Getting Settled and summer vacations

Here we go again. Things are starting to feel a little more settled, so I'm hoping for more frequent post, but in the mean time, let's catch up. Summer has been super fun. June was a bit unsettled as I tried to move in and the kids were getting a little bored with summer. I tried to reward them for being so good while I was so busy, so once a week they earned a reward of their choosing. We went to get ice cream, swimming (several times), the Zoo, and went the see Cars 2. I think the only thing on the list we didn't get to was bowling. We picked up the pace in July with two weeks of swim lessons. Madde really excelled and is really trying to learn. Hunter enjoyed being in the water, but wouldn't really join his class. Dayton surprised us with how much he enjoyed it. I'd heard swimming was good for kids with Angelman's and he loved being deep enough to freely wiggle and splash. We left on our family vacation the last day of swim lessons. Madde said it was the "best day ever" to have a party and then get to turn around and go on vacation. We headed up to Utah for one day to attend Brad's mom family reunion. Then spent a week at Aspen Grove for Meri's family reunion. It was so fun to see so many people on both sides of our family. I could rave about how fun Aspen Grove is. They have classes for every age group, which left me and Brad free for a few hours a day. We got to climb a ropes course, turn a pen, compete against the young adults in dodge ball, play volleyball, basketball, walleyball, shuffleboard, tennis, and frisbee golf. I even had time to get sick. Wouldn't be a true vacation if we didn't pass around a stomach bug.

Playing with Grandma Ede at the Anderson family reunion
This is actually the closing ceremonies. I just had to document that both of my children participated. They did great. Hunter wore those sunglasses everywhere the whole week.

These three were inseperable. These are the two girl cousins Madde's age and they had a great time together.
As if Aspen Grove couldn't be cool enough, they had a pool and let the kids swim every day. That's pretty close to Heaven for my kids.
Madde's class got to try the climbing wall. She'll tell you she made it "really high". In reality, she was 6 feet off the ground, but she felt a sense of accomplishment, none the less.
They had a high ropes course for adults. Because of medical problems, this is the first year I was able to do it. It was awesome and terrifying all at the same time. I loved it. Doesn't that climbing harness accentuate my figure, or what?!?!? BYT, I'm actually repelling off the ropes course in this picture.
Brad, of course, was completely in his element on the ropes course. His only complaint was that it was only 50 feet high.

My sister, Christie, stopped by for a week on her way home. I'm pretty sure after that week she will never visit again. On their way, her son had awful diarrhea, then when they got here, her and her baby got that fun stomach bug, the swamp cooler broke and we spent a day sweating our brains out before we got it fixed, Dayton bit her sweet baby girl, and Brad's flight home was delayed causing him to miss the double date we'd planned. Oh, the memories. Brad, by the way, had been gone all week at training, making all that stuff doubly fun. We really did enjoy having them here and did manage to squeeze in some fun: the zoo, a quick visit from my brother, Dan's family on their way home, the backyard pool, and of course tons of gabbing with Crist.

We barely had time to enjoy the rest of our summer before school started on August 16th. Madde is now in 1st grade, and loving it. She starts the gifted program, called Quest this year. So far she's seems to enjoy it, but doesn't give many details - that's why I attend Parent/Teacher conferences - I'll find out more then. Hunter also started Preschool again. He's in the same preschool as last year and feels like an old pro.

Here's a few pictures of early June when Ede, Brad's Mom, was here: (I did promise pictures)

Dayton's birthday celebration. He's a big fan of cupcakes. Doesn't seem to mind the mess like my other kids.

This is Brad's favorite picture. Hunter was mad at us that we made him go to bed. After screaming a while, he quieted down and went to sleep. When we went up to check on him, we couldn't find him anywhere. We finally found him hiding in the closet. His feet are tucked under him in the fetal position. OUCH!!