Summer fun, week 5

Saturday morning started out with a birthday party at Tilden Park where we all rode the steam trains to celebrate a dear friend in our homeschool group

Waiting for the train 

We had a little gathering at Cynthia's place on Sunday. Gabriela loved spend the afternoon with Christianne, Andrew and Isaac. Seeing Uncle Dan was also a highlight, as usual. 

We ate and chatted until we were sleepy and had to call it a night. The kids are adoring Auntie Cynthia's new house, her neighbors, her yard, playing outside in the neighborhood.  Easton even told her, "Auntie Cynthia, you chose the wight howse". 

Monday, we returned to the hospital to drop off some postcards on still birth (what to do when you find out, at the hospital, and when you get home). It was nice to see the nurse there who helped accept and coordinate the books from our donation drive.  Also, good practice to be back at the hospital. 

We spent the entire day on Tuesday at the pool. But first, Christianne came by to pick up a pass to the zoo from her Auntie Elena. Easton and Gabriela tackled her and hugged her until she finally made her way to the zoo.

 Phew, that day was a scorcher. I could hardly bring myself to eat. So many of our homeschool friends were at the pool to enjoy the water and relief from the hot sun. So thankful, especially that day, for our summer pool membership.  We saw a baby hummingbird at the pool. Poor thing was so confused. Some parents in our group came to the rescue, gave the stunned bird some sugar water, and set it on a branch to recover. 

Kids and I stopped at the library to cash in on the summer reading program. Now that's a summer outfit!

Auntie Cynthia watched the kids on Wednesday night, and they were planning on joining a full moon hike at the John Muir House, so we took it easy during the day. 

Since Grandma Chaney is still very weak and not doing well, the kids made pictures to send her in the mail. Easton really wanted to write his own note. He was so proud of himself!!

When my kiddos got back from their hike with Auntie Cynthia, I was sure they'd be passed out in the car. Not a chance! They were so excited about seeing the sun set, the moon rise, Jupiter, and Venus. Gabriela couldn't stop talking about how awesome it was, how she used the telescope. I am so glad Auntie Cynthia, Uncle Dan, Christianne and her boyfriend came along and supervised the kids. What a blast they had! Check out the pics they shared with me!

The sun setting 

The moon rising 

Thursday we stayed home all day. Christianne was here so I decided it was my job to cook her three full meals and dessert. I was in the kitchen, pregnant and barefoot cooking all day.  No one complained. Meanwhile, Christianne played hide and go seek, had sidewalk chalk galore, painted nails and read books with the kids. They love having her 

around. 

Lane set up the tent for them to sleep outdoors overnight. The kids were ecstatic! It was a cool windy night here, hard to believe since two nights ago we could hardly stand the heat. The kids got dressed in warm jammies, loaded up flashlights, books and board games, and had a ton of fun after some epic homemade strawberry shortcake. I didn't really think they'd spend the whole night out there, and Easton decided he was done after all the games had been played and books had been read. But Gabriela made it the whole night!

Gabriela spent most of Friday in her new reading corner that she took over. She reads in a pile of blankies in the linen closet, with the door closed. She spent hours and hours in here today. 

But most of the time, this was the view. 

Easton wants so badly to write letters. I started giving him a white board to practice on. He will just sit there and write  letters. Or ask how certain words are spelled. He is so proud of himself and asks us to admire each letter as it is created. 

Tonight we had special Easton time. After a full moon hike and then staying up late in the tent, Gabriela was sound asleep and hour and a half before Easton. He wrote words and drew pictures, built train tracks, and read books and snuggled with us.  Such a treat!