June 2017

Summertime means swimming and watermelon. 

It also means planting a garden, or at least Nate decided it does. He was very interested in growing a garden, and so, although prime planting time had passed, we went and scrounged up the best plants that were left at the nursery and planted a garden in the very hot June heat, in our very red clay soil.

After our farm vacation, Claire was having animal withdrawals. Luckily, Mimi and Pop Pop invited us to tag along on a farm hop one hot afternoon. First stop was an alpaca farm. They also had fainting goats, which was quite interesting. Then we went to a goat farm with the cutest baby goats! There were TONS of goats just roaming around and coming up to us to be petted like dogs. 

Claire started a dance class with Tessa and Brynn. The first class was a total fail. Not on did Claire get a hole in her dance tights before we even got to the dance studio, but when we showed up, there wasn't a soul there. Apparently the dance teacher had forgotten she had a class to teach that night. Claire was not amused.

Some of our favorite friends, the Dickmans, moved back to town! So we met up with them at Roper Mountain Science Center to enjoy the butterfly exhibit and all the other fun crafts and activities they had available. Since the Dickmans' children are closer in age to Claire and Nate, we also took our neighbors, Coleman and Gabi, for Sam's enjoyment.

Nate attended a week long Cub Scout day camp with several boys from church.

Sam turned 11. He had a pool party with friends from school, church, and our street. We had pizza, cake, and ice cream (we learned that sparkler candles are really not the best idea). We got him a basketball hoop for the pool for his birthday and it made its debut at his party. We also played the saran wrap ball game, which was a big hit.

On his actual birthday, we went to Cook Out for milk shakes!

Claire went through a phase where playing dress up always involved changing into pajamas when Tessa came over.

Swim days with friends from school.

The crops in Nate's garden that produced the best were the squash and zucchini.

Grandma Gail had a huge birthday party at a restaurant at the lake.

Nate attended Vacation Bible School at Mimi and Pop Pop's church with friends.

Claire started swimming lessons at the YMCA.