SUMMER "HOMEWORK"

Our chore list was in need of a summer makeover, so in addition to the kids actual chores, we added a task where they can choose to either "complete 2 worksheets or read for 20 minutes". So far, they tend to go back and forth between the two options, though James chooses reading more often while Cora prefers the worksheets (which were sent home by their teachers as prep for 1st Grade and 2nd Grade). We're glad they're so willing to still do a bit of "school work" (and we appreciate the "set" activity for when we first get home from Daycamp, while mama and daddy tend to our own chores).

LEGO MANIACS

The kids worked hard on their sets from the Lego Discovery Store, purchased with their very own piggy bank money, and they were very proud to pose for photos with their finished products!

TEACH 'EM YOUNG!

Daddy taught him to pump gas last week and now he thinks he just has to help 

Mama is not complaining ;-)

 Sissy was well enough by the time I got home from picking up James that she wanted to help bake banana muffins. She's a great helper in the kitchen!

STUBBORN SNORKELER

Cora always knows how to do everything herself, her way. So when she continually came up sputtering at the pool yesterday, despite our attempts to teach her to use her new snorkel correctly, we knew there could be trouble... At 1:00am that predication came up, and continued to do so hourly for 12 hours straight. Except for the 2.5 hours this morning that she napped on the couch once the guys left for the day, waking enough now and then just to check and make sure mama was still nearby. Needless to say, the snorkel mask now goes to Daycamp without the snorkel attachment. Hopefully by the end of the summer she'll learn to use it properly and not swallow her weight in pool water...

 It was a nice sight to see at 1:30pm when she left the couch to build Legos in the kitchen!

SWIM SUNDAY

 We discovered that Cora is NOT allergic to bee stings. So that's good.

COOP CLEANING

Coop cleaning means the chickens get to roam the yard for a while. 

Chester is always on the lookout for his ladies...

Bringing the guineas in to join the chickens!

The Bantams are still our favorites... and Elsa will always be close to Cora's heart.

The guineas seemed to like the pine needles. And Lady is getting heavy...

Giving the guineas some easy-access food to get them started in the big 'ol coop.

Elsa was the first one to check out the ice water :-)

PARING IT DOWN (AGAIN)

We LOVE books, but sometimes you just need to make a little room for new ones...

 ...it was tough, but I managed to clear out a couple dozen books to donate and reorganize the kids shelves in the process. Which then meant I had to clean closets. And pare down toy bins. And clothes drawers. Not much fun (though OCD Uncle Davey would be SO PROUD of me!), but it needed to get done, so yay - productive weekend all around!

MISSISSIPPI COMIC CON

We took the kids to their first Comic Con today. It was our first Comic Con too. And it was fun! It was a LONG, hot wait to get inside (next year we'll go early, or after lunch), but it was worth it. We saw lots of fun characters (and kinda wished we'd all dressed up too, but then, the heat was too much and we'd have all been so uncomfortable) and the kids surprisingly didn't ask for anything (though we did get them each one souvenir anyway). After a couple hours there, we went to our favorite Jackson restaurant (Pig-N-Pint) for a late lunch, then ran some errands up at the Renaissance and let the kids play in the splashpad. It was just a feel good family day and I'm grateful we had it!

Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson was on site (we saw him, but didn't wait in line for an autograph)

Wearing our matching pearl necklaces (Robyn sent one of the ones that you open the shell to discover to Cora for her birthday, and Cora was thrilled because I happen to have the same one, which Jay gave to me back when we were dating)

Daddy took one for the team and sent us back to the air conditioned van for 20 minutes while he stood in the sun

The kids were too scared to pose with the Ghostbusters (and they hadn't even seen the movie yet!)

We found a Back to the Future Delorean! (For $10 we could have sat in it...)

James was borderline obsessed with the Dr. Who booth. We don't watch the show, but he plays the characters on Lego Dimensions, so he wanted lots of photos with the robots and blue booth.

Couldn't resist ;-)

We should have bought this for her... If only it was cold here for longer than 2 weeks...

I turned around and caught her making faces at cute little porcelain dragons... I didn't ask...

Harry Potter wands! But for $30 a piece, we figure we can make our own if/when the kids become obsessed with the series.

Cora's souvenir. (Come on Grambot, you know it's fitting...) James picked out a MineCraft keychain. Even though he doesn't own a single key...

HAPPY LITTLE FISH

 We weren't expecting this level of enthusiasm over snorkel masks...