Sum, Sum, Summertime!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT IS FINALLY HERE! Summertime! Once Memorial Day gets here there is no turning back! You must grill, swim in a little plastic pool, dig in the sandbox and eat watermelon to start your perfect summer. We did all of that and more on Memorial Day. This picture was taken at the end the long fun day! Landry and his second cousins, Kayla and Hailey Gomez and Lucas Stinnett, were sunburned and tired. This is one of my new favorite pictures!

We try to wring every last little bit out of Summer that we can. Each year I have the boys make a summer list of FIVE things that they want to do. After much thought and list making we organize it all on a June, July & August calendar. I tape it to the inside of the pantry door, so that they can see what it coming up each week. It is a great way to make sure you fit all the fun that you can into summer. August is sneaky and can get here vErY quickly.

Here are a few things that we will be doing this summer...

AVERY'S LIST
1. Family Game night at least 5 times. (This night usually turns into family war night due to the competiveness of ALL of the men in my family)
2. Dollywood as often as we can.
3. Eat at Bubba Gumps in Gaitlinburg and play lazer tag(I think this should count as 2.)
4. Go to Grandma's house and play with Jose, ALL DAY LONG. (Jose is one of Avery's FAVORITE friends.)
5. Eat at Wasabi's (This is a family favorite!)

RILEY'S LIST
1. Go to Jackson to see Nana & Papa
2. Go to Illinois to see our IL family.(We are planning to do #1and #2 in one BIG trip!)
3. Buy a pool. (This one is done)
4. Go to the zoo and aquarium (again, thinking this should count as 2!)
5. Eat at Wasabi's (...hmmm, this is a good excuse to go 2 times!)

LANDRY'S LIST
1. Our WHOLE family spend the night with Grandma, including Daddy!!
2. Eat at Cheddars (Maryvilles NEWEST restuarant! Yummazzing!)
3. Bowl at Thunderworld
4. Spend the night at a hotel and swim in their BIG swimming pool.
5. Go to Chuck E Cheese - everyday! (This will not be happening everyday!)

I have added a few FREE things like trips to the Library, taking watermelon to the mountain streams in Townsend, picnics in Cades Cove, and so on. Daddy has added golfing as much as possible in there to.

All in all it sounds like it is going to be a SUPER DUPER SUMMER! I thrive on making memories for my children, and in the midst of all of it I hope they feel the presence of the Lord, and long to draw closer to him each and every fun-filled summer day!

May you have a wonderful and safe summertime with your family and friends!