Around Here

We have quite a lot going on this summer.  I always debate whether to sign up for a bunch of things or keep it to a minimum. The best summer for us is one full of new things to try and still plenty of time for family fun.  I think of summer as the best time to try new activities, learn things that are not taught in school, and spend time with friends and family.  So, that is what we are doing!

Field hockey started for Reagan last week.  She loves this sport.  I'm glad she does because it is popular in town and she will be able to try out for the middle school team in a few years.  Field hockey is once a week for two hours.

 Collin and Reagan started their weekly tennis lesson with Steve.

We went to a magic show at the library.  It was cute.  The magician has received a lot of awards and has performed at the White House nine times.  He used a few books in his show which was neat since it was a library performance.

It was hot over the weekend, so we went to the beach on Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday, the kids had a blast with friends and a cousin.

Reagan and Addie

Kate and Ayla

Cousin Riley with Reagan

Collin and Jack

Yesterday, Reagan went to Edaville with Auntie Cyn, Uncle George, and Riley.  They had a great time!  It was very hot, so the rest of us decided to go to the beach instead of the amusement park. Reagan said it was a lot of fun though, and she loved hanging out with Riley.

Collin started his second robotics camp this week; he did a week of robotics at the high school right after school ended.  This week, he is at Wheeler, a private school in Providence and Seekonk, three hours a day. He showed me a video about a robot named Jibo that is so very cool; I want one!

I'm off to pick Reagan up from her friend Makenna's house now because that child must have somewhere to go and someone to see every day!!!

Tennis

Tyler's tennis season ended recently and these are the last few articles from The Spectator.  

Tennis

Here are a few articles from The Spectator about Tyler's tennis team. 

Tennis

Collin and Reagan had their first tennis lesson of the summer this morning.  I think the indoor tennis was worth the money over the winter, because they both looked pretty good out there today.

Tennis lessons with Steve are the best.  He is so positive and just wonderful with the kids.  He makes the lessons so much fun, and he boosts their confidence while helping them become good tennis players.  The kids enjoy their lessons and learn so much each week.

Tyler - Tennis Sportsmanship Award

In addition to the wonderful news that the team won this Sportsmanship Award, Tyler received the honor of being voted TEAM CAPTAIN for next year!!!  Congratulations, Tyler!

Tennis Update

This is the most recent article in The Spectator about Tyler's high school tennis team.

Tennis

Tyler is playing for the high school tennis team again this year.  Here is the first Spectator article about the team, with some really nice words about Tyler!  If you don't want to read the whole article, you can find the blue arrow and just read about Tyler.

Tyler earned the NUMBER TWO spot on the team!!!!  I am so very happy for him!  This is his first year ever playing singles, and even in all of the out of school tennis he has played over the years, he has always played doubles until now.  I hope he has a great season and enjoys every minute!

This is today's article in the Spectator:

Unfortunately, Tyler is sick today and missed a match.  Hopefully, he is back out on the courts tomorrow.

Summer Vacation Week Three

 More tennis

 Lemonade

 Time with friends

Gymnastics

Reagan had a week of gymnastics camp.  She went every day from 9-4 (except Wednesday when I picked her up early to go swim at the DoRegos' house), and two of the days she had to be back at the gym from 5-6:30 for Rookie Team practice.  Yet she was always disappointed when it was time to go.  I guess she likes it, just a little!!!  It felt like it was 400 degrees in the gym, so she must really like it to want to be there all day.  It has been in the high 90s all week and the gym does not have AC; one day, the gymnasts all had Ziploc bags full of ice tucked into the back of their leotards!!!

Reagan has always been very determined to succeed; it is a great quality and I am so proud of how hard she works to accomplish her goals.  All week long she talked about how she was trying and trying to do a pullover on the bars, but just couldn't get it.  Today, when I went in to pick her up from camp, the owner of the gym came over and told me Reagan did it twice.

She also commented on Reagan's determination and hard work.  She was very proud of Reagan, and this made me happy to have Reagan at this gym!  Reagan was proud too!  All of her hard work paid off!

Reagan also got the award for hardest worker at camp this week.

Now we are gearing up for our trip to visit Auntie Karen and Uncle Mark!  I better pack!

Random Pictures from the Last Two Weeks

Collin made this pyramid box by following directions from the book Math Art Projects and Activities.

Tennis lessons started last week.  Collin and Reagan will be playing tennis through the town recreation department two days a week, and they will have a thirty minute private lesson one day a week.

One of the things Collin's teacher recommended working on over the summer in preparation for fourth grade, is states and capitals.  We have had the Sequence States and Capitals game for a while, but we played it for the first time last week.

I get so upset when cool sounding projects flop, and this was a MAJOR flop.  I saw the idea for Crystal Paint in The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions.  Supposedly, mixing 1/8 cup of liquid starch with 1/8 cup of water and a few drops of food coloring will make a paint that crystallizes as it dries.  There was ZERO crystallization.  I even tried adding a little extra starch to the mixture, but it didn't work.  The only thing I can think of is that my starch is probably two or three years old; I have no idea if this matters, but if it does they should add that detail to the directions.

Kate has been painting with washable nontoxic paints lately.  She makes a mess, but she has fun and it keeps her busy for a little while.

This is Reagan's television set.  So far, she has presented the news and a few short programs.

Kate wants to be a television celebrity too.