Summer officially starts

Summer officially started this week. The schools around here get out before Memorial Day so for kids it's been summer for a while, but that just doesn't seem right.  The weather cooperated and it has been in the 80s and 90s.  We kept it low key, enjoying the laid back easy way of summer. 

We went to the 2nd bike race of the criterium series on Tuesday.  Jim raced twice and we watched quite a bit and took a long walk/stroller ride/strider bike ride.  Jim did well in both races, mostly using them as training/conditioning rides.  Most importantly he didn't get hurt, there was a crash at the end of the second race and and an ambulance came.  Lots of road rash, one rider with a seperated shoulder and one rider with a broken hand...yikes!

 Friday we went to the splash park that is north of town.  Ezra was raring to go as I guessed he would, but was more interested in getting up close to watch and turned out to be pretty cautious when it came to getting in the water.  It was a hot day, but the water was pretty cold, and Emmett continued in his cautious ways not wanting to go down the slides.  We went out to lunch and frozen custard afterwards which may have been a mistake.  We thought the busy water morning and full bellies would get us a quiet afternoon with napping children.  Instead they must have been overstimulated and sugared up, neither one napped.

 So we played more in our pool at home which I think they enjoyed just as much as the splash park.  We ate dinner outside, which is becoming a trend and makes for easy cleanup.  Jim and Emmett set up the tent and slept outside.  We tried this once before when Emmett was almost 2.  Didn't go so well that time.  This time Emmett used my sleeping bag since we haven't gotten him one yet.  Emmett slept great and thought it was super cool.  Jim didn't sleep as well due to loud neighbors and the wind coming up in the night.  Maybe next time we will try the whole family out there to see if Ezra is a better camper than his brother as a toddler. 

Saturday we went to 2 farmers markets, library and did some roller-blading/stroller riding/bike riding.  It's been a while since I rollerbladed and it was nice to hold onto the jogging stroller.  Stopping was a bit of a problem, luckily we went somewhere pretty flat.  We spent the afternoon in the backyard.

I tend to leave out Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Since we both work those days there just isn't much to say about them.  Emmett is spending the summer in the three's class and will move up to pre-school in August I think.  He doesn't always want to go (his request is to stay home and watch videos) but he does fine.  His teachers are very complimentary of his manners, helpfulness and speaking skills.  He counted the trains the other day and they couldn't believe how well he did (I think it was to about 36).  He's a smart kid that follows rules well.  He has picked up a few less than desirable things at daycare (fake burping being the most recent), but they do a pretty good job of keeping the kids saying appropriate things.  Ezra cries when I leave him but other than that does good and is learning lots.  I think he may like crafts better than Emmett did at that age, but I'm not completely sure.