Summer Break, Week 1

This is the first full week of summer vacation and, boy, it is a busy one! We are all adjusting to a different schedule.

Our nephew Nick started his gig as our summer "manny." He'll be watching the kids three days a week. This first week is especially chaotic. With Grandma LaVonne's transportation skills, Nick is balancing both kids and making sure they're ready to be where they're supposed to be depending on the time of day. In the morning, both kids go to Bible School at the local Presbyterian church. Upon their return, Grandma prepares a quick picnic lunch before she takes Cate over to an afternoon park program.

Which means...Max has Nick all to himself in the afternoons. Next week, with bible school over, Max will be home with Nick all day long. Max couldn't be more delighted. It was very cute when Nick showed up the first day and while I was giving Nick the low-down, Max sidled over and slipped his hands into Nick's. He was so happy to have his big cousin over to watch him all day.

Last night there was a break in the gloomy weather we've been experiencing so we seized the opportunity to get the kids out on their bikes. Cate has been very anxious because we passed down to Max her bike from last year and the new bike she has was too high for her earlier this spring. But, after she whined, "I can't!", I was able to convince her to try to get on and go. Lo and behold, she finally tried and succeeded. Cate grew just enough for her tiptoes to touch the ground when she's on the seat. So she whirled all around the neighborhood streets in search of turtles. Max got on the hand-me-down bike with the training wheels back on and tootled down the alley and along the lake. By the time we got back home, he counted seeing 10 bunnies, 5 ducks and 1 turtle.

They slept well last night.

Thursday night is the program at bible school This is Max's first year at bible school and it will be such fun to see him up there performing with his new friends. Last year, he was not content to sit with the audience, so he snuck up to the stage with Cate and followed right along with the songs and gestures. He's already marching around singing random bits of songs and hailing, "Shout, A-MEN!" so I think he'll be ready. I'm very curious as to what will happen tomorrow night!