Pool side dinning

It's a nice evening and since I took the time to move my beautiful seating area from my side patio to the pool area I thought we had better use it. So we did!

 

 

We decided to enjoy our dessert outside by the pool.

 

Samantha

 

Alexis

 

Bridgette

 

Olivia

 

Teddy

 

Thanks for peeking in on us...

Pool! I am getting impatient

So I have been also working really hard on the side of my house. 11 years ago we had landscaping done for my brothers wedding and then we let it go. So I was really proud of what the kids and I did this spring. Nice seating area.

 

 

I decided since we plan on entertaining around the pool we should dine there so I moved my tables. I think it looks pretty nice, but now the side of my house is bare. Guess I will watch for clearance sales to find another dinning set or 2 for 1 of the areas.

 

I am pretty proud of these tanning chairs and tables, I stopped at Target to make a return and wouldn't you know they were half off. And exactly what I wanted!!

 

Perfect for Olivia to lounge by the pool.

 

OK even though the water needs a good cleaning before we are ready to host company, it has been hot out and the water is 83 degrees, so the kids waded around in it. I figure it is like a pond.

 

Well they tell me if the weather holds out it will be mostly done by Wednesday, I can't wait to have friends over!!!

Movie Magic & Music Videos

Alexis got invited to Summer Academy in 2nd grade, it's for "High Potential" kids (Gifted Kids), we did not send her the summer after 2nd grade, but did last year and this year. Kids have to score in the upper 90th percentile in reading and/or math on the NWEA state testing to get invited.

 

A day at summer academy is like a week at regular school as far as what they pack into learning for the kids. They cater to the gifted kids with the way they teach and the children pick the class that interests them. This summer there are over 1300 children attending the Summer Academy for 3 weeks.

 

The class Alexis chose for this summer is Movie Magic!! She gets to make her own music video and tour a recording studio. Yesterday the entire class of 21 kids made an original music video as a team, they each were assigned jobs and from what Alexis said it was a lot of fun! Today she is at a recording studio on a field trip.

 

We get to see the world premiere of all of the videos at the open house on July 2nd, I can hardly wait.

 

Thought I would share a picture of her by her classroom. This was taken on Sunday, we went up to see where her classroom was located in the building.

 

 

Here is a picture from filming day, photo credit goes to North Suburban Summer Academy, I found it on their blog.

 

Alexis is dressed as Steve from Minecraft.

 

 

Thanks for peeking in on us!!

 

Learn more about Summer Academy here.

Summer School

Olivia is off to summer school. She is so lucky that she will have fun with friends for 26 days and not get such a big summer loss on her skills. She was a little nervous and a little excited for her first day!

 

 

She made 5 new friends that first day and had a great time!!

 

Big Backyard changes!!

When we built our house, 15 years ago, we used to go to Home and Garden shows. And one of our very first years in our home we decided we wanted a pool.

 

Every time, pre kids, we went to the show we looked at the pools.

 

We started a savings account and even though we went infrequently in the years since having kids, we still looked at pools and dreamed.

 

We finally saved enough, so we started digging.

 

Putting stuff in the ground.

 



 

Choosing a tan liner rather than the traditional blue. Because as much as I like blue, we like to be different. Adding water.

 

Laying cement.

 

Looking at patio furniture.

 

Laying pavers.

 

Bringing in dirt to level.

 

The patio furniture arrived today. It does have those blue cushions. I brought them inside for now, since it is suppose to rain the next 3 days.

 

 

Just need the landscaping, which includes sod, the fence and the bar area and it's done. Everything, except the bar, should be finished by next Wednesday. So Thursday we can swim!!

 

Yes it has been a long 15 years waiting and saving for the pool but now that dream is so close. Will blog about it as soon as it is done!!

 

Thanks for peeking in on us! 

 

First week of summer The Zoo

Since we have 5 kids, it makes sense to just get a membership at places. So we joined the Zoo, they had a special offer running that if we bought the membership we would get 2 extra months for free so we get June 2014-August 2015. Since my kids LOVE the zoo it just works great that way. And 2 trips to the Zoo more than pays for the membership and we will go several times over the next 2 summers.

 

We went with one of my best friends who happens to be Bridgette's Godmother!!

 

 

Looking at some monkeys.

See Alexis there smiling at me, she was looking at those pink flamingos.

 



For some reason my kids have been in this, "take my picture" stage. so here are some of those.

 

Samantha

 



Bridgette

 





 

 

Olivia

 



Alexis

 



Teddy

 

The cool thing at our zoo this summer is the Big Bug exhibit!

 

 

 

Time to see the Big Bugs!!

 



 

 

This is quite a big picnic. I guess it is what it looks like to an ant.

 



 

Speaking of ants, check out these giant ones!!

 



 

I think this one wants to eat my kids, they better run. Looks like a scene from the movie Aliens.





 

There is a big spider. Don't know what I would do if I saw this one in the shower!

 

They did have some real honey bees.

 

We took a picture by this tarantula, we were thinking of my older brother when we took this one. He has a thing about spiders, lets just say the movie "Arachnophobia" is a true horror film for him

 

Walking along an ant tunnel.

 

 

A giant Caterpillar.

 

Giant lady bug!

 

A boneyard, or fossils.

 

Well we did not see all of the attractions. Thank goodness for the membership. The kids were wiped out!

 

Thanks for checking in on us!