Our Summer Snippets

NEVER AGAIN will I wait until the end of September to blog about an entire summer. I'm really smacking myself for this one! So, we will have a brief run through of the summer highlights through some pictures. We didn't get to do some of traditions (like blackberry picking) due to the extreme heat this summer...no rain & highs well over 100 day in and day out became a bit excessive and put a damper on the end of our summer break. In addition, it was difficult to do a lot outside for long periods of time since Parker was such a late walker (just started walking right after 15 months)...he would get very scratched up from the grass & have rashes. But, we had fun nonetheless.

We had fun being goofy and hanging out! Nolan rode in Meemaw & Papa's jeep for the first time, too (correction: first time on the road and not helping Papa drive it around the yard).

Pinterest gave us opportunities to explore and be creative. The one with the bubble snakes was interesting, Nolan had to constantly be reminded to not breathe in while the end of the bottle was in his mouth -- a quick taste of the soap was reminder enough without me telling him otherwise!

We had a lot of water fun & Nolan had his first round of swim lessons!

More pinterest fun!

We went to local places...for food, ice cream, and fun! We even took evening drives through SIUE campus to watch the deer. Nolan had his eyes checked for Kindergarten -- 20/20 vision, but he does have a stigmatism, too...no need to do anything about it though. Papa helped Nolan build a ramp for his cars.

We had t-ball games (someone's quickly improving)! We went to the Logan County Fair with Grandma & Grandpa and Shawn & Holly! Parker LOVED going round and round! We took trips to the library for stories and crafts. Parker's Elmo obsession has begun and is still in full swing. He constantly walks around the house bringing us the remote chanting, "Belbo, Belbo!"

Tyler came to visit for a weekend -- we went to the Glen Carbon Homecoming where we rode rides, ate, & played games! The boys made homemade pizza one night.

We went to Chicago and visited Shedd Aquarium, but Nolan's favorite part was going to see Michael Jordan's statue outside of the United Center!

We went to Traverse City, Michigan - and fell in love with Michigan as a vacation spot! We climbed very tall sand dunes in Indiana and Michigan (Nolan was pretty worn out & so was Daddy from carrying Parker)!

We went to the zoo on a VERY HOT day...wait, wasn't the entire summer VERY HOT?! Lots of water refills!

We had our annual 4th of July get together for fireworks, friends, and food! We had baby bunnies in our backyard! Baby Will made his appearance in early August! Yay!

We went to Six Flags on yet another extremely hot day. Nolan rode the Screaming Eagle TWICE along with some other roller coasters! Parker LOVED the characters! Nolan was so happy to see Taz.

All in all, it was a wonderful summer. Sadly, we didn't get to do our annual blackberry picking trip -- it was just way too hot that week. The last part of the summer was spent mainly indoors with the pool water even being no relief!

Now school is in session and we're busy as ever, but football season is almost over and things may possibly calm down soon! I PROMISE to blog within the next couple of days about our crazy start to fall!