Summer vacation: Week 1

I loved doing all sorts of outings with the kids last summer, and so I was excited for Leighton to be off school so we could fill our days with all sorts of fun.  Here's what we got up to the first week he was off school.

Monday
We were stuck at home inside all day.  I wasn't feeling well.  Poor kids!

Tuesday
Our first stop was HEB for a few groceries, some samples, and Buddy Bucks.  We had originally intended to be there for the story time, but I didn't check the date carefully and it actually started the following Tuesday.  Oops!

To make it up to them, we rushed off to the McGovern Stella Link Library for a special clown show.  We got there early enough to find a parking spot, and not just any parking spot - one in the shade!  This was an amazing find.  This parking lot can be a NIGHTMARE during story time, so I now know to go early for the good, shady spots!  Because we were there early, we took the opportunity to check out Helen's Park.  It is a really nice looking area between the library and the Y.  Last summer the kids asked to go see it but I had thought it was part of the retirement living center until I recently noticed that there are a couple entrances right off the sidewalk.  There are different water features and short, secret doors to nowhere, and benches and paths.  The kids loved it in there.  We will definitely go back ... when it is not 95 degrees outside.

The clown show was fun.  At the end, the kids got an official Barnum and Bailey Circus clown nose!

Then it was home for a nap/rest before playing with Lindsey and the kids at their place in the afternoon.  My kids were a bit nuts, but we still had fun!

Wednesday
This was a big day for the kids because we did two things that Leighton and Riley had been waiting for ... Leighton got to join us again for one of Riley's Wednesday morning playgroups AND Leighton finally got to come with us to "split banana" (one of the sings we sing that Riley looooooves) story time at the Bellaire Library.

Before we did either of those things though, we played at the playground a little bit.  I figured they needed some outside run around time so we went super early hoping to beat the heat a little.  In the shade it was just fine, but in the sun it was scorching at 8:45am!  The kids didn't seem to mind though.  We hadn't been to this playground for a while and there were several pieces of new equipment to check out since out last visit!

Then it was off to Riley's playgroup around the corner.  Leighton was way older than all the other kids, but he played so well and had a lot of fun.

And then - library time!

In the afternoon, we met our Wednesday afternoon playgroup at a splash pad we had never been to before called Ervan Chew Park.  Leighton had a great time splashing around, but Riley was a bit hesitant to get in on the action too much and sat with me and snacked most of the time.

Thursday
Last summer we spent many, many mornings with Douniazed and the kids in their pool.  It is sad to not live right around the corner anymore, but luckily it's only a short drive to go and spend the morning like we used to.

In the afternoon we met up with Naomi and Hannah at Menchie's just like we used to do last summer, too!

Friday
In the morning we set off early for the zoo so that we could see the Flamingoes, LEGO animals, and Children's Zoo before it was too hot and when we'd want to be at the splash park area when it opened.  We met up with some friends and had a really nice morning - although Riley was again hesitant to play in the splash park again.  Not sure what is up with her this summer after he loving them last year!  She loves all the pools, but not the splash parks!

Doesn't Leighton look WAY older than 5 here?  He looks like a teenager!

In the early evening we went over to Lindsey and Charlie's for a little after dinner family play date to celebrate my birthday.  We had fun in the yard and then enjoyed an ice cream sundae buffet (inside!).  Leighton really wanted to walk over - even though it was HOT - and it was a great decision because the walk home was really lovely.  We really should make a point to go for walks in the evenings more often (ice cream destinations are always a good excuse!).

Um, where is Nash's head?!

May-may, these are MINE.

I seriously have no idea where he learned that from!

Here ma'am, I will fix that for you.

mus-mash!

For those times when your grapefruit tree is a few months away from being ready for picking!

The Trader Joe's caramel sauce might just NEED to be added to my recurring shopping list form now on.  Yum!

See how Lindsey is letting Leighton dish up his own ice cream and how excited he is?!?!

These two are in cahoots!

And then he ate his sundae with the giant spoon!

So that was our first week of summer vacation.  It was busy and fun!