Summer Days

A busy week for A^4!  Getting ready for a pool, lacrosse, a quick trip to Grandma's house, a minor set back with the pool, bike riding, beach and pool fun, AND Ayson had a friend spend the night!
We hope everyone is having a relaxing and enjoyable summer!!!

Monday activities after breakfast: 15 minutes of reading for both, and spelling/math for Ayson.


Getting ready for the pool - digging the electric line!


Shadow cat napping on a pile of clothes ready for donation - too cute!




Ayson's Lacrosse game Monday evening




Addie wanted to go to the Big Park instead of Ayson's game.  So we rode bikes and she played on the playground equipment




Summer blooms!



On Tuesday, Adam took the kids to Grandma Collene's to help her pull garlic



Garlic ready to cure!






The PLAN was to get a pool on Wednesday but we found the septic distribution box instead :(


SO, the pool is now on hold until August.


Lacrosse practice antics






Thursday reading time


Our gorgeous bee balm!


The kids trying sardines (yack - Amy used to use sardines as bait to catch rats/feral cats in Hawaii and hates the smell of sardines!)


On Friday, Amy took off from work early so that we could enjoy the gorgeous afternoon biking on the Erie Canal trail





The trench to nowhere


Our red raspberries are amazing this summer!




Thunder and Shadow :)


Saturday morning the kids had to help fill in the trench before we could go to the park!


Green Lakes State Park was PACKED with people/families enjoying the gorgeous day!
Playing Frisbee


A short bike ride





Beach fun








Can you find the crab (think the movie Little Mermaid) on the top and the face with a beard in the middle?!?


Ayson's canal system


Saturday night, Ayson had Grady over to spend the night: lots of laughs, pool time, and electronics




On Sunday, Amy had a brunch date with girlfriends and then it was pool time with the turtle!!! (Thanks, Kathy!!!)

4th of July Festivities ALL week long!

A^4 had a great 4th of July week filled with tons of fun activities and family and friends!  We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday!!!

A cute picture of Ayson that Auntie Julie took on Father's Day weekend :)


On Monday, the boys worked on fixing the little motor bike


and then it was off to Stafford Park for a bit of playground fun!


Playing gaga


The kids went with Adam to the DMV on Tuesday...


and then it was lunch at Dave and Busters!


Light up drinks with gummy worms


Jackpot!!!


Addie spent all of her time at the claw


success!


Ayson picking out his prize


Evening bike ride in the orchard.  Addie fell down in the gravel and after a bit of encouraging, she got back on her bike and continued the bike ride - good girl!!


On Wednesday, we went waterfall hunting at Watkins Glen State Park.




So cool!




Ayson and Mumma


Adam and the kiddos




Amazing walkways cut out/into the rock




A side waterfall


Our kids acting like gargoyles :)


Adding to the cairn collection


THIS State Park also has an Olympic size outdoor swimming pool and the kiddos spent over two solid hours in the pool!




On Thursday we went waterfall hunting at Taughannock Falls State Park - one of our favorite spots as you can walk in the shallow creek.
Addie building another cairn




The kiddos attempting to slide down the creek.  Three summers ago Ayson was able to float down the creek as we has just had a big rain event (flooded Route 11A) and the creek was full of fast moving water!


The swimming hole :)




After our hike, we had a picnic lunch and then the kids played on the playground - the temps were in the high 80s - no idea how/why they wanted to play out in the hot sun!!


On Thursday evening, Auntie Julie, Uncle Dan, and the cousins joined us for the weekend


Thanks for the firework fun, Auntie Julie and Uncle Dan!!!








Friday was another extremely warm day - the kids played




We picked red raspberries


and then went for a walk at Tinker Falls




Adam and Dan


Cousins





Adam told Ayson that if he cut the spent peony blossoms off of the bushes that he would give him $5.  Both Ayson and Curran earned $5 each and our bushes look great!  Thanks, boys!!!


Adam made Pho - beef noodle soup.  Yum!


Friday evening, our neighbor stopped by with his work horses - he owns the field on Bear Mountain that we can see from our back porch.  He uses the horses to plow the field :)




The tire that the horses were pulling


Pool time!




Grandma Collene came out to join in our festivities


The yummy quiche that Adam made on Saturday morning (he made a total of three quiches over the weekend!)


On Saturday, we took the cousins to Little York Lake and Dweyer Park.
Looking for crayfish and fish


"Swimming" in the wading pool


Addie intent on finding a crayfish - she did catch one!






There was a little boy at the park that played with our kids as his friend had not arrived yet.  Ayson wanted to be sure the boy had someone to play with since it was the little boy's birthday.  Great job on thinking of others, Big Guy!!





Ayson spent Saturday night at LJ's house and the rest of use stayed at home and got caught up on chores and relaxed!

Sunday morning cuddles


We went for a morning kayak at Labrador Pond.  Adam towed Addie :)  Addie did a great job in the kayak by herself!



Sunday afternoon we headed to LJ and Mathew's house (Addie and Mathew are also friends) for pool fun and a cook out


Adam playing with the kids :)