More Summer Fun

I skipped posting last week because I was in Virginia at girls camp the whole week before, and Derek didn't take any pictures while I was gone. I was gone for 10 days, away from my husband and children. I am not an overly sentimental or emotional person, but I was more than ready to come back to my family. The picture above is of Jenna with fudgesicle all over her face. The kids had them while I was gone.

This week we had another fun summer week. Unfortunately for Jared the week did not start out so well. I drove back from Virginia on Monday (an 11 hour drive). About an hour before I got here I got a call from my mom. She said Jared had been stung by a wasp on his face, and his face was very swollen. They gave him some Benadryl which helped to bring down the swelling, but it took about two full days for his face to return to normal.

Jared's swollen face. They told me that in the beginning he couldn't open his eye at all.




Tuesday we took the kids to the library and park. They have really enjoyed being part of the library reading groups this summer. That night they had "Big Truck Night" at the library. They brought in a bunch of huge trucks and let the kids play in them. Kevin and Jared had a blast! Jenna hated it. She didn't like all the noise (the horns were going constantly), so I took her inside the library, and read her books until the boys were done.

Jared in front of the police car at "Big Truck Night." I know a police car isn't a big truck, but the kids loved it anyway.


Kevin on a police motorcycle. Yet again, not a big truck. :)


Jared on a police motorcycle.


Jared in a big truck.


Kevin in a big truck.


Wednesday we took the kids to Salisbury beach in New Hampshire. It was about 90 degrees outside, but the water was freezing! I did not expect that. My feet hurt being in the water because it was so cold. Eventually they went numb, so it wasn't too bad. :) Kevin didn't mind the cold water. Jared hated it and wouldn't go near the Ocean. He kept saying he wanted to go home. Jenna warmed up to it by the end.

Kevin at the beach


Jared at the beach


Jenna at the beach


Mom and Kevin playing in the waves.




Thursday we took the kids shopping for school supplies. Kevin and Jenna both had a list of supplies they needed. They had a good time picking out the folders, notebooks, scissors, etc. that they wanted. I wanted to do that here because the stores near our house in Virginia are not the best for buying school supplies.

Friday my dad took the day off from work, and took us (minus Derek) to Story Land. Story Land is a young child's amusement park (think under 12). It was a really cool park, great for little kids. The problem was that it rained the entire time we were there. The kids still had a great time. Jared loved the train (his latest obsession). Jenna loved the flying fish and the shows. We saw a circus that was awesome, and an imagination show. Kevin loved the polar coaster (roller coaster). It really was a fun place and I am glad the kids had such a good time. Thank you for taking the day off to spend it with us Dad!

Jenna, Kevin, and Jared on thrones in Cinderella's Castle


Jared, Jenna and Kevin participating in the Imagination show. They were the animals for "Old McDonald Had a Farm"


Kevin and Grandma shooting balls at Grandpa. This was part of the imagination place. I wish I had more pictures. It was really cool. The kids spent about an hour playing there.


Saturday we started packing things. We leave Boston to head back to Virginia this week. This is the last week of summer for the kids. Kevin starts school (1st grade) a week from tomorrow and Jenna starts preschool a week from Wednesday. It is hard to believe that summer is over. We have had the best summer. I am very sad to see it end. Thank you mom and dad for making it so wonderful!

Today we took the kids to the Boston temple to walk around. We enjoy going to walk around temples. We used to do it fairly often in Utah. It was a nice temple. I am glad we made it over there before heading back to Virginia.

Jenna, Kevin and Jared at the Boston Temple


Jenna, Kevin and Jared looking at the Boston Temple


Kevin, Mom and Dad at the Boston Temple. Jenna took this picture. Not bad for a 4 year old.


Amanda and Derek at the Boston Temple. Kevin took this picture. He did a great job.


We have had a great time in New Hampshire. I am glad we had the opportunity to spend a summer up here. New England is a beautiful place. I don't know that I could survive their winters, but their summers are great.

This is What Summer is All About

We had the best summer vacation week ever! Thanks mom and dad! There are LOTS of pictures, so proceed with caution. :)

Monday:

I bought kites for the kids a while ago, but forgot about them. We finally remembered to pull them out on Monday. Kevin and Jenna had a great time with them. Jared couldn't really figure it out.

Kevin with his kite

Jenna with her kite


My mom bought a kiddie pool for the kids to swim in. They loved it, even though the water was freezing!




Tuesday:

I decided to try a new hair style for Kevin. We both really liked the way it turned out.

For dessert the kids had ice cream Sundaes. This is how Jared finished his off. I think he liked it. :)


Wednesday:

We ran errands on Wednesday and went to the library and the park. No pictures of any of that.

Thursday:

I finally made it to Boston! I have been trying to go there since high school. My mom and I took the kids to the Aquarium. We took the subway in, so we wouldn't have to drive through Boston. The aquarium was awesome! They have this huge ocean tank in the middle of aquarium that is 4 stories high. There are other smaller tanks and exhibits on the sides. The aquarium sits right on the harbor. It was beautiful and we got to walk outside and eat lunch overlooking the harbor. The kids had a great time. When we asked them what their favorite part was, they all said the subway. Should have known. :)

Jared and Kevin watching the penguins. They were warm water penguins. Jared loved them. They were very loud.

Kevin, Jared, and Jenna looking at a fish in the huge tank

A Shark in the huge tank

A huge sea turtle in the huge tank - that was my favorite part

Kevin, Jenna, Jared and Mom on the dock outside the museum

Jenna, Jared and Kevin

Kevin and Jenna watching the large boats turn around

Jared, Jenna and Kevin looking at the boats in the harbor

Jared, Kevin and Jenna eating lunch in the harbor


Friday:

Friday night Derek and I took the kids to the Children's Museum in Boston. Every Friday Target sponsors a $1 night. We were able to take all of us for $5 as opposed to $53 which is what regular admission would have cost. Everyone had a great time. At the end the kids kept saying they wished the museum was their house because then they could play there all the time.

The bubble room:
Derek showing Jared a bubble

Jenna attempting to encase herself in a bubble. Unfortunately it popped.

Kevin's bubble.


Peeps Room:
Jared thought this bird was awesome!



Energy section:
Kevin pulling himself up. He made it almost all the way up. I was impressed.

Jenna pulling herself up. OK, that is a bit of an exaggeration. I pulled her up. :)

Kevin on a "bike" that you peddle with your arms. It makes some lights light up.


Climbing Structure:
This is the first thing you see when you go in the museum. It is a really cool climbing structure. The kids start on the main level and climb to the third level.

Kevin on climbing structure. He made it to the top on the first try.

Jenna and Kevin on climbing structure. Kevin agreed to take Jenna with him the second time, and show her how to get to the top. He is a good big brother.


The Building Room:
Kevin on the bobcat.

Jared on the bobcat. He was in heaven. :)

Jenna on the bobcat


Outside:
This is the view as we exited the museum. It wasn't as dark as the first picture makes it appear. It was more like the second picture. Boston is a beautiful city. I love all the water.



Saturday:

Kevin got to go to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's. Jenna was green with envy. No pictures of the party or a green Jenna. :)

Sunday:

Derek was trying to get Jared dressed. Instead he found him in his room with the stool flipped upside down and Jared sitting in it. Derek asked him what he was doing. Jared said he was in his boat. He sure is creative. :)

Jared's boat

Youth Conference and Tall Ships

I am really late posting yet again. I feel like the traveling queen lately (and I am not done yet). This past week I went back to Virginia for youth conference. Youth conference was a two and a half day conference for the 14-18 year old boys and girls from our church. Being that I am in charge of the girl youth, I went as their leader. I left on Wednesday of last week and drove 11 hours to Virginia. Youth Conference went from Thursday morning until Saturday afternoon. I had a really good time. We went on a few different hikes, cleared a trail as a service project, did a high ropes course, built a "boat" (it floated and carried us across a pond and back), had some free time, two dances and performed skits. The youth seemed to have a pretty good time too. My children stayed in New Hampshire with my mom. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Derek would come home from his internship in the evenings and help. He was also home on Saturday and Sunday. They all survived me being gone, and we were happy to be reunited on Sunday night. I have no pictures from youth conference, which is too bad because we stayed at a boarding school (out for the summer) that has a beautiful campus.

These are pictures of the kids eating dinner one night while I was gone. They are a bit dirty as they had been helping grandma out in the garden.

Jared loves to strip down to a diaper

Kevin really does love salad, which we think is great.

Classic Jenna. She can be a very moody girl. I can't wait until she is a teenager. (Yes, I am being sarcastic).


While I was gone, Derek took the kids to see the "Tall Ships." That is the name of the exhibit in Boston (I believe they are gone now). It had a few big ships in it that had been used in wars. The main ship I saw info on was the U.S.S. Cassin Young. The kids had a really good time. Unfortunately Derek forgot the camera. He took some pictures with his cell phone, but they are not very good.

These are the pictures from the "Tall Ships"







In other very exciting news: Kevin has his first loose tooth!!! He is very excited. I am actually surprised it hasn't fallen out yet. He knows all about the tooth fairy, so he is very anxious for the tooth to fall out. :)