Summer Fun

A few days ago someone was asking me what the kids and I did all day, so I thought I would journal about these crazy fun summer days. When we wake up everyone has morning work to do, if they finish and there are family jobs (weeding the garden and beds, house chores, or whatever I think of) we work on those. We usually go to lunch at the park, the kids like to ride bikes there if it is not too hot. In the afternoon we go to Bass Lake, or summer movies, or play with friends, or go to the library, or do a project at home, or just have free time at home. I try to wear them out in the afternoon, so they will be tired for bed even though it is still light out at bedtime. The girls generally go to bed around 8:00pm and Jack and 8:30 or 9:00pm (in the summer). They can't stay up too late, as they all usually are awake around 6:30 to 7:00 (Jack & Audrey) or 7:30 to 8:00 (Ellie & Lucy). I love having the kids home during the summer. I can't believe it is July already, summer is flying by!
Jack did a week long basketball camp at CSI, did a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and a golf clinic at BLCC. He also is still taking piano lessons and busy with Cub Scouts. Ellie took tennis lessons, and is taking piano and dance. Lucy took tennis lessons and is still in dance. And Audrey is always just along for the ride.
We took the kids camping and had a great time. We had fun with Grandpa John, Grandma Nanner, and Jordan & Mark's family in Boise when we drove up for Grandpa's birthday. The kids had a backyard campout sleepover with Grandpa Cleve while Clint and I went to the Alison Kraus concert in Sun Valley. We got to see cute Scarlett (and Jonny and Tracie) again over Independence Day weekend. We went to the Bass Lake BBQ and had some friends over that night.

Audrey

Audrey is so fun right now. She will be 2 next month and you can just see her learning and figuring things out everyday. She tries to keep up with the other kids, and definitely thinks she is a big girl.
Audrey is very smart and very independent. She potty trained herself (with a little help from her cousin Evelyn) in February and has had only a few "accidents" since she started. It was awesome! Around the same time she didn't want to sit in the booster chair for meals, just a regular chair with a regular cup like everyone else. She was not liking the crib, so we took off the front rails and she sleeps great.
Audrey wakes up every morning between 6:30 and 7:00 and walks down to my room asking for, "Breakfast mommy." Her favorite things are cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, or a bagel. Then when the next kid has breakfast, she has 2nd breakfast of whatever they are having. If someone sleeps later and eats later she has 3rd breakfast with them. She is a great eater and isn't picky at all. She isn't so good at naps however, most days she is not napping and we just try and keep her awake for an early bedtime. At bedtime, since everyone else is getting ready for bed too she does great.
Audrey likes to do everything for herself. As often as not, her clothes are backwards/inside out and her shoes are on the wrong feet because, "Audrey do it" If I step in and try to help her do something without her asking, we have to start completely over so she can do it herself.
Audrey loves to play with her brother and sisters. She likes to be outside riding bikes and scooters. She likes to read books and play with baby dolls and Barbies. She likes to sing. Her favorite songs are Popcorn Popping, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam, Old MacDonald, and Pop Goes the Weasel. She is funny and is getting a funny little sense of humor. When I was in the bathroom with her the other day, she was going #2, and she looked up at me and said, "I poop goes weasel." She also blames her toots on other people (Bathroom humor is tops around here).
We all love Audrey so much and are having fun with our sweet almost 2 year old!