This summer was all about family. We've spent a lot of time just hanging out at the house, visiting family, and friends. It was one of the least stressful summers we've had in a long time!
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| Dog pile DADDY!!! |
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| Noah, Ian and Daddy cooking dinner |
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| Caleb cooking with Daddy |
It is sad to think that Noah and Caleb won't be around during the day. When all the boys are at home it can be crazy, but it is a good crazy. They are two of the best big brothers and helpers that anyone can ask for. Even though I know they are excited to go back to school they will be missed when they load the bus Monday morning.
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| Boys taking Mom and Makaela on a plane ride |
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| The Muscles that helped Papa move this summer |
I’ve gotten to experience more closely the boys' wonderful imaginations and have also come to realize that they probably watch more Discovery/ History Channel than most kids their ages. In May with unpacked boxes they played “Swamp People”. I wish I had pictures or videos of that! It was so funny watching them. One would be the driver, one the shooter, and sometimes one was the alligator! Yes, they would even yell “Shoot ‘em!” in their best Cajun accent.
They were also archeologist digging up dinosaur bones and fossils. This is still going on since we have tons of rocks in the yard. They really did find a fossil, which was mentioned in a previous blog. Our rock pile that we so graciously got from the neighbor (sarcasm) has I believe, tripled in size. This pile is of course full of the non-dinosaur bones.
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| The latest dinosaur dig- 8/19/11 |
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| Rock pile before the fence was put up |
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| Rock pile as of August |
They have been storm chasers when we had the storm clouds rolling in, but then roll on out without any rain. I actually had to ask them to stop yelling “There’s the tornado” so the neighbors wouldn’t get worried.
Of course during “Shark Week” they were all sharks or the seals that the sharks ate. When we went to the aquarium it was as close as they could get to the real thing and they loved it.
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| Picture from the Aquarium- spent lots of time with the sharks |
They’ve had so much fun I think playing either outside or the play room that they never got bored. And what is summer without playing video games! Caleb and Ian bought a new basketball game that they are very animated when they play. They jump and move across the living room as if that will help their player on the game!
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| Don't know how but Makaela fell asleep watching the boys |
This new house fits us so well. The front driveway has been a race course for motor cycles, cars, and boys. It has also been where the boys pretended to be Avatars and ride their Toruks around. And yes, they did have their own language!
The boys have also turned the backyard into a golf course, t-ball field or anything they can imagine. The play set has been use for a house, super hero lair, boats as well as the normal swinging, climbing and even some sleeping. It was money and time well spent!!!
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| Noah and Caleb golfing |
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| Noah jumping from swing! |
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| Eli sleeping in swing |
Water has been a theme since the temperatures were at or above 100 for about two months. Besides the pools and slip-n-slides, John and I took the kids to the Denton Water Park. It was a fun family outing, where we tried to teach them what a "lazy river" was. They used it more as a swim race. We visited the aquarium where Ian fell for the penguins. I think he would have stayed there all day if we let him. And of course there were the sharks!
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| Wishing they could go swimming |
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| Loving the fish! |
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| Aunt Mary getting in on Ian's penguin time |
We've had a few birthdays this summer, which included my Uncle Ernest's 50th. His party became a Gallander family reunion. The boys loved playing with all their cousins. John and I also enjoyed hanging out with "big" kids! Even though not all the Gallanders were able to make it, we still had enough where there was never a dull moment. We also got to spend time with my Mimi, which is always a blessing.
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| Mimi and her baby boy |
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| Mimi and all the Great Grandkids- 13 |
This has been a wonderful summer too bad all good things must come to an end. Good- bye summer it's been fun!
