What I Did on My Summer Vacation.....

The first 3 weeks!

Summer "vacation"?  It's more like summer go-cation around here.  June has been action packed and we've been enjoying every minute of it!

• River time - We hopped in the van and drove to the river to spend Memorial Day with my family.  What a treat to drive only 5 hours instead of 16!  Papaw set up the pool in the yard for the boys.  They didn't care how cold the water was, they played and played. 

We drove through a hailstorm on the way to the river.  We pulled off at a weigh station to wait it out and this is what the road looked like a couple of miles after we got back on it.  Interstate 55-North near Litchfield, IL.

Working on potty training with Andy...and working....and working...

• Enjoying Zack's baseball season, when they get to play.  Apparently if they have a game on a Saturday morning, it will rain. 

• Hatching butterflies in George's butterfly keeper.  We ordered the caterpillars through the mail.  All six caterpillars hatched into butterflies!

Painted Lady Butterfly

Releasing them a few days later

• Camping at Buffalo River National Park near Yellville, Arkansas for the Swayne family reunion

The view from our first campsite nestled along the bluffs of the river (we had to switch sites after the first night).  What a spectacular view, especially in the morning.

Buffalo River

George playing in the river

Joe and Andy

Don't you love the goggles and baseball cap look?

Fun, fun, fun

The Swayne Family

4 of the original 10 brothers and sisters.  7 are still living and Joe's dad was #4.

Dorothy, Dean, Dallas and Shirley

• The boys attended vacation bible school at Sacred Heart.  The theme was "PandaMania" and all 3 boys went for the week from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  The first time in almost 8 years I had a few mornings to myself.   Hooray for Mommy!

The singing program on the last day.  It was fun to have all 3 boys on stage at the same time.

Andy and Zack ended up close together for the group songs

Andy thinking, "what on earth are we doing up here?"

Each grade level then performed their own song.  Andy had his hands in his pocket or he lifted up his shirt to show his belly.  He told me afterwards, "I no sing Mommy."  He was right.  Oh well, at least he went up there!

George with the kindergartners

Zack with the third graders

• Swim team is back!  Zack and George are participating this year.  Practices are in the morning and meets are on Monday night.  We've had two meets and Zack is zipping right along.  George is getting better everyday.

George does the kickboard relay at the meets until he's ready to swim in his first race.

• Happy Father's Day to Joe!  The boys and I picked out an aquarium for Daddy.  Joe got it all set up over the weekend and we're going to buy the first fish tonight.  The water has to be conditioned for a few days before adding the fish.  The boys, including Joe, are very excited.  We also went on our annual Father's Day mini-golf outing.  We love you Daddy!  

Joe's new fish house

• And last but not least, we said goodbye to an old friend, our 2001 Ford Windstar mini-van.  After 8 years and 175,000 miles, it was time.

Hello to Jen's 2011 Toyota Sienna.  Woohoo!