Summer 2011-Month #1

Hands down, this has been my favorite summer with the kids to date. I think you would have to interview the kids and see if they are in agreement (it has had its' ups and downs). For me, we have had just the right chemistry of work, education, fun, and on and on.
And so, here is June in a nutshell:
Three kids are swimming in the mornings, and I love that because it gets our entire family up and moving at a decent hour. We have also kept busy with track for two of the kids. That has been a great experience for both since they are on the top of their age groups and can succeed in their events. Ben was able to go to the State Hershey Meet, with the final meet being held in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Even though he didn't qualify, it was a great trip for Tim and Ben to go down to Richefield for the day together.
Sarah's hours have picked up at work, and so she has found some solace in keeping busy. She spends much of her free time reading, watching movies from the library, and spending time with her friends. Sarah and friends started the summer off with a "burn party" and got rid of all homework from previous years. The next morning the new Senior Class of Murray High(Sarah included) hiked Ensign Peak to watch the sunrise as the new senior class. Sarah is becoming really independent in a great way. She is wanting to camp with her friends this summer-she has told us that when she gets married, they will camp every weekend.
Nathan spent June swimming, playing water polo, and mowing lawns. He is sold on the lawn business, in comparison to his scout job he held last year ($17/day for 7 hours, YIKES!). He has created a bucket list for the summer, and has some FUN ideas on it-"100 things to do this summer". On Saturday him and his friends ate a spoonful of Tabasco sauce, learned paper folding with a $1 bill, dipped fingers in hot wax, as well as had a "Barbie-Q".
Ben took his entire treehouse down in June and has come up with the "new and improved" plan that even has a trap door. His skills are improving as a carpenter-he even made a weekly "fort schedule" that would keep him on track with his building. Ben is very particular about which friends he will invite to help with his building. He picks those with only the most qualified skills. And, one of Ben's new jobs as a deacon is to pick up the bread from the bakers in our ward (we call it donut bread because it tastes like donuts) and bring it to sacrament meeting. He then races up after church to recover the bread leftovers from the scavaging teachers that are cleaning up after sacrament. He feasts on about 6-10 pieces of toast when he gets home from church :)
Anna, Will, and Alice are my summer buddies, willing to do just about anything with me. We got a pool pass for the summer instead of swimming lessons, and we have just had a ball going to the pool together and practicing strokes as well as LOTS of goofing off. Will and Anna tried new haricuts this summer as well-Will's hair looks like Nate's, and Anna's is a cute A-line. We have been to the ranch many times, and it is fun to get away even for the day. We spent a week in Park City, and LOVED having Mom and Dad Crockett out for the occasion. Dad spent a day with Tim checking out the ranch, while Mom made American Girl Doll dresses for the girls and enjoyed the views of Park City.

I DO NOT WANT SCHOOL TO START.