SCHOOL IS OUT!!!!

The kids on the last day of school.

WHEW, IT IS OVER!! The 2007-08 school year is history. I don't think we all could have gone on another week. From recitals to competitions, tests, homework, musicals, band concerts, performances, graduations of all kinds, parties, field trips, and a host of other activities, I am exhausted just thinking about it all. I would say that summer has begun, but if summer means hot weather--it has been here for awhile. We do know that vacation is here, and we are so glad for a change of pace.

As soon as school was over on Friday, our girls joined other friends at a water slide party to kick off the vacation. They really enjoyed themselves. Thanks, Julie, for having a super party to celebrate the end of the school year.

Later in the evening we took the kids to Gander Mountain to look around. Here they are being their silly selves.

Samuel checks out a hovercraft.

Joseph would have to agree that this guy is a little different than the stuffed animals he has at home.

The kids wanted to squish into these kiddie carts. Doyle was in charge of pushing the girls, but he kept wandering off with Samuel looking at stuff. When he left them, they would start beeping their horns. It sounded like a flock of birds.

If he still did not come to their rescue, they pushed themselves to where I was. It was rather hilarious. We also went out for supper, did our monthly grocery shopping, and stopped at a few other stores. It was quite late when we came home. Who cares? We are on vacation.

Saturday was kick-off day for the summer reading program here in Martin County. This year our local branch hosted the Busch Wildlife Refuge Center. They rescue injured or deserted animals. They brought several critters and shared their stories with us. This is a little alligator (I am sure you could have figured that out for yourself).

This is an albino corn snake.

This was not just a oppossum. He was brain damaged. I know your heart is touched.

This is one amazing skunk. It was neat to learn more about this smelly fellow.

One of my favorites--the barn owl.

The last animal was a hawk. The kids really enjoyed seeing all of the critters up close.

We left the library and went to Samuel's Sunday school picnic. The Budensieks did a nice job of planning this event. Here they are playing an action-packed game.

Julianna and Samuel enjoying themselves.

Doyle noticed his cell phone was gone while we were out Friday night. We hoped it was at home. He had it set on vibrate, so when we returned home, he called the number and we began to look. We found it under the couch. He knew he had not put it there and suspected Joseph as the culprit. Sure enough, when we were at the park on Saturday, I saw him come up to the bench where I was sitting and take Doyle's phone and palm pilot out of their cases. I captured him on camera.

He then took the phone up in the tree with him. I as sure we would have thought to look there.

Does this look like a guilty face? We will have to keep an eye on him.

We are so excited about the summer's activities. I have put up their behavior charts to make sure they know what I expect out of them. I am glad to have them home.