It's a Long and Lazy Summer...

Well.... Hello!

We haven't done a darn thing this summer. Really. Pretty much nothing and I kind of like it! We have barely been out of town. We are literally having a long Staycation except Pat and I are working through most of it. We were feeling slightly guilty about not doing much this summer and asked Kobe what he would like to do that he hasn't gotten to do yet. We're thinking, theme parks, water parks or even fishing and he said the only thing he hasn't gotten to do is visit his cousins. Well, that will be arranged.

Kobe has spent most of his summer on his bike and playing with friends. He has had a great summer so far. This is what I see most of the time as he's riding by the house to meet up with the neighborhood gang. Have you seen the movie The Sandlot? If so, you've got a good idea of what's going on here. A lot of boys and a LOT of drama.

He's doing a lot of work perfecting his trick riding skills as well...

Kyler has been working hard this summer and has graduated to the 18 inch bike...with training wheels. He'll be two-wheeling it soon though!

Oh, and Kyler went to soccer camp. As you can see below he was thrilled. I don't think I'll be buying one of those Soccer Mom magnets for my car anytime soon.

We've been pretty crafty too. This is one of our best creations this summer. Really!

We are starting to pick a few of these and we're loving the fresh produce from the nearby farm stands and farmers market...I won't even tell you how many watermelons we've eaten so far this summer.

All in all it's turning out to be a pretty good summer. No plans. No projects. Just a lot of relaxing. Nice.

Hope you're having a good summer too.

Until Next Time,

Jackie

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning To Breathe Free...

The New Colossus
as engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles.  From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips.  "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883

For further information:

National Park Service Statue of Liberty National Monument

A nice site for immigration stories that can be enjoyed by kids and adults at Scholastic.com


Until Next Time...and Happy 4th of July!

Jackie