Lake fun and the beginning of the end of vacation...

Earlier this week we went to a local lake with friends who have a pass (it is in a private subdivision). It was a lot of fun and unfortunately, ended way too soon ~ I had a training meeting that afternoon. I think we could have stayed all day. The kids just love swimming at lakes and it reminds me of fun times from when I was a kid. I was a lake kid from upper elementary through high school; we rarely went to the local pool.

Here is Brynn thinking, "Just take the picture so I can get going." Look at poor Brynn's face. She has always been a bug magnet... more bites than I have ever seen on anyone, but typically not on her face. She must have ran head-on into a swarm of mosquitoes the other day and she has scratched her face all up. They were bumps when she went to bed and scabs when she woke up! There are about 6 more up near her hairline ~ almost making me thankful that her bangs aren't fully grown out yet so people don't wonder who beat her up.

Nyah chillin'.

Maggie enjoying splashing in the water.

Nyah joining in the fun.

The girls working in the sand. I forgot our sand toys but Maggie was willing to share hers.

Brynn posing. Had to put it in because I love her smile in this one. I also love this bathing suit on her.

Yes the boys did come. See, here they are...

The playground didn't get used much. They found a basketball court so off they went because they seem to enjoy arguing over calls hurting each other playing any kind of ball game more than swimming.

I didn't get many pictures of the boys because they wanted to swim out to the far dock, which is a long swim though it does not look like it in the picture.

Evan really just learned to swim well this summer, but not that well so I had to go with him, twice. They then spent quite a while holding jumping competitions out there. I preferred the water to the goose-poop covered dock so I treaded water... running did not prepare me for that and wow, I was tired later. The one time I said I was going to get on the dock Evan said, "Are you allowed to?" and I said, "Yes, why wouldn't I be?" He replied, "You might break it." Nice. I would have preferred, "Thanks for carrying me on your back both ways swimming out here with me mom."

Yesterday was Kindergarten preview day from 8:30 until 11:30. I rode the bus with Evan and Brynn and Doug met us there. Brynn was asked twice by the driver to lower her voice ~ the ride is 8 minutes long.

I was in Brynn's classroom and Doug went with Evan. They both have wonderful teachers. First the kids went with their classes while the parents stayed in the cafeteria and then the kids went on a tour while the parents met the teachers. When Brynn came back I asked her how she liked it and she said, "Well, I didn't learn to read yet." Her favorite part of the day was "Eating the chocolate." Not sure when that happened but the parents definitely didn't get any. Evan liked visiting the art room best.

Caleb & Price visited their classrooms yesterday evening. Price is in the all-boys class this year ~ a first at the school and either because parents opted them out of that male only experience or just because it is the way it happened, none of his close friends are in there with him. He is nervous about that and I have to admit, I am nervous for him though really, Price makes friends very easily and will probably be asking to invite the other 21 boys over the house by the end of the first week. The teacher is the same teacher Caleb had in 2nd grade so that is a definite plus.

Caleb's homeroom teacher is new and seemed great and there are lots of familiar faces in his room. But he switches for each subject so he really had 4 core teacher plus he has a TAG teacher who he will see three days a week. That is a lot of moving for a child that struggles with organization. We were also disappointed that his TAG group of 10 has been split due to scheduling conflicts and he is in the group of 3 (all boys). His closest friend is in the small group too, so he is happy but I think he would get so much more out of it being around the whole group ~ the ones he has been with for years. But it is what it is and he is excited. His last year of elementary school is about to start. Wow, time flies.

School starts Monday!