Summa Summa Summa-Time

We've had a great start to the summer, with enough scheduled to keep us busy but not too much to make us crazy.  The first full week was busy enough with extra dance practices and recital rehearsal.  For the second week of June I signed both girls up for basketball camp at the local family center.  Ruby has been interested in playing basketball in the winter so I thought this would be a good opportunity to try it out and she was excited for camp. I realized Ada was old enough to do it too and she agreed to try it out.  In hindsight, it was probably not the best decision I've ever made to sign a 5 year old up for basketball camp.  I stayed for a bit at the beginning of camp the first day and Ada ran over to me with tears in her eyes about 10 times, so I ended up staying the whole 2 hours.  She mostly toughed it out the first day but she was anxious because she felt like she didn't know what to do.  She got right back out on the floor the second day of camp but as soon as the coach blew the whistle to start she ran over and said she didn't want to play.  Since she hadn't even asked to play in the first place and it was obviously too difficult for her, I just couldn't force her to go through with it.  Ada and I hung out the rest of the week while Ruby did camp.  Part of me felt like I should make her finish what she had started, but I didn't want to make her hate basketball at 5 years old.   The hoops were so high it was really impossible for either one of them to make a shot, but they did a lot of ball handling activities and Ruby hung in there all week.  I think she had fun and I couldn't be prouder about her trying something new without a friend (or sister) with her.  I really hated to do new things alone, especially when I knew I wasn't good at it and I know that can be hard for Ru too.  She did SO great!

Little girls in athletic wear is the cutest, no?

Mom, I'm not happy about this.

The following week we signed up for Art Camp at the local community college.  I was excited for this one because Ruby and Ada could both be in the same class together, they were familiar with the art center there, they knew the teacher from our church, and they love art!  They came home on Friday with a  giant portfolio full  of artwork and said they want to go again next summer.  Success!

We also started swim lessons that week.  Since they both learned how to swim last summer I didn't feel the need to pay for private lessons this summer but I still want the to continue to take lessons to continue to learn strokes and technique.  We decided to do lessons at the YMCA.  They do two-week sessions, so we are taking evening lessons to squeeze it in around our camps and before we go to the beach.  We didn't get a Y membership this summer so we haven't been to the pool nearly as often which makes swim lessons a good opportunity to get in the water.  The lessons are in the indoor lap pool which is super cold, but once they get in, it hasn't seemed to bother them in the least.  All of the different level lessons are going on at the same time which means they are both in the pool at the same time.  Ada is in the highest level for her age group, which is in all honesty, probably too easy since she can swim.  I think she is gaining some confidence and is actually starting to use her arms!  She still does her funny "wind-up toy" swim, where she dives under and kicks her little legs to propel her forward with at her arms at sides!  Ruby was in the beginning level for her age group, but we moved her up the very first day because she can swim independently (for short distances).  I actually think she is much more capable than she lets on, she just needs to build her confidence.  Whenever she needs to take a breath she will stop instead of continuing to swim while she lifts her head up.  I'm hoping by the end of this second week she will make some more progress with that.  She has improved in diving down deeper, swimming some on her back, and even jumping off of the starting blocks.  There were several kids (even in Ruby's age group) that wouldn't even get in the water the first couple days, so I am super thankful my girls love the water and are becoming good little fishes!

We've also had a zoo day,

making a new friend

a fun trip to Austin to visit friends,

climbed the rock wall (and swam) at Baylor,

celebrated this great Daddy,

numerous crafts and play at home,

gardening,

fresh tomatoes and basil

our first cantaloupe was amazing

playing at the park,

colored hair,

splash pad fun, summer movies, reading, reading, reading, and fin.a.lly. completed this project,

Before (dead oven)

 During (two weeks of this beautiful hole)

After

(For those of you keeping score at home, we were without an oven for two months.  Lot sof crockpot meals and grilling got us through, but I sure was thankful when it was all done.  And we got our built-in microwave out of the deal!  Two points if you noticed the already baked muffins on the counter!)

We are looking forward to doing some traveling next month!