Uncle Thomas's Graduation

Doctor Thomas graduated from medical school!  Awhile ago I was thinking to myself how smart Thomas is and then a few days later Paul commented on how he has a really big brain and is basically a walking encyclopedia.  Out of the mouth of two witnesses... so it must be true!  We're so proud of him and looking forward to never paying for medical services again.

We made the quick drive to Arizona for the occasion and got to pass through beautiful El Centro and Yuma.  Oh, and Dateland.  Let's not forget Dateland.  Parker and Kate did really well.  They watched movies while Paul and I listened to TED radio.  Actually, we started off listening to a book called "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character", which sounds really interesting and maybe it's better in print, but not a great roadtrip book.

Anyway, the ceremony was great.  Paul got to hood Thomas, which I thought was really special.  Afterward we ate at Kneaders (!!!) and then went for a quick swim.  Thomas and Angela got some special goggles for Parker and Kate.  They both loved them!  We found out later that maybe Kate's were on a little too tight?

Grandma Trudy gave Parker and Kate these awesome activity books for the car ride home.  They were entertained for hours!  

4th of July

We decorated flag shirts to wear for the 4th of July.  Parker was confused because he ALREADY HAS a flag shirt that Grandma Trudy gave him last year, and could he please just wear that one instead?  Well, I forced him to wear the one he made and I think it turned out to be okay in his mind.  We had a barbecue and a water balloon fight and then did sparklers in the backyard.  Paul and Parker went to see the big fireworks down the street at the Olympic Training Center while Kate and I stayed home so she could go to bed.  Also, I think she would have hated the big fireworks- too loud and scary, but I'm hoping she'll be able to go next year.

Preschool Graduation

Parker had his last day of preschool and then a few days later, his preschool graduation.  I remember his first day of preschool... it doesn't seem like it was that long ago.  He loved preschool and I did too.  They did so many fun activities and projects, he made lots of friends and he learned to spell his name.  Success!

School here starts in less than two weeks and I feel this sense of urgency to make our short summer as fun as can be before Parker leaves us for five full days a week.  I think the length of the school day will be a hard adjustment for him, but I'm more concerned about Kate.  They play so well together, I think it will be sad for her to have him away for so much of the day.

After Parker's graduation I told him that we could go get a smoothie because it was his special day (he wanted to take a picture of Kate enjoying her Jamba Juice for posterity.)  A few hours later he told me that he wanted me to go buy him a nerf gun and go to Buffalo Wild Wings (he likes the iPad they give to kids, not the food) for dinner because it was his special day.  Ha!  Nice try, bubs.