2013 Summer Activities 4

I have lots of photos to share this time! Because of it was the 4th of July week, we had lots of things to do and go to. Most of our activities were red-white-and-blue.

Red-white-and-blue 1. First off, this week - as the weather continued to be hot - the children used the blender almost every day, either making smoothies or frozen yogurt treats. With both recipes we used vanilla yogurt, frozen berries, and milk. The consistency of the blended ingredients was thicker for the frozen treats and thinner/runnier for the smoothies. I eyeballed the amounts each time; I do not have a standard recipe I follow. It was a delicious moment each time (minus the brain-freezes).

 

Red-white-and-blue 2. Andrew and Saara made some patriotic pinwheels to decorate their desk.

I found the instructions to the pinwheels in the June/July issue of "Country Woman" magazine. They can also be found online at http://www.countrywomanmagazine.com/project/paper-pinwheel-centerpiece/

 

Happy Independence Day!

Red-white-and-blue 3. At the library's America's Celebration we listened to the Family Poet Wayne Edwards recite his poems he writes for both adults and children. The poems are hilarious and there's a whole lot of them to read on Edward's website: http://www.familypoet.com/

For Andrew and Saara the highlight of the library's celebration was Tchaikovsky's "1812" overture. Namely, helping the recorded opus out with popping paper bags for the cannon fire volley.

It took a few practice rounds with just clapping. And then there was the 'real deal' with paper bags. Andrew got so exited, he lost his focus for one of the pops, but recovered it very fast. One thing I do know, he will recognize the overture now anywhere and it will always be 'the song with the paper bags'.

As a cherry on the top the kids colored some quilt-pattern flags.

Happy 4th again!

And again - on the 4th at a small town parade. Red-white-and-blue 4.

As part of the 4th of July activities, Andrew got to try rock climbing for the first time.

Both kids and their friends spent the whole morning playing games, bouncing in the bounce house, getting face paintings, riding a 'choo-choo' train, rock climbing, etc.

Another new thing that Andrew tried out - learning how to play with the paddle-and-ball. He mastered it before we reached home.

We are not much of movie-goers, but once in a blue moon, we treat ourselves to a show. Monsters University this time.

Red-white-and-blue 5. Watching the fireworks. It has become a tradition in our family to line up along a road with hundreds of other cars and wait for the Bush Library fireworks.

And Happy 4th again!

This is Tchaikovsky's '1812' paper bag style.