Life and Times of The Johnston family: Lovin' Summertime!!

This week was pretty typical...Monday was a typical summer day...the kids swam in the pool in the morning and we did our grocery shopping in the evening. We have a really lax summer schedule, the kids watch a show while eating breakfast(I'm hoping this isn't terrible to break them of in the fall, but they're loving it for now!) then we get dressed and ready and go for a walk/ride around the neighborhood, then we come back to a fun art or craft thing then we sing songs and read stories. Then it's lunchtime, during lunch I read a chapter from a chapter book to the kids(we just finished "When the White Dove Descended" really good book!) then Devin goes down for his nap and Elizabeth either does some learning time or educational play time, until it's time for her snack and t.v. time. Then she's off to quiet time and Devin has snack and t.v. time, then it's his turn for educational play time. After rest times are done we go out to the backyard to play(usually in the pool, but also in the sandbox, on the swing set, on the tramp or just having fun with their imaginations). Then it's dinner more play and bed! We don't usually get to follow it exactly as Devin often has therapy in the morning but it's nice to have anyway! There is never the "what are we going to do?" And a lot less of "I'm bored". There are times(like now for instance) when I let them just play while I do things. Anyway back to the week...Tuesday was just another typical summer day, Elizabeth had dance/tumbling in the evening and that was it. Wednesday morning Devin had play therapy, but that was the only change to our typical day. We had another BBQ dinner outside. Thursday morning Devin had behavior therapy, and both kids were 'off ' and in cranky moods most the day, so by the time Tony got home Elizabeth had been banished to her room, and Devin was melting down as well. So Tony went to scout pack meeting and did what he needed to then came home and we had yet another super yummy BBQ dinner outside, then called it a day! Friday morning I arranged a playdate with Elizabeth's dance friend Phenley(her mom and I talked homeschool stuff, as she homeschools Phenley) and Devin even did really well playing with all their toys and hopefully didn't teach little Ainsley(she's almost one)any bad habits! The girls played so well together! Not a single argument or angry moment....we were so impressed! They did make quite the mess out on their patio with the sand table, and Phenley's room was a mess....but they cleaned both up ~~after being threatened with no more play dates.~~ We ended up staying for nearly 4 hours! Devin was melting by the time Elizabeth was done helping clean up and so ready to go home for a nap which he did. Friday evening was another nice BBQ dinner. Saturday morning we went to JC Penny and got family pictures done. Devin didn't last real long luckily we knew he probably wouldn't so we did all the pictures we needed him in first(family pics, sibling pics and by the time we got to pics of just Devin he was good for two and no more!) So I took him our and calmed him down the best I could while Elizabeth got just her pics taken, then Tony and I got some of just us and called it! They turned out really good. Can't wait to get them today! (I have still to scan in the kids Easter pics so hopefully they'll all be scanned in and posted soon!) After pictures we had lunch put Devin down for nap and Elizabeth went out and helped Tony in his motorhome(and all the cars) washing, while my mom and I went to the Utah Idaho(school supply)store where I picked up some things for the upcoming school year. You can spend hours in that store without even realizing it! Saturday evening we had Eric and Jen join us for our BBQ dinner which was really nice! Sunday morning bright and early we woke the kids got them all ready and went to Tony's cousin's mission homecoming, which was very good. Then while Devin napped and Elizabeth played Tony and I went to work cleaning up the front room some more...and we got it to the point to where it's ready to paint then we can put up pictures do some finally organizing sweeps, and have it ready for school in the fall! YAY! We also got the kids 'milestone' pictures put up in the hall, which looks so good! Oh and we put up the Disneyland frame(which I still need to print pictures out to put in) and the kids silhouette Disneyland pictures on each side of it. Dinner was of course a BBQ outside, and that was our fun week!

Great way to start the day!