Summer lovin'

Summer went by way too quick. We filled our days with swimming, birthday parties (Matalley came home from a carnival birthday party with this special design)

picnics (High Noon on the Square is a chance to eat lunch with Matt and hear some way cool entertainment)

and a few educational pursuits as well. Grayson entered a poetry contest at my request. Really I wanted him to do a short story but he said poems were shorter and therefore easier. So the Quesadilla poem that I wrote about in May became a winner and his presence was requested at an awards ceremony.

 

It happened to be the same day as kids in business so Matalley had to hold down the shop at the mall on her own for a bit. Kids in business is a Mall sponsored program to encourage small business ideas at an early age. The kids painted washers with nail polish and turned them into necklaces and molded popsicle sticks into bracelets decorated with washi tape. Grayson did not like that he had to repay me for the supplies that they used but thankfully, they made a profit which they distributed to church, savings, and a little bit of spending cash. The best thing about the day was all the support the kids received from friends...so many stopped by to buy something. Matalley got her story down quickly on the creative process and helping people to select jewelry. Grayson made good eye contact. I think the 5 hour stint seemed like forever to them so an 8 hour a day job might be pushing it if they are looking at future career options. Time will tell.

We celebrated with a lunch at McAlisters on free tea day

Our summer had a few sad moments too, like when Ms. Cindy (the children's minister at church) announced her resignation...the kids are going to miss her (me too!)

 She took these kids to dinner and a movie as a goodbye which the kids still talk about. I love that our church family takes time to invest in and support our kids. We are definitely blessed.