End of Summer Days 2014

We took a break for the month of June from school with the thought that the boys could play outside, do Legos and iPad on and off throughout the day, go to the beach, build forts, etc. etc., allowing me to prep up for the upcoming year.  I needed to get toddler/preschool activities gathered for Baby, who is more and more interested in being a part of our schooling, but has ended up in front of the t.v. too much for my taste.  I also needed to start putting together science and social studies lessons or lap books that had been rolling around in my head for the past few weeks.

Well, none of that happened.

Not once during those 4 weeks, did I get to actually sit down for more than 5 minutes without being interrupted by someone crying because their brother got the hot wheels car that they wanted, someone screaming because their brother wouldn't stop hugging them, someone tugging at my hand because they wanted a drink of water or a snack or [insert reason here].

So.  I finally decided that since no planning was going to happen, I would just start again, and we would just wing it.  For the month of July, then, we ended up doing just language arts and math - enough to keep us from forgetting what we'd learned so far.   The boys also did a lot of reading for the public library's summer reading program.  I thought about listing them all, but between all three of the boys, there were over 40 books.  That's a lot of books to type out.  I don't remember them all anyway.....  Just know that my kids read a LOT over the summer.

Here are a few of the things that we did this summer:

We played with fireworks in the backyard on the 4th of July.

 We discovered tadpoles swimming by the hundreds across the sidewalk by our house after a big rainstorm.

We took a boat ride on the lakes of Winter Haven.

 We played with Legos.

Hayden created many elaborate scenes with his sets.

Sawyer built a Ninjago character from a set that he bought with his own allowance.

 We watched a sweet potato grow from this:

"Wow!"

to this:

Double wow!

We explored the Marianna Caverns and it's surroundings...

Checking out a fallen cicada on the steps.

A little hidden opening near the cavern exit.

Inside the caverns.

 We threw in a little bit of indoor educational activities.

Sawyer learned about money.

Money money money!

We measured the distance of our Hot Wheel cars going down a ramp.

Mushroom spore prints

We went roller skating.

"Look at me, Mom!"

We went to Summer Co-op Classes. 

Riley fingerpainting in Water & Sensory Play class.

We went to a few of the Jacksonville Public Library's summer reading program events.

This was the first one (and the best):  Big Bang Science

Even Riley got a big kick out of it!

 We climbed into and on top of whatever we could find.

The dryer.

The play kitchen.

 We made a ginormous cookie for Daddy on Father's Day.

The more m&m's, the better!

We had water balloon fights with our friends. 

 We assembled and painted wooden crafts.

Like big bro, like little bro.

 We relaxed in the pool at the JCA (no, we aren't Jewish, in case you were wondering...)

This kid has the skill of relaxation DOWN.

 We lost our fourth tooth!

In a little blue treasure box, no less!

 We learned how to play on the iPad without our big brothers' help.

 We went to the zoo with our friends.  

Looking for the tigers.

At the koi pond in Asia.

Hot sleepy tiger in it's new exhibit at the Jacksonville Zoo.

And, of course, we spent many days at the beach.

Trying to dig a hole to China, apparently.

Building sandcastles.

Even the summer storms couldn't keep us away!

There you have it, folks.  Our summer, in a nutshell.  Next up, first month of school.  Coming soon....