Summertime

Oh, what do you do in the summertime?

We go to the library to do puzzles . . .

. . . and read.

We also break out the sidewalk chalk (shoes were optional today) . . .

. . . or relax in the shade of the carrotwood tree.

Jamming with Red Grandma and Aunt Heather

 My mom, my sister, and I held our annual "jam session" today.

Homemade strawberry freezer jam has become such a staple in our family (Phillip particularly loves it on pancakes) that if our year's supply runs out before summer I'll make a batch at home to see us through until Jam Day.

It's more fun to make it with Red Grandma and Aunt Heather, though. :)

After all the jam was jarred Aunt Heather, Joy, and Anna went for a dip in the pool.  Good times.

Joy the Entrepreneur

Joy has wanted to set up a shop of some sort for a while now.  A few months ago she tried selling her drawings and some boxes of cereal in her room, but since no one knew the shop was there no one bought anything.  I explained the importance of a good location, and when school let out last week she started making plans to sell things in front of our building.  She even made a sign that read, "Joy's Shop."

This morning she decided that she wanted to sell an unused eraser left over from first grade.  I dubiously wished her luck, and she went out front to set up shop.  A few minutes later, Daniel came back in and requested 25 cents so HE could buy the eraser, but before he got back out front Joy sold it to one of the workers moving a neighbor's furniture.  Flush with success, Joy came back inside to get more wares to peddle.

She gathered some unused pencils, sold Daniel two boxes of crayons for 30 cents each, then headed back out front.  Before I knew it, she returned saying that an elderly couple wanted to buy a pencil, but they didn't have a quarter so they gave her a dollar for all four of them.  Considering that she paid nothing for any of the things she sold, that's a profit margin of infinity.  Not bad.

I Am Your Father

Happy Father's Day!

Four dads were invited into Primary this morning, where they dressed up in disguises and answered questions to see if the kids could guess who they were.  The dads' own kids usually managed to identify them, and sure enough, even though Phillip used a silly falsetto voice, Joy easily figured out that the guy in the red sheet was her own Daddy.

At home I commemorated the holiday by serving Darth Vader-shaped pancakes (complete with blueberry eyes), because Phillip has a deep, Vaderish voice and loves to tell the kids, "I am your father!"  Yeah, we're geeky like that.

After nap time we headed to my parents' house to celebrate with dinner and a few rounds of lawn darts.  Hooray for a devoted Daddy . . .

. . . a Papa who plays fun games and comforts us when we're sad . . .

. . . and G-pa, who is such a good example of dedication to the Lord, his family, and the principles of good character.

Woo Hoo!!!

Why are Joy and her buddy Jonathan so happy?

Because today was the last day of school!!!

Daniel's Preschool Graduation

Daniel's graduated from preschool this morning.

The kids marched around the room (this photo is out of focus, but I couldn't resist including it because of the look on Daniel's face), . . .

 . . . the teaching assistant (Mrs. Chavez) handed out tissues, . . .

. . . then Mrs. Main presented each child the trophy they had made . . .

. . . and we all adjourned to the yard for cake and punch.  Daniel chose to sit with his buddy, Liam . . .

. . . and Joy had a nice reunion with Mrs. Main, who also taught Joy when she attended this preschool.  It would be fun if Anna and Todd could be in her class, too, but alas, she's retiring this year.  Thanks for all the good times, Mrs. Main!

Math Man and Aqua Girl

Daniel's preschool class had Superhero Day this week.

Daniel chose to be Math Man, because he likes numbers and can figure out math questions quickly (sometimes faster than adults).

Math Man apparently does NOT like swimming, however. I signed him up for lessons and he seemed really keen on the idea, but when we arrived he didn't even want to get in the water. I insisted that he at least stand on the first step, figuring that once he got his feet wet (literally) he would be more inclined to participate.  No dice.  He just stood on that step with his back to the pool for the whole lesson, while the teacher beckoned and cajoled in vain.

Fortunately, his little sister was a lot more interested in taking swim lessons, and the folks in charge let me put her in the class in Daniel's place.  I use the term "swim lessons" loosely, because at this point Anna doesn't seem to quite grasp the concepts of kicking, floating, etc., but she's having fun and getting more comfortable in the water.

Sounds like a win to me.