Tractors & Tutus: Summer Bucket List: Part 2

We are checking things off right and left and having such a blast doing it!! We've really done soooo much already and it's only been a couple weeks since school has gotten out. I can't wait for the rest of our adventures!

Swimming Lessons

Both Mellany & Johnny took swim lessons this year. Mellany is in heaven and Johnny is pretty much there because I made him and it's an added bonus that Simon and Charlotte are there too! Mellany picked up right where she left off from last year and wants to swim every single day. Johnny actually got into the pool without screaming so that in itself was a huge feat!

The kiddos end up so cold that we let them spend a couple minutes in the hot tub to warm up.

Lemonade Stand

For two years now Mellany has asked to do a lemonade stand (including during the winter time!) and this year I finally agreed. During the "logistics" discussion she decided what she wanted to serve and what she would use the money for. She ended up with regular lemonade and pink lemonade with chocolate chip cookies and Rice Krispie treats. She also stated that she wanted to take the money to VBS for the offering which helps fund well projects in Haiti and Honduras. I mean, how sweet and genuine is that?! I definitely didn't have that as a 6 year old! After days of preparation, and with Gammy in town, we set up shop. She asked her neighbor friend Michael to help and he was so excited to join us. Johnny also helped in serving the snacks and handing out napkins and of course offering up small talk. :) We have some amazing neighbors and friends who stopped and purchased cups of lemonade and after just a couple hours Mellany had earned $48!!! She cannot WAIT to take it to VBS!

S'Mores (again)

Gammy gave us this awesome table top s'mores set and we were all in heaven!

Water Painting

Definitely a summer favorite! Paintbrushes and water and the kiddos are busy all afternoon. This year Johnny decided that he didn't want any swim shorts....he looked so darn cute and was so content that I thought I would just go ahead and save myself a trip up the stairs...

Ice Cream

For the last day of school Kelley and I thought it would be so fun to take the kids for ice cream at one of our local shops. Just like we always do, we had sweet visions of the kids eating their ice cream cones and just enjoying the afternoon, sitting in their chairs, totally mess-free....as you can see from the pictures, we were once again dreaming.... we just love how much these 5 keep us on our toes!

Bowling & Pappy's

This is probably one of my favorite local things to do....Pappy's and Bowling. They are both on the Purdue campus so there's a ton of history with each of the places, they aren't far from each other inside the building and it's just so fun. The boys were more interested in playing video games in the arcade but Mellany was having a blast.

(I'm not sure what Johnny was doing....making a tunnel maybe?...)

Charlie really didn't want much to do with bowling at all

Picnic at the Park

We went to the prophetstown park and it was a really great place to play and picnic. It was really hot on this particular day but other than that it was perfect.

Charlie wanted so bad to "hang" with the big kids...

....and then he found mulch/dirt and was totally fine...

Wolf Park

This is one of the most unique places I've ever seen. This is just outside of West Lafayette and houses wolves, coyotes, fox and bison. It was really quite interesting to hear about what they do and the kids really liked seeing the animals. They did not like the heat, however!

Strawberry Picking

We tried a new spot this year and really loved it! Out of the strawberries we picked, I made 18 jars of jam and some strawberry muffins along with keeping some to just eat on. Johnny was in preschool camp so he wasn't able to pick with us.