The Editor's Post

Not many pictures of the Editor get posted on this blog.  Mainly because the Editor is also the Photographer.  What can I say?  We're a low budget operation.  Thanks to time spent with family this summer, that problem is solved - at least for this post.  Here are a few of the Editor's favorites:

(Photo credit:  Aleta)

 (Photo credits:  Grammy and Aleta)

(Photo credit:  Daddy - yes every once in a while the Photographer hands over the camera!)

Swim Lessons

Lane and Morgan happily participated in two weeks of swim lessons this month down at the city beach.  By August, the water has warmed up nicely, the sun is hot and the beach is the best place to be anyway. 

Lane thought his teacher Evan was great (and thought it was fun that he had the same name as his cousin!).  He was so excited to get to swim without a life jacket!  His little group was all boys and they all seemed to have a great time retrieving swim rings and doggy paddling around.

Morgan thinks it's unfair that Lane gets to have a Kindergarten teacher and she doesn't (she's ready to skip 4 and head right to 5 years old), so it was some consolation that she got to have her own teacher for swim lessons.  Her group was supposed to have 7 kids in it but there were only 1 or 2 other kids besides Morgan that showed up each day.  On the last day, she was Levi's only student so he gave her all the stickers and candy - she was one happy girl!  She keeps asking when she's going to go swim with Levi again and is a bit disappointed it's all done.  I was glad they both had fun.

Planes and Friends

Our boys love planes.  They love to drive by the airport just to see if there are any neat planes. Often, there is a Lear jet (or 2 or 3) parked near entrance and Lane gets excited.  Logan is not so particular.  He starts hollering 'ane' when he sees the smallest Cessna.  The annual fly-in has become a must-see attraction in this family.   

The most exciting planes at the fly-in are not Lear jets or Cessnas (unless you are our friend Delbert, a former pilot who can provide details on every last one of them), they are bi-planes.  The louder the better.

This one kept the guys attention.

It was an impressive beast of a plane  It's take-off speed was a mere 40 mph and it was hard to believe it was actually going that fast when it lifted off.  It was s-l-o-w.  But boy did the guys love the sound of it's engine!

Hunters 2012

Growing up, camping was a big part of our summer.  I know there were minor issues here and there because I've heard the stories.  Stories aside, what I mainly remember were 10 endless days playing in the water and basking in the sun.  The tradition has continued (although we've cut back on the number of days) and my siblings and their families all met up at Hunters to spend a few days on the lake.  

This group of cousins made plenty of fun memories playing together.  But wait, is that an injured cousin I see?  This year, it seems like there were enough mishaps that the kids might actually remember the details.  Well, maybe not my kids, but their older cousins certainly will.  Especially Jake.  He'll remember it as the trip he sat through while nursing a broken collar bone - the result of a nasty bike wreck the first morning all of the cousins were together.  Talk about terrible timing!

He had a trusty sidekick though and these two boys kept themselves entertained as best they could.  Hope you're feeling better, Jake!

 

Bumpa brought the Zodiac to play around a bit but this was the only real ride it got before engine trouble sidelined it.  Did I mention there were a few mishaps?  This wasn't the only boat with troubles.  I do believe the men will be bringing a few more tools next year, just to be safe!

Mishaps aside, we really did have a great time and it was fun to be together.  The kids are growing up so fast and it's fun to watch them interact.

Did you know that strollers are great toys?  Logan thought so!

The fishing was successful too.  Pearson braved an early morning to go out fishing with Uncle Ryan.  He was rewarded with his first walleyes.  Ryan even snagged a crayfish which the boys thought was fascinating.

The 'tuber' (as my kids call it - and no, not a potato, Uncle Geoff!) kept the kids entertained.  The adults too!  Mom and I got a very gentle ride, gentle enough to put Maddie to sleep.  However, the boys thought we were wimps and demanded much crazier rides.

Even Logan got a tube ride on the 'tuber' (and loved it!) but I didn't get a picture of it.  I did get this one of him relaxing with Grammy. 

Of course, no trip to the beach is complete without playing in the sand.  The boys put quite the town together!

Logan was getting pretty good at saying Bumpa.  He loved pointing things out to him. 

 Lane loves his cousin Aislyn.  She sure is a sweetie! 

Uncle Geoff and Auntie Jocelyn brought their kayaks and they were a hit.  Uncle Galen gave Lane a little lesson and now Lane considers himself a pro.(:

Lane wasn't the only one who thought they were great fun!  Morgan loved going for rides as well. 

Two of Logan's favorite things:  Planes and water!  

By the last day, I think Morgan was pretty much tuckered out!  I think all of us were. 

We've recuperated some this week and are doing our level best to make the most of what remains of summer.  With a deadline this year (Lane starts Kindergarten!) it feels like summer is quickly slipping by.  The kids were singing 'Frosty the Snowman' the other day and asking about winter.  My only response was a groan.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy winter.  But I'm really enjoying the sun right now!