One last post about summer. (really!)

So now that we're almost 2 weeks into the school year I'm going to go back and recap the last few days of summer!  

Since summer seemed to fly by there were still lots of things to do and places to visit for the 1st time (or one last time) before our days became consumed by early mornings and tired afternoons that we knew the school year would bring.  Here are some highlights.

The Roper Mountain Science Center is a fun outdoor place to visit and play.  One we had never been to before.  There is a fun butterfly garden the girls got to explore, a newly built tree house (complete with rain barrels - so cool!), and lots of trails for nature walks.  We met our play group friends there - many of whom are boys.  This was the day that Kate discovered that 1) boys are kinda cool and will hunt bugs and worms with her and 2) they would do things to help her (like find "treasures" in the dirt or not to fall off something she was climbing on).  She certainly did enjoy playing with her boy friends that day (as she later told her daddy!)

Butterfly Garden

Exploring the trails

Checking out the cool treehouse!

Look closely to see Kate in the midst of these 3 brothers.

Meet the Teacher was a big day for Kate and for Mommy and Daddy too.  Though slightly chaotic she enjoyed seeing her classroom and playing on the playground.  We were all happy to find out 3 neighbors (all boys) and one little girl from her preschool were also going to be in Ms Thompson's class.  Did I mention Kate actually does like boys???

And, finally, with the remaining few hours of summer dwindling down we tried to make every last moment count!  The girls and I visited Gravitopia one last time - the best place ever for getting some energy out on a hot day.  We all had fun bouncing and jumping into the foam block pits!  Kate and I got to enjoy one more mommy-daughter lunch with no "babies or daddies" as she likes to say.  And one last leisurely bike ride in the neighborhood with no where to be.  

Now we'll be ready for a long first year of grade school and the hectic pace that comes with it.  And we'll be looking forward to next summer and the slower pace its sure to bring!

Countdown to Kindergarten

Its so hard to believe that summer is over and Kate heads off for Kindergarten tomorrow.  I think what makes me and Brett the saddest is that before we know it she'll be heading off to college!

Up until this year summer seemed to last forever!  About 4 months to be exact because in Texas preschool got out 2 weeks before the Frisco ISD  and started 2 weeks after the big kids started.  So Kate would be out of school from mid May until mid September.  And we soooo enjoyed our 4 month summer!

This year, on the other hand, Kate finished preschool at the very end of May and starts school tomorrow!  However, I'll save the Kindergarten drama for another post because this is officially my final post of the summer!  I can't even believe it!


Here's the recap of the last month or so of our summer break.

We left at the end of July for a week and a half trip to LBI and then VA Beach.  Once again I was reminded how much I truly love LBI!  I have to say that it has become my favorite beach.  If only it weren't so blasted far away!  Here are some highlights.

Good thing we brought Kate's bike!

First visit to see the water! Purse and all.

No words necessary.

First beach visit was a success.

One of the parks in Beach Haven.

Kate went all the way across for the 1st time!

The carriage was a big hit!

What has become a Faulkner family tradition now it seems, we visited Fantasy Island.  Now if only Brett could stop talking about how his folks gave away all the tickets he saved up when he was a kid.  Seriously, time to let it go!

We also celebrated Anna Clare's 2nd birthday while at LBI.  After a little temper tantrum she loved her cake and the dolls and barbies and ponies she received too!  And the cupcake was, naturally, a big hit!

Happy Birthday Girl!

How could i resist including this shot?

Enjoyed her sister's birthday too!

Love this sweet LBI t shirt.

After a week in LBI we loaded the car up again (just to be clear - I loaded the car up again - in the pouring rain no less!) and headed to VA Beach.  If only we had known that we needed a ferry reservation to cross the Delaware Bay our 6 hour drive would've actually been a 6 hour drive rather than the 11 it turned out to be.  There was some serious been drinking done upon arrival to make up for that slight error in planning!

Girls on our hotel room balcony

Awesome hotel pool!

Though we were only in VA Beach for a few days is was an adventure worth the long drive!  Seeing Rob and Kristie is always fun.  This time we also got to meet Rob's sister Jenny and her family.  It was a fun few days for everyone!

Virginia Beach was quite a lot to take in.  The main strip was well developed with a wide boardwalk for biking and walking, lots of activities on the beach and many, many hotels and restaurants.

Rob and Jenny's families were camping in another area of Virginia Beach.  They were a short and really beautiful walk to a remote and quite breath taking beach.  The contrast between the two beaches was really something to see!  I'm glad we got to experience both in just a few days!

The picture of Kate pretty much sums up our few days in VA Beach!  Lots of fun but not enough rest.  She even slept right through the fireworks over the VA Beach boardwalk that night!