Summer!

Summer is here! This has been my first official week of summer with the kids. We are all adjusting....  All school year I looked forward to summer and now that's its here, well the other day I caught myself actually missing the structure of my work day. I had plans, to do lists, things to accomplish, adults to socialize with...but, I didn't have endless days with my Blaine and Aislin, which is what I looked forward to all year. 

A summer schedule was needed and so that has been the priority this week. Bedtime has been set at 9:00 pm and wake up call happens by 8:00 am. Another priority this summer is getting everyone to go to sleep in their own beds, and stay there all night, if possible. We went to a local learning store and bought chore charts. The kids have an opportunity to earn 6 stars a day, and for every 5 stars they get a dollar. I am hoping this will work. So far, thanks to the chart they are both getting up, making their beds, and getting dressed with no other encouragment other than "who wants to add a star to their chart?" Of course, with my two it has turned into a competition. I have found  that Aislin has already tried to sneak a few stars off of Blaine's chart.

This week we took some time to unpack from the kids' week in Florida (where they somehow came back with twice as much stuff as I sent!), they both started gymnastics, went to the movies and the pool, and spent a day with our Cousin Olivia. It was a good week all in all. On Friday the kids went to Aislin's preschool for the day. They love her school, as do I.  Some pictures are below:

Unpacking from Florida, look at all the stuff in the background!

Blaine on the rings in gymnastics:

Aislin in her new gymnastics leotard:

Movie- Nim's Island

Aislin and Olivia at the pool:

Next week they start swim lessons and tomorrow we are off to visit Aunt Jen, Uncle Josh, Baby Mya, Grandma Rory and the Birmingham Zoo. Let the good times roll!