Funny thing happened yesterday.  I was talking with a homeschool friend and she said:  It’s funny, all year I can’t wait for summer, then when it is here it seems more rushed than the school year. 

That is especially true in our house.  We have not had a day since summer started where we have not been up at 7am, running all day, and dropping like flies at night. 

In a nutshell, this is what we’ve done:  swim team, pool time, camps...doesn’t sound like much does it?

First, Audrey went to Florida to see her grandma and BFF Nina.

Then, for the next several weeks we spent on average about 5 hours a day at the pool.  I developed a complete obsession with pool shots and getting that perfect freeze of water as the swim team swimmers swam.  It was crazy, and I have about 1200 pictures to prove it.  No, I am not kidding.

Spencer and Malena made it into All-Stars, and we were really proud of them.  Audrey was away at GS camp, or she would have been in too.  Last night she got the “Coaches Choice” award at the banquet.  They only give one of those a year.  Cade did BITS (Barracuda’s in Training) and had a blast with his older friends.

This year on our patio we used whiskey barrels to grow vegetables.  It worked!  I have NEVER been able to grow tomatoes, peppers or cukes until this year.  Here you can see Cade picking lemon cukes—not my favorite—but a good producer. 

Then came the 4th of July where we discovered the power of light and the camera.  We had so much fun, we went down to Sandy’s and used sparklers the next night.

As swim team came to an end, Audrey went off to girl scout camp for two weeks with her BFF Caroline.  We missed her while she was gone...but in those two weeks big changes occurred.

First, we had our driveway torn out to replace the culvert drains.  Then, I decided to tear into Audrey’s room, and redecorate it while she was gone.  It is a more ‘teen’ style I think.

Tree before:

Tree after:

Before,

Morning glories

After:  bubbles

A monogram above each bed completed the look.  I don’t know, but I think she was surprised...and more importantly, I think she liked it!

The story of the ducks didn’t quite go according to plan.  They did in fact fly away...but...only as far as our neighbors pool.  They didn’t go in the pool, but seeing four mallards poolside several times a day was not making for good neighbors.  So, I talked to a friend who has a beautiful pond and she agreed they could be released there.  They have lived there for a week and a half now, and although they are still not going into the water, we feel certain this is a good place for them.

Except for the day I had to go get one from the CC pool...it was Audrey’s—do you think it was looking for her??