First Day of Summer Vacation

Gus is done with pre-school. Harper is done with first grade. They are back with us and we are c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-i-n-g!

This morning, Karen brought out a big straw hat, turned it upside down on the island, and invited us all to shout out what fun things we want to do this summer. Harper took dictation on slips of paper. They got folded and thrown into the hat. H&G will take turns drawing out the Plan-for-the-Day throughout this summer.

Today it was the Minnesota Zoo (Grandpa picked this one) as I really wanted to see the new Hawaiian Monk Seals. We took off with the idea we would not be there long, but the kids were having so much fun, Grandma’s pre-made lunch at home was an oh-well and we grabbed a quick bite at the zoo.

Harper really wanted to pet a shark in one of the petting pools, but just couldn’t bring herself to do it. I showed her it was OK to do (never would have done it otherwise) and finally she did it! Later when I told her how I impressed I was she was able to pet a shark, she looked at me like I was crazy—I don’t think she realized it was a shark J

The kids of course loved to run from exhibit to exhibit to exhibit and by afternoon had seen all the inside areas and were ready to go to the outside playground. Grandma and I forgot there was a water element to the playground so didn’t come prepared with swim suits and towels. But since the kids were so hot from climbing around the other parts of the playground, we said OK, you can get your clothes wet. I kept teasing them that they were not getting wet enough, so they had great fun coming over to me and wringing the water out of their clothes.

A great tone was set for the rest of the summer. Straw hat, I’m looking forward to what surprises you have next!