How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Whew! What a busy week we've had. I'm so ready for July when the activities slow down. I totally get why people only let their kids do one activity each now. We started the week with Josh building the bunk beds for the boys. Is there anything my husband can't do? The beds give the boys much more space in their room and is one we can add a third bed to when Asa is older. We were able to add an extra dresser and the boys still have more room to play. Josh is still going to add some shelving/storage, but here's a picture so far. Ignore the messy beds please:

We have a lot going on in June. To keep us all on the same page and prevent the kids from asking me every day or hour what they had going on, I bought a dry erase calender that keeps us organized:

Tuesday mornings Aidan goes to the library summer reading program. Tuesday afternoon Jaleigh and Brandon do. On Wednesdays Jaleigh and Brandon do art class and this week Jaleigh had cheerleading camp every day. Not to mention swim lessons for all of them every night this month. They are loving swimming lessons and learning so much. I highly recommend them! Thank goodness for Gram helping out since there are a few scheduling conflicts. Not to mention with her taking and dropping off, I don't have to load and unload Asa ten times a day. Car seats are evil heavy....lol Here are a few pics of our activities this week:

Aidan learning to dive!

Jaleigh cheering

Brandon jumping off the diving board

 We've also been doing "school time" every day (ok, almost every day). We are trying to focus on  time, money and multiplication and it's been a challenge. I'm shocked at some of the basic skills the "new math" doesn't teach. I SO am glad I'm not a teacher. It's hard to stay patient when brains seem to erase overnight.  We use Brain Quest workbooks, which I cant say enough good things about, and flash cards. I think the kids are slowly but surely getting it.

The clock and times tables posters plus a map of the US that I hung up for them only because if I were a teacher, I'd be a social studies/history one...lol. Next year maybe Josh will let me off the hook on math and I can teach on the Civil War. ;)

Workbook time

An extra special activity this week was working on Dad's Father's Day gift. I found a frame for only $25 at amazon and figured it would be small, but it's huge. We decided to put a picture of Dad with each child, a letter from each of them saying what they loved best about Dad and their hand prints (or footprint in Asa's case). I think it turned out great! My favorite reason for "What I love most about Dad" was from Aidan who said, "I love when we watch MacGyver together." We also made my Dad "McPaw" paintings. I'll have to hide this blog from Josh so it won't give away the surprise. Sure hope he loves it!

We have dinner and swimming tonight at a friend's house, a birthday party tomorrow for our cousin Paisley and then a busy father's day of church and dinner with my parents. Next week things will be slower since cheer camp is over and we have nothing planned next weekend or rather nothing we have to leave the house for. We will finish reading "Peter Pan" this week so I'm thinking we will do our party next weekend. I have decor and costumes ready, but I still need themed food ideas.  I'm thinking of doing these, but still need suggestions for the main course:

Pirate ship jello

Tink Fruit Wands

Thanks for stopping by to read about our busy week. We had fun, but are all pretty exhausted. Some of us more than others.....