Summer Work: Building Pyramids and Bringing Down Bushes

I think these hedges are a variety of English Laurel bush. They wrap around between the front yard and the road. They were making it hard to see as we pulled out of the driveway and also seemed comically tall -- well over our heads.  I went out with the hedge trimmers and a step ladder to try to bring them back into line.  I could see that they had been pruned to a much lower level for many years, but allowed to grow vertically in recent years. After several hours with the hedge trimmer, I made no noticeable progress.  I got hubby on the job and he found the proper tool (a pole saw) and brought them down to size. 

  It's great to have a driveway where the kids can enjoy riding their bikes.  We don't let them go on the bottom half (near the road), but they have plenty of pavement to play on between the house and the barn.

Hydrangeas next to the back of the  house are blooming. I love seeing them when I walk by.

This week A made a project to go with all the books about Ancient Egypt that we, but mostly she, has been reading.

  Mummy and sarcophagus

  Pyramid drying

Dry. Being painted.

 Started making things to go inside

We also went to a show at the library.  They have a free show every Wednesday during the summer.  This one was about reptiles, but they also taught the kids about tarantulas, beetles, and toads.

I think we will be going to the aquarium every week this summer.  I mentioned to some friends at church that we can bring 5 guests for free and everyone wants to go with us (like I said last time, it is pretty expensive without the pass).

 This is our second visit, but there are still so many things to see that we saw several new exhibits and found out about a whole bunch of others that we haven't visited yet.

 
This is a fish that spits to get bugs to fall into the water so they can eat them.  The guide demonstrated this with crickets. Amazing.

Fourth of July

We did a lot of picnicking this week. The parties started with an Independence Day bbq at friend's house Friday. It was yummy and a lot of the kids friends from church were there. They played hide and seek and a huge game of tag/infection.

The morning of the 4th was a church breakfast picnic.  The kids started a big game of kickball and our older kiddos joined in. They were a little hesitant since they'd never played it before.

 Here's brother M kicking the ball:

And big sister A kicking:

  This is what S and L did most of the time:

We had another picnic bbq with the cousins at our house that afternoon and then the fireworks were postponed due to rain.  We went to the parade and fireworks this weekend instead. Grandpop was in town for a photo shoot and joined in the fun.

 Scrambling to pick up candy:

 

 Trying to keep L from running out to meet everything that came along.

 Fireworks!

Summer at Full Speed

Swimming lessons every morning continued this week. 

We went to the PYO farm down the street to pick blueberries, but they were picked out, so we picked raspberries instead.

  The kids are always inventing new projects.  This week they upcycled some brown paper from a package into a huge paper airplane. Then, of course, they had to throw it off the balcony.

One day we played on the splash pad after swim lessons so that S and L could get in on the fun.

 Big brothers shoes are fun to stomp around in.

 It took baby L about half an hour of watching kids on the splash pad to finally go in and check it out.

 

After swim lessons Thursday we went to check out a local farm stand and dairy.

 We got some delicious fresh ice cream.

 Then we went over to meet the cows whose milk made that ice cream.

 

 The calves were so cute. They licked our hands and let us pet them.

My expert berry pickers finally got to pick blueberries on Friday. We got a few from our new little bushes, but not enough to satisfy these fruit lovers.

 
We only got to pick 4 lbs or so that day and then we had to go to A's riding lessons.  We'll be headed back again next week.