Making the most out of Summer

Well, activities with the kids have become a challenge. We definetly arent as active as we usually are in the summers. A lot more road trips (not the house hunting kind) and full day excursions are usually what fill our summer months. But with the combination of Rain, house hunting/selling, and a growing belly its been hard to keep the fun level up to Kael and Naveah's expectations. It doesnt help that our daily vehicle is a gigantic beast that has become hard for me to climb in and out of. Putting the kids in the carseats and loading up the bed of the truck with strollers and what-not is a challenge I hate facing alone. Plus walking any sort of distance pushing the stroller is out of the question. So! Ive had to come up with ways the kids stay happy and I can just sit and watch. Again, not an easy thing when youve got 'outdoorsy' kids.

I bought the kids some sidewalk chalk a while ago hoping we would get a chance to use it. They cant draw with it in our backyard because all the concrete is exposed making it awfully difficult to draw on. I remembered that at the park by our house there was a basketball court that was NEVER used. So I packed us a snack, the chaulk and we headed to the park. The kids had tons of fun. I think they ended up with more chaulk on their clothes then they did the sidewalk. But the trip was cut short due to... (surprise surprise) RAIN!

Air traffic control!

I had been promising the kids a trip to drumheller to visit the dinosaurs. Not being able to take them myself anymore we had to wait for a weekend where there was nothing going on so Evan could come with. FINALLY there was one. They had so much fun. Naveah has become quite infatuated with them but was still very cautious around them. We had to reassure her a few times that the giant T-Rex was just simply bones and it cant hurt her. Kael ran from window to window shouting "OH! WOW!" at each display. After the museum we checked out the new Fossil World. I was nervous about going because of the new Animatronic T-Rex they had there. I didnt want to ruin Naveahs love for Dinosaurs. But they actually did okay! At first Naveah wanted me to pick her up immediatly and shook everytime the dinosaur moved. But again, with a little reassurance that the dinosaur cant hurt her she warmed up quite quickly. Suddenly her little shrills of panic became laughter. Kael did better than expected as well, although by this time he was getting pretty cranky and it was hard keeping him happy no matter what we did. So we headed down to the water park hoping to cheer him up. Naveah once again had a blast, Kael however just didnt want to cooperate. So trying once more we headed across the street to look in the gift shop, let them pick out a couple dinosaur toys then headed for ice cream.

"do not climb". Perhaps they should have thought this out better and not made them so welcoming.

taking a break to figure out the puzzle

Looking for their wishes in the wishing well!

Trying to pet the dinosaur.


At Fossil City, a giant Shark Jaw! Naveah thought it was pretty cool.

The Animatronic T-Rex, Naveah getting friendly.

Cranky Kael wanting a better look with Daddy. (they didnt think out how T-Rex would photograph from straight on!)

The next day Evan thought up another adventure and on the road once again we were. This time to Gull Lake. They had lots of fun playing in the sand and Kael couldnt get enough of his new water wings! It was a fun but exhausting weekend! And im glad we got some fun adventures in with the kids before summer ends.