"Summer Fun"

Allen, Wesley and Ashley with their Summer Fun teachers.

Allen and his Summer Friend-J.J.

This summer we found the most amazing summer school program for the kids. They were separated into groups not by age, or grade, but so that there was an assortment of each in every group. The groups rotated through each of five teachers everyday of the week.
Mrs McGruder taught Computers. Ms Lee taught cooking. Mrs Martinez taught us about our bodies. Ms Morelos directed our Reader's Theater. Mrs Uttergaurd taught us exercise.
They had a blast and are excited to go again next summer. Madison is especially excited since she will be old enough to go next summer!

What time is it?...SUMMERTIME!

It wouldn't be summertime at the Pena house without swimming lessons!




The kids look forward to their pool time and it is a great
bargaining chip if their chores aren't getting done!

Cub Scout Day Camp

Chad - with the honor of Cub master - was able to go with Allen

to Day camp on Mount Lemmon! The Boys went to Camp Lawton for some serious

Indiana Jones Adventures! I'm not privy to all of the details,

(boy stuff) but I do know they had a blast!

Sister Schafer, Nathan, Allen, and Chad W. painting monkeys!

The Last Hurrah!

We knew it was our last weekend, so we wanted to make it fun. The kids completed the summer reading program (it was so down to the wire), and we promised them we would take them to redeem their prizes. What that meant for us was a trip to the Sonora Desert Museum and Breakers Water Park...in the same day! It was a long day but we all had a blast. We got to the museum really early so we caught breakfast with some of the animals (so so so gross, but you had to watch it anyway)!We spent a few hours there and then headed over to the water park. It was really geared towards older kids, but lets be honest, all the kids wanted was to play in the water, so they didn't really care. We did get lucky and ended up having Aunt Lexy with us for the day, always fun...but add it to a fun filled day and we bordered on a fun overload. Don't worry no one was hurt and fun levels never reached dangerous levels!

Allen's Gallery

Okay, it's only fair that Allen also gets a gallery since he spent part of his summer experimenting in the pottery studio! He told me after only one class, that he was disappointed with the fact that he wouldn't be using a pottery wheel! (Children have to be 9 before they are allowed to take that class) He rebounded however, and really made some fun things.
- -

A puzzle box-----------Allen and Ms. Margaret---Bowl with lid

--
--- "Ned Head" (vase)------------------------Monster Jam cup

Wesley's Galllery

Wesley has always been the artist. He has an art table in his room to sit at; real pencils and supplies to use. That has always been his thing. So when we were planning activities for the summer, I asked him if he wanted to take a pottery class. He is still too young for the pottery wheel, but that didn't stop him from having a blast. So, now we would like to present a few of his creations from this summer session.(The guy in the pic with him "Mr Joe" his instructor)


(pinch pot with lid) (pyramid landscape with moon, iguana, & bushes)


(Castle with dragon tail hanging out) (Triceratops)

The Fish Hatchery

So you thought I was done talking about our little get away...Sorry. I just got another roll of film back and remembered the last stop on our journey. Drum roll please...The Glennwood Fish Hatchery! I know the excitement is just overwhelming. But it was kind of neat to see where stock fish come from for the lakes and ponds. Anyways, look really close and you can see fish in the pictures. The water is black because there are so many fish in each of the tanks!
And then Ashley wanted yet another flower for her collection!

(What is it about the pictures of little kids reaching for the flower?)

So cute!

Summertime is Swimming time!

Just Get Away

It was a short trip, but it was enough. Sometimes the only reality check you need, is an escape from "daily reality"! So that is what we did. A quick trip to the mountains. We lost our cell phone signal outside of Showlow. There was no Internet access (oh the horror of the inbox on our return!) And even without this being a camping trip, it seemed impossible to keep the kids in any state of clean during daylight hours! I got to where I was able to accept all of this (okay at least for the most part). I then realized that even without all of the extra HELPS we pack into our lives, the days continue to turn into nights, and when it comes down to it, I think we miss more when we are trying to cram in all the extras instead of just taking extra time to focus on what matters. We had fun! And not that we don't usually, but without all the "amenities" to get in the way. We skipped rocks at the lakes. We splashed around in the (freezing) waters of the mountain fed creeks. Looked for animals on the side of the road and just took the time to listen...to each other and to everything around us. Yes we have been blessed to live in a time where there are so many THINGS that make life easier. So shouldn't we take all that time we are saving and try to appreciate how much else we have been given? I know that I take way too much for granted, and I am ashamed of how much I miss! So, take a minute to spin in the grass till your dizzy or tell your kids a story they don't know about you.

I did...

It's Almost Over

SUMMER- Didn't we just leave the school grounds behind? How is it that all of our carefully laid plans are now coming to an end? It happens every year, and yet somehow I still have that childish hope that it might last just a little bit longer!
I thought I would want the time to go quickly. The days where all the kids seem to do is quarrel and nag, never really got to me. And, although they are picking out their lunchboxes and planning their recesses, I'm the one who isn't ready!
We haven't yet begun to sharpen pencils or pick out the clothes for the first day, but I know it isn't far away. I just wanted it to hold off for awhile, that's all!