Canoeing + Chuck E. Cheese + Baseball

Over the weekend we took the canoe on it's maiden voyage to Finger Lakes Park. Mason had been itching to get it in the water ever since we got it last summer and we finally got a good system of securing it to the car so we'd be damned if we let poor attitudes from the kids keep us from it!

 This photo is very misleading. We look happy and we were not. The kids had spent the entire morning at home and the majority of the their time in the canoe purposefully annoying each other, nit picking each other's statements, making noise just for the sake of it AND doing it louder than the other one, and borderline hurting each other. Needless to say, the boiling point was near.

 Zane took my oar for a bit.

 Hannah enjoyed riding in the middle scouting for fish and birds. We saw a heron!

 The park service is working on the dam for the lake and the water will be low until this time next year. As a result, not all channels connected like they used to, but it was still fun exploring the various waterways and getting a lay of the lake.

 Swimming off the boat ramp.

 Sunning themselves to dry off and stay warm since they were not supposed to get wet and were told many times that we didn't bring towels.

 We were invited to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate Hannah's friend, Sarah's, birthday.

 A long time ago, Mason found a trilogy of the original Star Wars movies on VHS. He wanted them because you can't buy the originals - without digital enhancement - on DVD. Well, the day has finally come when he found a VCR to play them!

 My friend, Roula, is moving to Tennessee because her husband got a new job (sounds familiar!). She has been an excellent lunch buddy over the past year and I'm going to miss her. We met up one last time before she goes...bye bye, friend.

Baseball is winding down. This is the last week. We're hoping Z gets to play his last game since the forecast is looking wet. He loves playing catcher!

Hannah's last game was yesterday. I hope she and Sarah are on the same team for many, many years.

 Today was the last day of summer school for these guys. Celebratory Orange Leaf was in order!

Summering

We've been summering pretty hard since we got back. First, I met some friends outside of St. Louis for a 5K. I didn't run the whole thing, but did a lot better than I was expecting. In my defense I was not prepared at all (haha) AND it was 95 degrees out. We were rewarded with wine upon crossing the finish line so it was all worth it. 

 Hannah is working on learning to tie her shoes. Brother's hand-me-down navy tie shoes were not motivating at all. New high tops with sparkle toes did the trick. After only a few days practice, she tied her shoes for school this morning!!

 A trip to the little park by our house after dinner.

 Ice cream IN A CONE! I finally found some that she could eat and we've all been enjoying way too many cones lately.

 Baseball continues. Hannah and her friend, Sarah, still play joint positions. Here they are dominating first base.

 Sarah's family invited us over for dinner. They have a zip line! SO FUN!!

 We are collecting prizes from the kids' summer marathon. Custard from Culver's was in order after school one day (Italian Ice for Hannah).

 The heat has been incredible. We cooled off over the weekend at Stephen's Lake Park, which has a lake and a spray ground.

 Mason rocked Father's Day, just like he does every other day. The kids had originally planned to take Mason roller skating because they thought HE would really enjoy it. One our walk around the block, Zane was limping pretty bad - we think from trying so hard to stay off the other foot that has a cut toe - and decided skating will take a rain check. Instead, we had a nice day at home.

 Hannah, huffing vanilla.

 More baseball...