Last Hurrah

2 Years, 16 Weeks


This week was Braelyn's last week of summer vacation, so we had to make sure it was filled with all the fun that living in Central Florida has to offer.

It has been a very busy summer, albeit crazy at times.  I was a tad bit apprehensive about having all 3 kids at home for the entire summer, wondering if I had the strength and sanity to survive it all.  But I have to admit, it was a lot of fun.  Braelyn was [usually] a big help to me with her younger siblings, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the growth and conversations we shared together over the past couple of months.  I'm actually a little sad to see her go.

This is a milestone year as she starts Kindergarten, thus officially starting her school career.  We know she will do great.

Like I said, we wanted to make sure she had a busy week, a last hurrah.  Here are the highlights:

• Friday evening we headed to downtown Winter Garden for dinner at the WG Pizza Company.  The weather had cooled off after the afternoon thunderstorms, and although the grass was still a bit damp, it didn't dampen their spirits and energy for a run around the village green.

Team Aqua sitting in a row!  Finally!

Excited for pizza!

Maddy says grace.

She loves soup crackers!

The girls hanging around while Kohl spots me and my ice cream cone!

We made them run to get tired before bed!

They made it a race and loved it!  This reminds me of the opening scene from Little House on the Prairie! 

• Sabbath we headed to church and after naps we were joined by the Clarke's at Dr. Philips Community Park and then a little grocery and dinner at Whole Foods down near I-Drive.

En route to church, the three enjoy the panoramic sunroof.

Just hanging around the park.

She loves to climb up things.

See what I mean?

Brae and Kohl share a shopping cart.  Maddy was with Isabella in another.

• Sunday morning I mowed the lawn while Mommy took the kids to the pool for a couple of hours.  After naps we headed to attend Erik Johnson's 1st birthday party at their home in Altamonte Springs.  It was nice to see and catch up with our friends there.  There was a tense moment when I played a prank on Karis Z, telling him that Amy's water had broke (she was due at anytime then) and then spilling water from her broken water bottle!  He was such a good sport about it.  Happily, they didn't have to wait too much longer ~ Baby Addison was born not 48 hours later!  Congrats to the entire Zbaraschuk family on their newest member!  She is gorgeous!

Nice to have the pool to ourselves!

The adults enjoy the conversations...

while the kids play outside in the pool.  Don't worry, Uncle Karis had a watchful eye on them!

The older kids had a blast.  Thanks Kaleb for letting Brae use your extra swim trunks!

Proud Mama and her 1 year old!  Happy Birthday Erik!

Brae got to hold the Cochran's newest, Baby Devin.  Reminded me of when she held the twins.

Welcome Baby Addison!

• Monday I took the kids back to Dr. Philips Community Park to take advantage of the splash playground there.  We hadn't done that all summer and so I thought we were due.  The children certainly thought so!

Loving the sprays!

Maddy loved shooting the water gun.

Funny, she thought she could swim right there!

• Tuesday was another extremely hot day with threats of early thunderstorms, so I thought it best to stay cool and do something indoors, so we headed out to the Science Center for a few hours.

Team Yellow heading in for some learning fun!

Just like a man, Kohl gets to work on fixing the car.

Not to be outdone, twin sister goes underneath to install the muffler!

• Wednesday I braved the crowds and self doubt and took all three kids to Sea World all by myself!  I felt like such a single parent there, pushing the three in a very full and heavy stroller, with all the families enjoying the park.  We saw the whale and dolphin show and then headed to the kids play area for some rides and water play.  It was quite the adventure!

Waiting for the show to begin.  You can tell how hot and muggy it is by their hair and glistening skin!

Riding the carousel.

Thoroughly enjoying herself.

The spinning cup ride.

Water play to end our visit.

• Thursday we did our usual Costco run in the morning, and then headed out to the pool, only to find out that the gate was chained up and locked, the pool closed for some undisclosed reason.  The kids were very disappointed and I wasn't going to undo all the work of putting on sunscreen and bathing suits so we drove down to the splash fountain park in downtown Winter Garden for lunch and some water play before heading back home for naps. Meanwhile, Tangie took some clients out for a baseball game to see the Rays play in Tampa.  Lucky her!

Last Costco visit with big sister for the summer!

Another fun day with the water.

We brought along our beach toys, and were the envy of all the other kids around.

Tropicana Field for the Tampa Bay Rays.

An indoor field, the weather inside was perfect.  So was this view from E & Y's box seats!

A nice day at the office!

Randoms:

Rockstar Maddy!

Um...no comment.  Chinese cucumber anyone?

Another step in getting Black ready for the market:  replacing a chipped windshield.
Thank goodness for good car insurance!

Saw this food truck.  All the menu options were made of gator, the other other other white meat.

Another drenching summer afternoon.

Quotes:

• Braelyn is so excited to start Kindergarten and she wanted to practice going to school with her new backpack and school supplies.  She put it on her back, walking back and forth in front of Tangie:

          Brae:  "Mommy, ask me some questions."

          Tangie:  "How was your day?"

          Brae:  "Fine."

          Tangie:  "What did you learn?"

          Brae:  "I leaned how to use glue so I don't get my hands stuck.  To paint the right
                     way.  Um...to erase."

          Sounds like a productive first day!

• We have been enjoying Mommy's new car and the option of using a different car over the weekend besides the van while still allowing all three kids to ride along with us.  The children had always seen Tangie in the driver's seat in the Sorento, so when I slipped in to drive it for the first time Maddy pointed at my chair and shouted emphatically,  "No!  That Mommy's!"

Best part of the day :)

Have a great week!