Sharpening Our Little Minds

With the kids home for the summer, I'm trying to keep the "cobwebs out of the attic". 

Grammy sent them a few school work sheets to do.  I downloaded a ton of great puzzles, bought a couple workbooks from Costco, and made a few clever games such as Alphabet Bingo, Count your Snack Charts, Matching Letters and a Pattern Game with M & M's.  Last night, Jak was drawing on the new etch-a-sketch board Grandpa Kerschen sent and says, look mom, I drew a "P".  Mike and I nod our heads No and simultaneously say. "That's a D buddy."  Immediately, Jak flips the board upside down and says, "Now it's a "P".  We all had a good laugh at his quick response!  Not bad for a 3 year old!

 

 

 

We're Not Going to Let these Months Slip-on-by!

I borrowed the idea of making a Summer Bucket List from my sister-in-law Kim (and a few other "Facebook" friends).   Every summer, I make a list at work of resident outings that you just can't do come September.  For my "old people" this includes;  picnics, trips to my neighborhood pool, Tiny Town, riding the Light Rail, etc.   This summer, Mike, the kids and I put together a list for the Kerschen household as well! 

As you can see we've already begun checking a few things off.  I'll try and remember to post an update around Labor Day!

Savor the Sweet Things

We were out of milk and Mike and I had both had long days yesterday.  Mike suggested we take a family walk to the gas station as a reprieve from the norm.  What a fun relaxing walk that turned out to be!  We brought the dog (and a cocktail!) and walked down the street to the Diamond Shamrock.  Mother Nature rewarded us with a double rainbow.  It was a whole lot prettier in real life!

First Camping Trip of 2016!

Well, sort of.  We did put the camper to use back in April when we parked in the Crowley's Silverthorne driveway and skied A-Basin the next day.  But this was our first real camping trip, in the woods with our new trailer!

I can't tell you how much our kids learned in this one weekend in the woods!  We played "big kid" games such as Go Fish, and Rummicube.  We colored, and worked on "school" type worksheets.  We hiked and found items in nature that they learn about on Nature Cat. We ran loose in the rain! And of course we roasted marshmallows over the campfire. 

Some awesome family memories were created this weekend!



Keeping Up Art Projects at Home

Thank God for Pinterest!  I researched a whole lot of easy fun art projects for me to do with the kids this summer to fill in "the gaps" while they're out of school for the summer. 

Here's the start:

A Fun Birthday Party & Mini-Reunion

Lillian's friend Genevieve celebrated her 5th birthday at the Butterfly Pavilion, a place we've been to somewhat often lately.  It's been a whole week since Lillian's last day of Pre-K at the Wooden Shoe and she loved seeing her "old" friends again. 

They made a fun little (educational) art project out of pasta, creating caterpillar eggs, chrysalis' and finally butterflies.   And then played a little "Pin the antennae on the butterfly"

 And of course, they loved the museum and all of it's creepy crawly creatures!



Great Start to Summer!

 

The pool is open, the sun is out, and these cousins couldn't be happier.  I'm retraining my brain to always have fresh veggies, fruit and pool friendly snacks on hand.  And I'm already planning pool-side meals.  I can't wait to make this patio my second home for the summer!

 

 

 When we aren't at the pool, there's plenty of summer fun to be had.  Our sprinkler, sidewalk chalk and bikes will keep the kids and neighbors busy.

 

 

 Mike and I received a last minute invite to a benefit fundraiser at the Children's Museum.  We scrambled to find a babysitter without success.  Thank god for family.  Ian and Kim came to our rescue and Mike and I enjoyed an adult only evening!

 The Bergner's throw the best parties.  They rented a Bounce House slide, and invited a whole crew of new friends for the kids to play with.  I love these pictures of the kids with their squirt guns.  The girls are such divas, and Jak looks ready to attack!