Family Fun: Summer begins…Finally!

After Ella's final day of preschool Ava still had a few days left of first grade. We decided to take it easy till Ava was done. The weather was so nice Ella, Gavin and Zoe enjoyed a closer view of the garbage truck. Gavin usually watches from the front window and Zoe usually barks a few times (a Tuesday ritual), but with such a good view Ella decided to join them.

By the weekend everyone was done with school and ready for summer break, especially after such a LONG winter!! We took a short trip out to G-ma and G-pa F's house and the girls did some climbing. Ava has been trying to climb this tree for while and finally figured out a way to get up into the tree without assistance. She then let Ella climb on her back to get her up there too…Ella needed help down…when she was finally ready to come down.

They got up to this point and couldn't go anywhere else because the branches got too small. It didn't matter they were happy sitting in that spot for quite awhile.

Ava had only been out of school for a few days before she jumped right into catching every bug she could and trying to keep it as a pet. It's still the beginning of June and we've already had 5 caterpillars, 3 of which died shortly there after and 2 built themselves cocoons, but never came out (I don't blame them…is that caterpillar suicide?). They have since been exposed of. She has brought me multiple worms, which I would not let her even put in her bug cage, a frog and she has even PICKED UP and brought me beetles!! She really wanted those, but I couldn't handle it and she let them go. I have tried to find some sort of summer camp that would involve a lot of creepy crawlers, but so far I have come up with nothing. I don't think there are too many kids who love nasty bugs! One more thing in reference to Ava, we had her 7 year check up and just to document where she falls this year…she is 4ft tall (47%) and weighs in at 43lbs (15%). The doctor also said her love of bugs is nothing to worry about…yet!! LOL

If you remember for the last few years when Ava would bring these creatures around Ella would one to look, but not actually touch anything. Unfortunately, her fear or "squeamishness" is gone. She too has caught caterpillars, frogs, worms and even beetles!

And then there's Gavin who is always desperate to keep up with his sisters. This is the best he could do with the tree climbing...

pink sunglasses and all!! He has a pair of blue and black glasses, but he preferred to wear the pink ones. Like I said….like sister, like Gavin. He will also go after the bugs, but he lacks the gentleness and love for the bugs that the girls have. When he grabs one he usually squeezes the life out of it. And unlike Ava and Ella who will draw chalk circles around ants so we don't step on them, Gavin seeks them out and stomps on them, putting Ava in tears! He may wear pink sunglasses, but he is all boy!

G-ma F asked the kids if they'd like to finger paint with shaving cream, which of course they LOVED! Except the "finger"paint part for Gavin…he didn't want his fingers to be sticky so he used a paint brush! Maybe he has a touch of me in him? :)

Ella….not so much!!! She had shaving cream EVERYWHERE!! G-ma F nor I anticipated that big of a mess!!

The following weekend we went back to G-ma and G-pa F's house and the girls planned to camp in the yard with Daddy and G-pa. However, it rained quite a bit that day so we drove back home and camped "MY STYLE". Ava and Daddy were the only ones who slept in the tent. Why sleep on the floor of a tent when your bed is right upstairs??

After a week with no activities (besides dance) we were ready to get moving again. Ella started with a summer gymnastics program. Very similar to the one she does throughout the year.