Magical Summer

As I look back on this summer (and, yes, it IS already time to look back on the summer...School starts this week for Derrick and next week for Scott), I am overwhelmed at what a wonderful summer we have had. It has been a great summer on so many levels. We have had great adventures both far and wide and in our own backyard. I calculated...of the 63 nights of summer, we have spent 23 of them not in our own beds.

So here are some highlights of the summer:

Andrew's favorite parts of the summer: going to Washington DC and the beach; I loved flying my kite at the beach

Scott's favorite parts of the summer: going to Washington DC and my souvenirs - at the beach, a bunch of shark teeth and in DC, some rocks from the Natural History Museum

* Flying in the Air and Space museum. While Scott stuck to flying only airplanes that you could sit in, Andrew "flew" EVERY airplane he saw. His imagination soared through the museum.

*The museum of Natural History was a highlight for the entire family. We spent almost 6 hours in the museum. We loved the dinosaurs, the marine exhibit, the insect museum, the gems and minerals (esp. the Hope Diamond!) Mom, Andrew, Amanda and I loved the snack bar when we were cranky and tired, while Derrick and Scott plowed forward to a new area of the museum.

One of my absolute favorite paintings - Renoir's "Girl with a Hoop." She is dressed in blue and so was Amanda that day...they are my two favorite girls dressed in blue.

*Learning to play dominoes in Texas. It is a favorite game in Derrick's family and Andrew really enjoyed playing with the adults this summer. Uncle Kevin was "helping" Andrew select his next move; however, I really think that Andrew was "helping" Uncle Kevin get more points! Somehow the cards that Andrew played always seemed to help Kevin score.

*We have eaten LOTS of watermelon.


*We read many, many books. One highlight was that we listened to the first five Narnia books on CD while we were driving. It really made them come to life. The actors are wonderful and put so much more energy into the readings than I do!

Scott loved Eyewitness books this summer, especially "Cowboy" and "Rocks and Minerals."

Andrew loves story books...really anything with a good story, but especially superhero books.

Amanda loves picture books. She will read for hours on just about any lap she can find. She especially loves the big sticker books, but we have tried to keep the "sticker" part a secret.

Here are the boys at the library as they finished their summer reading card.

*We spent much time in our bathing suits. Whether at the beach, in Virginia on my Uncle's boat, at the Lake, or at the pool, the kids LOVE the water.