Other fun summer outings

Indianapolis Zoo with Wyatt - the only way Joe would ride the roller coaster!

Summer Activities

For the first time, this summer we hired a full-time "nanny" to be with the kids, instead of sending them to full-time summer camp.  This allowed them to sleep in, we didn't need to get them out of the house in the morning, they were allowed to just "be lazy" during the day, and they could hang out in the neighborhood as they wished.  Overall, it was a great decision!  Our nanny's name was Molly, she's an elementary education major in Evansville, IN, between her freshman & sophomore year.  She started with us as college wrapped up - she'd come the last month of the school year, before/after school.  Then as summer started, she was with us from morning until evening.  

The kids did so much with Molly - which is also documented in other posts from the summer.  This post is meant to be about the kids' "extra-curriculars" - the additional programs and camps they did.

Joey, of course, didn't want to "join" anything.  He went to a week-long (2 hours per day/5 days) camp called "Summer Fun with Sorgen and Dunn" - with his kindergarten teacher and friends.  He later joined a karate trial at the Boys & Girls Club.  Pics here of his guitar trial are still pending a decision for the school year :)

Melanie did swim team, a 2 hour a day/3 day hip-hop clinic, and the karate trial.  She loves trying ALLTHETHINGS, and is looking forward to Girl Scouts and other exciting opportunities this year :)

Melanie was on the Z'vill neighborhood swim team - meeting at ZHS every MWF 9-10am

The kids both tried karate for a 2-month trial; this was their first lesson before they got their uniform

Joey did a guitar trial for a few weeks over the summer - we'll see if he continues throughout the year

The kids loved Vacation Bible School - Mom got tricked into leading Imagination Station, and this was a pic from my room :)

Mel at her first independent run for a cause

Ready-Set-GO!!  (it was colder than anticipated)

Molly was an excellent face painter!

Melanie's Baking Business - Riley Hospital Fundraising

Melanie decided during the school year that she wanted to spend her summer doing a "baking business."  As this idea took fruition, she decided she wanted to donate the money raised to Riley Children's Hospital.  We decided to use the money to buy toys and other things for our clinic; we know from experience that the patients receive prizes each time they receive treatment.  We asked our Child Life Specialist, Julie, what they could use, and she suggested videos (Melanie previously donated videos for clinic with money raised at Grandma Huck's funeral, which is funny in itself), craft supplies, and prizes for the prize drawer and closet.  

Melanie's nanny Molly helped her with the business all summer, and she raised FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!  She approached people at the neighborhood pool, took custom orders, and had a couple of stands in the yard.  We are so proud of her for all of her efforts; I thought she would quickly tire of this project, but she stuck to it all summer!  We still have about $100 (of the total) that we need to spend and deliver the goods to Riley.

Mel with some of her custom orders she filled.  Jeff hates this picture since I had her pose on the table.

Twice she set up a baking stand with the Wollenburgs; they kept their earnings from popsicles and lemonade, and she ran her business separately

Shopping

The car is loaded up and ready for delivery!

Dropping off the toys, videos, and craft supplies

Delivering the toys - she and Joey and her friend Ellie unloaded and stocked the prize closet

4th of July

Despite some rain, we enjoyed several firework shows.  Our neighborhood set off fireworks in the street right outside our house on Saturday the 2nd, we stayed the night at Ron & Diane's on the 3rd, anticipating their neighborhood fireworks, which were rained out, but we watched several other neighborhood shows from their back porch.  Then on the 4th the kids participated in the Frankfort neighborhood bike parade. 

Ready for the Frankfort parade

Yes, Jeff made them wear saftey goggles to play with sparklers.

Joey & his buddy Ethan at our neighborhood show

A quarter of the onlookers for the neighborhood show

Road Trip!!

When we hired a summer nanny, we knew she was going to need the second week of June off for a family vacation.  Since we didn't get much time off last summer, I started hatching a road trip plan for the kids and me (Jeff claimed to not be able to get off work).  We left on a Saturday, drove to Washington, PA - random location but with a hotel/pool - and then completed the drive on Sunday to Rockville, MD to stay with Uncle John & Aunt Vi.  Sunday was spent at their club pool and cooking out.  Monday we took the train into DC for a day chock full of sightseeing; we got tickets for the double-decker bus that we could get on & off as often as we wanted, and saw just about everything there was to see!  We also went to the Air & Space Museum and Arlington Cemetery.  Tuesday, we took the train to the National Zoo, which was a great visit.  Wednesday, the kids and I drove into Baltimore to walk along the waterfront and have lunch, and then we went out to Bel Air, MD to visit with all of the Coreas - Tony, Kate, and Nick and their families.  We headed back on Thursday, stopping at a wonderful state park in OH for the night and completing our trip by returning on Friday to Zionsville.  The kids actually did quite amazing on the trip; of course I was nervous being outnumbered for such a long drive. I also had thought I'd wait until the kids were older to do DC - but quickly realized there is a different set of things they see/understand at each age, and I think they really enjoyed it. I'd definitely do it all again!

Random trip pictures - 

Backyard games with Uncle John

Joseph Pierce explaining something VERY important to John Pierce

As long as there's a pool, these kids are happy (this is at John & Vi's club)

Photographic evidence from the beginning & end of the trip

At least they carry their own weight....

View from the patio at the state park hotel

There was swimming at least one time a day nearly every day of the trip

State park arcade room

The state park hotel had an indoor and outdoor pool

Fun w/ Uncle John & Aunt Vi

Washington, DC

First Metro ride for the kiddos

We were trying to figure out what ceremony was going on at Arlington - we encountered this group, and also experienced a lockdown where we couldn't travel down certain paths.  We later realized it was D-Day, so there must have been memorials going on

National Zoo

Pandas!

Baltimore

Joey lost a tooth while staying at Tony's - luckily, the tooth fairy found us!