Summer II

I haven't been very good at keeping the blog updated, so I am going to attempt a little catch-up, starting with the rest of our summer activities (yes, I realize it is October).
Shorewood has a fun little festival, "The Crossroads Fest", at the beginning of August every year. Five years ago as we were moving into our house the Crossroads Fest was going on. In fact, the day after we moved in they had a fireworks display which we watched right from our front lawn. We were quite impressed that they would have fireworks just to welcome us to town. And, in commemoration of our arrival in Shorewood, they have fireworks every year at the beginning of August, that's just the kind of effect we have on people.
Anyway, we can't let a year go by and not walk over to the Festival where we spend lots of money so each of the kids can go on one ride, spend lots of money so they can each throw a ball into a hoop and get a dinky prize, and spend lots of money so we can share a couple bags of cotton candy. It's all in the memories, right?
So, (this story is getting longer than I intended) Sydney was the first up to go on a ride, which she had to go on alone because none of the boys wanted to use their tickets to go on a baby ride. She chose the helicopter ride. Here she is waiting for it to start, looking a little nervous, but happy that she can push a button and make lots of noise...

And then they get started, around she goes, and we are all standing at the side cheering her on, and I am wondering what her reaction will be. I see her come around and think, "Well, she looks happy, she even looks like she is cheering too..."


"Wait a minute, is she cheering? She is definitely yelling something..."
"No, no, definitely not having fun anymore."
Well, she survived, but when I asked her if she had fun all she would say was, "I was so dizzy."
The boys decided to use their tickets for the ferris wheel. I just hoped they wouldn't get to goofing off with each other and send someone over the edge.
Carter and Sydney watched from the stroller.
I kept wondering if Sam would get scared and want to get off halfway through. So on their way down once I asked them how they were liking it, and this was Sam's response...
Just some cute pictures of Carter from this summer...

One of our last excursions before school started was a trip down to the river in Morris with some friends. The kids loved looking for seashells, and wading in the water. This was a great outing, and fun for picture-taking too.

This is Karalynn and Rachel, and their pet snail, found in the rocks...
I tell ya, nothing better than rocks and dirt to keep kids happy for a long time...







And what did Carter do while the kids played...
And, a few pictures of Carter enjoying the great outdoors...



Well, I think that takes care of summer, maybe I can get back on track and stay a little more current.