Summer Fun: 4th of July, camping, VBS, Day Camp and more! (picture post)

We are trying to read one Bible verse a day starting in 1 John, but it's tough to keep up with.

Kids went camping with daddy overnight up at Mt. Rainier.

My dad came all the boys went camping.

4th of July at Lake Tapps- Mt. Rainier in the background.  They were really having fun!!

My son lost another tooth- front one!

My daughter still can claim the nickname Messi Jessi.

My son's "store."

A trip to the ER with high fever and not feeling good.

Blueberry picking at the free park just around the corner from our home.

Lots of yummy blueberries to pick and freeze.

Another year of VBS!

Found a bike for $5 at a yard sale.

My son's junk yard.

My daughter went to her first preschool day camp and loved it!

Mommy/son date at Panera Bread.

 

The last 5 weeks we have been getting up and leaving by 8 or 8:30 every morning.  This is not normal for us as we homeschool and don't usually go out until 12-1 in the afternoon for errands or library trips.  But that schedule is done and the kids had lots of fun, but now we will stay home a little bit more, go to parks, bowling, concerts and movies.  It's been a hot summer so we'll hit the spraygrounds too.  I have a lot to do here at home, but my homeschool is pretty much planned.  I bought all the school supplies and I have all the curriculum.  I found a great new way to schedule and I'm ready to go.  I will share what I have planned this month in two separate posts for First Grade and PreK. 

 

What fun things have you been doing this summer?

 

Hope you are enjoying the fun times you can have with your family.  Don't forget to take time for yourself as well.  Blessings, Shonda

 

 



Food Fun: Koolaid Playdough Recipe

Well, playdough is not technically a food, but it's a recipe so I'm sharing.  Last Fall we joined a homeschool co-op.  One of my jobs was to be a teacher assistant in one of the kids' classes.  The teacher and I clicked!  She had a lot of great ideas, and I really liked the playdough she made.  I asked her to share it with me. 

 RECIPE for Koolaid Playdough:
3.5 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
3 small packages unsweetened koolaid
3 T baby oil
2 c. HOT water

Mix first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. 
Add baby oil and hot water.
Mix well and knead when cool.
Add flour and oil as you need to acquire desired consistency.
Store in an airtight container.

I'm not sure how long it lasts, but it seemed like we used this for quite a few weeks (maybe a few months) because the teacher kept it airtight.

The kids played for about an hour and half!!

Jessna made grape.

Shrade made strawberry.

Summer Activites: Golfing Camp and Swimming and more!

Last week we started our 4 weeks of busyness!  My son had golf camp last week and we are in the middle of 2 weeks of swimming lessons.  Here are a few pictures and tips.

My son really enjoyed his week at golf camp.  He wants to go back again next year!

On one of the days my son had golf camp, I took my daughter on a Panera Bread date!  She thought that was fun!

 

This week the kids started swimming lessons. 

Last year I did 2 weeks for one kid and 2 weeks for another. 

This year I made their lessons back to back and next year they probably will be in the same class.

 

 

 

So while one child is in their lesson I am sitting on the bench with the other.  We just started receiving the magazines we got from Highlights Puzzle Club called Puzzlemania (for ages 7+) and Puzzle Buzz (for ages 4-7).  There are mazes, stickers, wordsearch, hidden pictures and more fun puzzles.  I like to see some of these thinking skills developed in my children in fun ways.

 


And on the way to and from all these outings we are listening to audio books on CD that we got at the library.  So far we have listened to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (good one!), The House on Pooh Corner and we just started Sarah Plain and Tall.  We don't seem to have as much time for reading at breakfast or lunch now that we are busier so I like this option.  I just started listening to this podcast- Read Aloud Revival- that is giving me some great new ideas! 


We also take little breaks and head out to the beach to dig and discover.  We are definitely enjoying this incredible weather this summer.  All too soon we are stuck indoors when Fall and Winter come around.  I have learned to pack bags with snacks and essentials pretty quick as we head off to new adventures. 

 

 

What are you up to this summer?