What We Did This Summer

This was my first summer as a "working mom." Even though I worked from home, I put in 40-60 hours a week, so we didn't get to do as much as usual.

But we still went to the park, 

and to the library for summer story times.

Eric got his Summer Reading Club medal first,

followed a week later by his two big sisters.

We got over to the lake (although somehow not to the actual ocean!),

and the kids did LOTS of swimming. We tried out a new local pool with water slides (it had a long lineup in the hot sun, but luckily we got in).

Janae finished Level 6 and Alaina passed Level 3 on their lessons. Eric is going to need one more season as a Sea Turtle.

We looked after the school garden,

and Grandpa helped us plant a pumpkin patch of our own--something the kids have wanted to do for a long time. It's been so fun to watch the pumpkins grow from tiny plants, to big flowering bushes, 

then from little green pumpkins 

to big orange ones.

We went to the old-fashioned candy store nearby.

And we saw Macbeth at Bard on the Beach,

while Jason and Eric spent the afternoon at Science World.

Ben got in a few fishing trips with Grandpa--even one with some of his cousins, too.

We made our usual trips to local farms for ice cream

and to Fort Langley, where we were surprised to see so many new interactive displays.

Overall, it wasn't too bad, although we spent a lot more time at home--the girls playing Barbies, the boys playing Lego, and me sitting in front of the computer writing dialogues. 

Now that everyone is back to school, I wish we could go back and have some more summer fun, but I guess we'll have to wait until next year.