The Swayne Family: The ABC's of Summer Vacation, A

Happy New Year! I hope that your holiday season was filled with joy and that 2013 is your best year yet. As we launch head on into the new year, I'm catching up a bit on 2012. I didn't do any blogging over the summer with the house full of kids 24/7 so please enjoy our ABC's of the Swayne 2012 summer. Here's part one, letters A - M. N - Z coming soon in a separate post.

A is for ARCHERY

George and Zack both enjoyed
time at Cub Scout camp. George attended Dad and Lad camp with Joe. Zack went to an overnight camp and a week long day camp. Two of their favorite activities were archery and BB gun shooting. George wanted to know when he could get a BB gun. Mommy avoided answering that question. BB guns sound like a good thing to enjoy at camp.

George showing where his arrow hit.

George shooting a BB gun with Joe. Look at that concentration.

B is for BASEBALL

Zack played another season of baseball for the Sacred Heart third grade boys team. He played a little bit of every position and tried pitching a few times with good success. We also enjoyed another fun season of St. Louis Cardinals baseball and attended a few games.

Zack our leftie hitter. He is right handed but swings the bat left handed.

Andy, George, Zack, Mary and Joe at Busch Stadium on Father's Day

C is for CALIFORNIA

George, Mary and I flew to LA in July to visit with my sister Julie and her family. It was the first time I visited their beautiful new home in Valencia, CA. Julie is a pro at planning kid friendly outings and she didn't disappoint. The trip was filled with fun adventures and good times spent with family. George and my nephew Benjamin are the same age and two peas in pod. Older cousins Emma and Alex were busy taking care of Mary, they think she is pretty special. Uncle Sean and Aunt Julie took advantage of their Mary time too since the baby of their family is in first grade. We enjoyed dinner in Pasadena, playing in the pool, going to the beach in Ventura and visiting the Santa Barbara Zoo. We also attended a swim meet for Alex and Emma. I enjoyed seeing the kids swim and watching how their meets are run. It was nice to be "just" an observer.

Mary and George ready to go at the airport.

Mary at the beach.

George, Jen and Mary and the Pacific ocean

Benjamin and George

Jen, Julie and Mary at the zoo

Sliding down the astro turf hill in the children's play area at the zoo. We brought our own cardboard.

Benjamin designed a "snowboard" to slide down the hill.

Cousins at the zoo, Benjamin, George, Mary and Emma

Which ones are the monkeys?

Top to bottom: Benjamin (age 6), Alex (age 13), George (age 6), Mary (age 9 months), Emma (age 11)

D is for DIGGING AT THE BEACH

The kids and I had fun building a castle at the beach. The moat was the really fun part. Benjamin was in charge of castle design. Like his cousin George, he has a clear vision of how he wants things to look.

Benjamin standing in the moat.

E is for EMMA AND MARY

The only two girl cousins out of 8 grandkids in the family.

Beautiful girls, Mary and Emma

F is for FRIENDS

We spent time with many good friends over the summer. Here are a just a few of the moments I captured on film.

Mary, Chris, Chris and Jen. Chris and Chris were my roommates in college. We hadn't seen each other in years. It was a very sweet reunion.

Alenna, George, Zack, Connor, Andy, Mary and Kenna. The Bray family stopped by for a visit on their way home from their coast to coast vacation. I'm glad St. Louis is on the way home to Texas, it was great to see them. Ali Bray (the mama of the cute blonde kids in the green shirts) is my best friend from high school.

Jack, Nick, Blake, George, Andy, Connor and Zack. Fun at the Clough farm playing for the weekend.

G is for GOLF

Zack took golf lessons and usually had to go straight to a baseball game so he wore his golf shirt and baseball pants on the course. He's got a nice swing and hit the green from the tee on a par 3 course. Joe and I played a round of golf with Zack, it was very cool. Here's to our kids playing golf, maybe then I'll get to play too!

H is for HOT ROD POWER TOUR

My dad drove part of the 2012 Hot Rod Power Tower in his '69 Chevy truck. The tour went through St. Louis. He started in Detroit and and stopped here in St. Louis, the tour continued on to finish up in Texas. It is the ultimate rolling classic car show. Andy got to ride with Papaw for part of the route and was in heaven.

We went and checked out cars as they came in for the day at the Gateway Motor Sports Park in Madison, IL (just across the river). Zack, Papaw, George and Andy

George, Zack, Andy and Mary sitting in Papaw's truck

Andy ready to ride with Papaw.

I is for IVADELL AND MARY

My grandma, Ivadell Scherbring, and Mary had a nice visit when we were in town for a wedding in August.

Great Grandma Ivadell and Mary

J is for Jennie, Jalene and Julie

I had the pleasure of spending time with both my sisters this summer, the three J girls.

Jalene and Jennie at Trent's wedding

Jennie and Julie on Julie's back patio

K is for KINDERGARTEN COMPLETION

George started off his summer with a kindergarten completion Mass and celebration. He read one of the intercessory prayers and did a fantastic job. He spoke very clearly and you could hear him.

George walking in the opening procession.

George with his teacher and classmates preparing to bow at the altar. Notice he was the only boy who did a prayer reading.


Mrs. C and George reading the intercession.

George and classmates singing

George receiving his completion certificate from the principal and Father Tim in the background.

L is for LION KING

Zack's ninth birthday present from Papaw and Grandma Hested was tickets to see "The Lion King" Broadway show at the Fox Theater. His mommy got to take him. What a treat for both of us!