ground in a tent.  Its unfortunate, too, because the weather was perfect for tent camping.  I have really enjoyed our mild-weather summer.  Below is the view from the back porch on our cabin.  We had a huge open area where the kids could play and we were able to just sit and watch.  It was heavenly.  To make things even better, the cabin next door had a seven year old boy who played with girls the whole time.  It was almost like Will and I had the weekend off from parenting.

We took the girls to a special children's fishing pond.  I'm not actually certain there were any fish in there, but the girls still had a good time.

We made up for the missing swim lessons by swimming in the lake.  Yes, I know its muddy, but that made for very soft ground under our feet.

There wasn't a ton to do at this state park, but the lack of activity was just the uneventfulness we were looking for.

Everything's Great When You're Downtown

Get ready for a huge influx of blog posts.  We have packed as much fun into these last few weeks of summer as physically possible.  Now I have to write about it all in a short amount of time because school starts on Friday and summer will be over!

Last week on Friday night we took the girls downtown.  Its always one of our favorite places to visit.  There's a lot to do, and most of it is free!  This particular trip we focused on a water fountain, ice cream, and a big statue with fire.  We maybe should have skipped the last one because Taylor is extrememely afraid of fire.  Even if its controlled and far away.  Anyway, we suffered through it and when it was over she said it wasn't as bad as she thought.  She still didn't like it though.

I could not love this picture any more.  This girl LOVES her sweets.  She worked very hard to get every last bit of chocolate out of that bowl.

And of course, you can't take one picture without taking the other.

Peach Pickin'

A few weeks ago we went to a local peach orchard and picked 27 pounds of peaches.  Yes, that is a lot of peaches.  Somehow, they were all used up in one and a half weeks, though.  We should have picked more.  It makes me wish I had a large peach tree in my backyard.  They were so delicious.  Maybe when we move to a farm.  Then I'll get my peach tree.

On this day, like most days this summer, it was well over a hundred degrees.  We were hot.  Will taught the girls this neat trick.  I'll be interested to see if they ever have drinking water in their cups again.

We made freezer jam and I also had great plans to make a cobbler, but I just didn't have enough peaches left.  We froze some whole for winter baking, maybe I'll just use those.  We also cut some up and froze them for later.

Funny story:
My Grandma made these incredible peaches that she froze.  I mean so good that I wrote about them to be read at her funeral.  That good.  I wanted to make some with some of our surplus peaches.  I emailed my Aunt Sheila and asked if she knew Grandma's recipe.  Here was her response.

Just a little secret…..I’m the one who always put up Mama’s peaches.

Imagine my shock! I called the rest of my family to reveal the deeply kept secret and everybody had a good laugh.  Oh, Grandma.  I can hear her now, "Well, I never said I made all those."  Well, she also never told us she didn't, either.

Our picking time was almost over and I realized I hadn't taken any pictures.  I asked Emma to pick a peach so I could take her picture.  She said, "I'll just pretend.  I'm tired of picking peaches."

 

Past Times of Yester Years

Every year they have a Museum Day or other discounted museum day.  We take full advantage of those opportunities.  It is way too expensive to pay for all four of us at regular prices.

This year we went to one that celebrates our communities history.  Its fun and educational. 

The incredible heat kept most people away.  That is unfortunate for the museum, but very nice for us.  We didn't have to wait long for anything!

This was on our covered wagon ride.  The girls got to ride up front and Will and I got to enjoy having child-free laps.

Summer Lovin'

We've been really busy this summer and haven't a lot of pure summer fun.  I'm trying to cram as much into these last few weeks as possible.  About a month ago, though, we had a great Saturday afternoon of pure sunshiney fun.  Will was gone and it was just the girls and I.

I think I'd like summer to last a little longer.

Great Plains Nature Center, Part 2

I forgot one very important event when I wrote about our trip to the Nature Center.  While we were in the gift shop we picked up dessert for the evening.

Yep, that's right.  Larvets, a cheddar cheese worm delicacy.  The girls loved them and couldn't wait to serve them to Will.

I really wanted to catch his reaction before it went away - that's why my finger blocked the shot.

He was totally grossed out.  He was really bothered by the fact that you could really see their legs.  Eating it was completely out of his comfort zone.  He did it out of love - for the children, not me.  They really aren't that bad.  They're just basically airy shells.  They don't taste much like cheddar cheese, though.

We can't wait to share them with our extended family!

Okay, the last thing I want to talk about is the game that I made. 

I had to make a game for the class I took earlier this summer at the Nature Center.  This is super easy and anyone can do it.  

Make a generic board of some sort and make some question/activity cards.  Each player finds something in nature to be their playing piece.  Find a piece of bark to determine how many spaces each player moves.  Rough side means two spaces, smooth side means one.  Roll it just like a die.

The game will be different each time its played because the cards are specific to the nature you are in.  Here are some examples:  Find something rough.  Look for a cloud, what does it look like?  Find two insects.  How are they the same and different?

Keep it in your car and you always have some extra fun on hand!  

The girls loved it.

Find a soft spot to lay on.

Act like an animal.  - She was a deer.

Great Plains Nature Center

Earlier this summer I had to take a class for my teaching re-certification.  I chose to take one at the Great Plains Nature Center.  I had heard really great things about it, but had never been there.  Let me tell you, it surpassed all the good things that I had heard.  I could not wait to take my kids. 

Last week, I felt like it had finally cooled off enough to return.  We started inside by looking around in their little "museum".  It is great for small children and adults alike.  It has things to touch, hear, read, and look at.  I learned a lot about the animals and vegetation that are common to Kansas.  Taylor enjoyed it all and Emma liked everything except the loud Bison sounds.

After that we picked up a few cones full of turtle food for a quarter each and headed out on the trails to the turtle pond.

This is only a fraction of the turtles that came to dine.

After the turtles, we hit the trails for a little exploration.  While we were out we even saw a deer!  He was too fast to take a picture of.

Stopping to admire a dragon fly.

We spent the rest of the time playing a nature game that I made (a post coming about that later).

  

We had a really great morning and can't wait to go back!  They have so much more to do - and its all free!