Last Hurrah

***WARNING**** I was too lazy to make everything we did this week into separate posts resulting in what is probably the longest blog post known to man!

I go back to school on Monday, so we tried to make this last week count!  We packed almost everyday full of some activity or another.  I think the break in the unbearably hot weather made us all itching to get outside!  The best part is that every single thing we did was free!  You obviously don't have to pay a lot of money to have good fun and make great memories.

Sunday - we went to a birthday party at the YMCA outdoor pool.  We hadn't been there all summer so I was excited to learn that both girls could touch in the shallow end.  That made a much more enjoyable time for me because I could just sit and talk with Ness and Krista :)

Monday - The girls spent the day with Mama as usual and I worked in my classroom.  In the evening, we attended a Kindergarten Playdate for all of the kids in our neighborhood who are starting kindergarten this year.  It was organized by one of the moms and was held at our school's playground.  I met a few new parents, but Delaney just played with the girls she already knew.  Oh well, there is only one girl from the neighborhood in Delaney's class and she is already a friend of ours.  Afterwards, Delaney and I went to Target to buy a shower curtain and rug for her bathroom.  Allan and I hope to get her to start taking her own showers this year.

Tuesday - Daddy's day off, so we took a family bike ride with the girls on the pedal trailers in the morning and went to SIUE pool in the afternoon.  The Garman's were there too - bonus!

Delaney, Alayna, Harper, and Lucas (?) all playing lifeguard

Wednesday - Allan and the girls played in the backyard with the hose and kiddie pool in the morning, then the girls and I went to the YMCA pool in the afternoon.  They spent almost the whole time going down the slides.  At 6:30, we went to the library for the last story time of the summer.  The theme was Cowboy/Cowgirl Camp.  It ended up that only 5 girls attended that night.  I love that they not only hear a few stories, but they sing, dance, have several crafts and games, and a snack.  The librarians do a super job!

The girls on their ponies trying to lasso up some cows.

Delaney in her handmade mustache

Where's Harper?

Thursday - It was time for a Mommy activity, so the we went to Marshalls and Old Navy to find a dress for my first day of school and ate at yummy Chick Fil A (ok, so maybe not everything we did was free :))  It is a brand new location and the play land was nice and clean.  At 4:30, we had Delaney's kindergarten orientation.  It was the day we had been waiting for!  We finally got to meet her teacher, Mrs. Roney, and tour the school and her classroom.  I was very impressed with her teacher and got so excited as I sat and listened to all of the things they were going to do this year.  Delaney is going to love school!  Thanks to Honey for letting Harper stay with them while we went to the meeting.  Daddy had to go back to work for awhile so the girls and I enjoyed the beautiful sunset on the front porch.

Delaney was inspired by Mrs. Roney's speech and wanted to work on some of the little workbooks we had gotten in the dollar section at Target.

Friday - We asked the Sarah and the kids to go with us to Glik Park in the morning for a bagel breakfast.  The weather was actually a little bit chilly!  Sarah had the idea to bring the kids' bikes to ride the path around the perimeter of the park and we also fed the fish and turtles with our leftover bagel pieces.  Friday afternoon the girls went to Mama's while I had my hair appointment.  Then they spent the night with Honey and Grandpa so Allan and I could have a date night!

Saturday - Sarah texted at the last minute and asked if we would like to go with them to Forest Park for another picnic.  She had to meet quickly with the people organizing the Families ROC 5K at the visitor's center and there is a nice playground there to keep the kids entertained.  As I mentioned earlier, the triple-digit temps had kept everyone cooped up inside for more than a month, so we were so happy to be back out with our neighbors again!  

Phew!  As you can see, it was a fun-filled week.  We made the most of everyday and wore the girls out.  They both took 3 hour naps when we got home this afternoon!