Summer days difting away...

2014 was a fantastic summer!
Mark was in the process of switching jobs and had a very relaxed schedule most of the summer.  He was home early on most days and was able to take off a lot of time.  When we weren't in Utah or hanging out with cousins, we were enjoying the fantastic, not to hot summer that Connecticut had to offer.  We love the house we are renting right now.  There is just enough yard to run around the house and a large enough tree to hang a swing; but the neighborhood is quiet and the street isn't busy, so we spent most the summer in the road riding bikes or scooters.  There is a park that is a simi-easy walk away, so many weekends we would ride to the park to play.





There were Popsicles to be eaten and water to play in.

We met friends at the beach.

We went to the zoo a few more times.

After Katie's baptism Grammy stayed for a few days.  We spent one day using a prize we had won at a school auction.  We went to a beach/pool combo where the kid's gym teacher, Ms. Anchor, was a life guard.

Selfie with my wild child

Another day, Mark joined us and we walked the Brooklyn Bridge.  It was a REALLY hot day. The walk over wasn't too bad.  When we got to Brooklyn we ate lunch at the Shake Shack where we saw Felicity (Keri Russell) and her daughter. 

After we ate ice cream cones under the bridge.

The walk back wasn't quite as much fun.  When there is no ice cream to look forward to kids tend to complain a little more.

Doesn't his face say it all!

After Grammy left I flew to Guatemala for a week.  Mark watched the kids the first half the week, then started work on a Wed, so Aunt Heather came to stay until I got home. 

By the time I got back from Guatemala we only had two weeks before school started.  It was time to play hard!

Nothing is better then summer rain storms!

There were trips to the kids favorite grocery store to see the animals and eat ice cream cones...

The sister missionaries held a princess party at the church one day.  My girls got all dazzled up with fancy dresses, earring and makeup.

I took the kids peach and apple picking one day.  We got way to many peaches and not enough apples.  After we grabbed some fantastic apple cider donuts.  Yum!

Every year the church down the street holds a fair in their parking lot.  We went last year and the kids had a blast riding rides, they couldn't get enough.  This year I promised them they could earn an unlimited day pass.  Starting the month of Aug they had to check off chores, reading, math and writing.  By the end of the month they had earned their pass.  We checked out the fair on Thurs to see what what rides they wanted to ride, but waited until Sat to buy the passes so Mark could join us.

The first ride Katie and Addy got on was the Rip Cord (a HUGE drop).  Their faces were priceless.  They continued to be fearless in the rides they chose to ride. 

Marcus took a more conservative approach and stuck with rides that did not strike fear into his heart.

Jaxon took a while to warm up, but once he got started, he didn't want to stop.

Sadly, the summer had to end and school had to start.

1st day of school

Luckily, we are very excited about teachers this year.  Katie has Mrs. Sikorski, with two of her best friends; Addy is looping up with her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Dougherty, who we love; and Marcus has Katie's first grade teacher Miss Pensiero, who we also love.  It is going to be a great year.