After a trip to Culver's for ice cream, we walked down the path.
The varnish kept peeling off the table. This was lucky table number three, they told us they were going to stop delivering us free tables and we were on our own. Years and years later we decided something should probably be done, either trying to re-stain the table or buy a new one, since varnish was sticking to placemats and pieces of food that would fall and stay on the table for a bit. Nick decided to try varnish and see if that works. He calls this is finest accomplishment of the summer:
Greta had her last day of Super Hero class July 3. Lilly was done with round one of summer school, so tagged along as well. Each week they made a different aspect of their costume and then on the last week they had a hero parade and then played at the park.
Then the Fourth of July. We started the day with American flag pancakes. The girls were very excited for the parade and Lilly was really eager for the fireworks. However, the day was looking stormy and it wasn't quite clear when the storms would hit. Although we are only a few blocks from the parade, we decided to drive in case the storms came through. And the wind and the rain came through, we watched from our van, and the parade kept going.
The weather cleared up and we had friends over for the afternoon/evening. We set up the pool, did some cleaning, and the girls read in Lilly's closet while we took care of those things.
We can see the fireworks from our house, so our plan was to wake Lilly up to watch them from her bedroom window when they started. Nick and I waited and waited for the fireworks, but nothing happened. Turns out they had cancelled them earlier in the day, but not being on Facebook, we missed the message. Oh well!
Nick was back to work the next day and the girls and I went to the Northern Great Lakes Visitors' Center.
Lilly did the second session of summer school, so Greta and I were back to hanging out in the mornings while Lilly was having fun learning about the forest and about insects.
Since Lilly was in summer school, we figured we'd sign Greta up for some classes as well. The preschool classes fit best into our schedule, so she did Happy Farmer class as well. Each week they'd read a book related to farms/gardening/animals of some kind and then have snack and do a craft. The class is located next to the skate park, Greta (and Lilly) enjoys playing on the ramps when there are no kids riding bikes/skateboards there.
Much of the summer I attempted quiet time with the girls. The plan is they would each be in their own rooms, look at books, listen to audiobook, and play quietly while I cleaned up downstairs, folded laundry, etc. I wouldn't call it an epic fail but I wouldn't call it successful. I am focusing on the positive side, that the girls love spending time together, rather than the fact that they don't listen to me and stay in their own rooms.
One of Lilly's summer school classes was Forest Fun. They talked about camping, safety in the forest, and lots of other things. This translated into many imaginary hiking trips in our house, especially on rainy days. It looks like I didn't get a photo of it, but she also made a really cool campfire out of a tea light, plastic cup, and red and yellow tissue paper (glued on the plastic cup). Greta and I had to go to the store and get the supplies for her to make her own.
Lilly discovered a favorite beach this summer, Thompson's West End in Washburn. There is a climbing tree that has become her favorite place to hang out before and after playing in the water. She loves this beach so much, we went both on July 14th and the 15th! (I think on the 15th Nick paddled there from Ashland, about 8 miles). The girls both paddled some on Saturday. Lilly was really into it and worked really hard at getting better at it. Sunday it was a bit too windy for the girls to try paddling on their own.
And we have made it about halfway through July, so I think this is a perfect place to stop for the night!
July 4th marks the start of our tenth year in Ashland. (You read that right, ten years!) We had no furniture save a few items. We went to a furniture store in Hayward to buy a bed and a few other items and ended up buying a houseful of furniture because they were having a massive sale. Anyway, I tell that chunk of story because of this:
The varnish kept peeling off the table. This was lucky table number three, they told us they were going to stop delivering us free tables and we were on our own. Years and years later we decided something should probably be done, either trying to re-stain the table or buy a new one, since varnish was sticking to placemats and pieces of food that would fall and stay on the table for a bit. Nick decided to try varnish and see if that works. He calls this is finest accomplishment of the summer:
Greta had her last day of Super Hero class July 3. Lilly was done with round one of summer school, so tagged along as well. Each week they made a different aspect of their costume and then on the last week they had a hero parade and then played at the park.
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| They just naturally grab hands so often, it melts my heart! |
Then the Fourth of July. We started the day with American flag pancakes. The girls were very excited for the parade and Lilly was really eager for the fireworks. However, the day was looking stormy and it wasn't quite clear when the storms would hit. Although we are only a few blocks from the parade, we decided to drive in case the storms came through. And the wind and the rain came through, we watched from our van, and the parade kept going.
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| Yeah, that's a storm coming with the parade. |
The weather cleared up and we had friends over for the afternoon/evening. We set up the pool, did some cleaning, and the girls read in Lilly's closet while we took care of those things.
Nick was back to work the next day and the girls and I went to the Northern Great Lakes Visitors' Center.
Lilly did the second session of summer school, so Greta and I were back to hanging out in the mornings while Lilly was having fun learning about the forest and about insects.
We'd do park trips, library story time trips, and upcoming photos, her Happy Farmer class through Parks and Rec.
When the high school coach couldn't make practice, a high school student runs the show. She did an excellent job and Lilly really seemed to have a great time when when ran practices too. There was one practice when Lilly was the only kid who showed up, so she asked Taylor if Greta could be at practice too. Taylor said absolutely, so Greta got a free tennis lesson too. Congratulations to Taylor for the patience to teach these two girls tennis!
Since Lilly was in summer school, we figured we'd sign Greta up for some classes as well. The preschool classes fit best into our schedule, so she did Happy Farmer class as well. Each week they'd read a book related to farms/gardening/animals of some kind and then have snack and do a craft. The class is located next to the skate park, Greta (and Lilly) enjoys playing on the ramps when there are no kids riding bikes/skateboards there.
Much of the summer I attempted quiet time with the girls. The plan is they would each be in their own rooms, look at books, listen to audiobook, and play quietly while I cleaned up downstairs, folded laundry, etc. I wouldn't call it an epic fail but I wouldn't call it successful. I am focusing on the positive side, that the girls love spending time together, rather than the fact that they don't listen to me and stay in their own rooms.
One of Lilly's summer school classes was Forest Fun. They talked about camping, safety in the forest, and lots of other things. This translated into many imaginary hiking trips in our house, especially on rainy days. It looks like I didn't get a photo of it, but she also made a really cool campfire out of a tea light, plastic cup, and red and yellow tissue paper (glued on the plastic cup). Greta and I had to go to the store and get the supplies for her to make her own.
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| This was a camera for taking pictures of bugs |
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| Lilly was teaching us about the "beetle" we had found in the woods. |
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| She also made her own lantern! |
And we have made it about halfway through July, so I think this is a perfect place to stop for the night!
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