3 Things.

Library Summer Reading:

One of the greatest things about where we live (in my opinion) is our library. We have an AWESOME summer reading program for the kids. We also have a pretty great preschool story time that we try to hit regularly. The children's librarians, Judd and Dorothy, are great. They know all the kids (and there are A LOT) of them. Judd is a great story teller, and he's really good with the massive amounts of kids (of all ages) that show up. During the summer the library organizes free shows for the kids--we saw some musical stuff, the reptile man, magic shows, a ventriloquist, a science demonstration, and some variety acts. The kids really look forward to it. The last show was a guy named "Leapin Louie" he did cowboy type stuff with lassos, whips, and a unicycle. He picked Audri to help him on his unicycle...(that was a gamble if you ask me!) she did a great job though...she had to follow him around and get his whip UP to him...it was kind of funny!

Looking a little nervous at her task

getting some directiontrying to keep up...

getting it up there

Also, to keep the kids reading and working during the summer, they put together some assignments: reading at least 10 min a day, some artsy stuff, and decorating a hat...once you do those, you turn them in and then are eligible for prizes. And we're talking good stuff. Every kid gets the packet of coupons from local places: free fries from McD's, Dairy Queen, the water park, Joes donuts...etc... and then you get to be drawn for the good stuff. This year was our lucky year! Audri was drawn#15 and Brayden was drawn #2! Brayden had his pick of almost anything...and chose a pretty huge dinosaur skeleton (of course) and Audri (who has THE HARDEST time making a choice) finally settled on a pretty deluxe art easel. What lucky ducks!!

Brayden's Hat

Audri's hat (and did I mention the library supplied the hat?? How great is that. All this FREE! Well, I'll gladly pay my taxes for this kind of stuff)

The prize Patrol

Gladstone Chautauqua Days:

Last year we walked in the parade. This year we were spectators, but that didn't stop us from donning our Gladstone Family Dentistry Shirts and parking outside the office with free hygiene kits and fruit bars (did you know we are share holders in a fruit bar company Acai Fruit bars, you should try one!) The kids had fun handing things out before the parade started, then had fun gathering all the candy that was tossed to them once everyone was rolling. Good thing we know where to find some extra toothbrushes!

Giving stuff away

Wouldn't you want to get something (anything) from this cute girl?She did this to herself...

waiting for the parade to start

Swimming Lessons:

Swimming lessons took up most of July. I am so proud at how well the kids did! Brayden started off at a level 4 (learning to side kick) and ended up at level 7! He's learned side breathing and proper strokes and is now just really working on building up stamina and a few advanced moves like the butterfly. He LOVES to jump off the diving board into the deep (11 feet!) end. He has become a little fish this summer. Audri did amazing. This was her first year of 'real' lessons and was scared of putting her head under when she started. She ended up at level 4--that's getting your head under and NOT HOLDING YOUR NOSE and back floating, front floating, and working on side kicking. She doesn't stop when she sets her mind to something. Makenna also started in on the preschool swim lessons. She had fun, and really has no fear. She was the smallest one in the class (but not the youngest!) she had to have a teacher walk with her all the way across cause she still can't touch the bottom towards the end of the little pool. She loved it.

I think I see gills forming...

getting the hang of it

Floating...maybe she felt so comfortable, cause Robyn is her nursery teacher too!

Free bird.