Summer Fun

We took our family vacation in early May. So, the rest of the summer has been filled with fun close to home. The kids went to Natchez, the first week in June and stayed the week with Lala and Pops. They had fun visiting many sites around Natchez including the Indian Mounds and Jefferson College.

We have a Memphis Zoo membership and have taken many trips to visit the zoo. The kids love the Zebra (Marty), Giraffes (Melman), the Hippos (Gloria), the Sea Lions and the Polar Bears. Going to the zoo is always fun and we have loved our trips. Next year, Beau wants to go to "Zoo Camp" for a week to learn what all the animals eat, etc. Wow!

We also have had a Pink Palace and Licterman Nature Center membership and took a trip "hiking" the trails at the Nature Center, learning about earth worms, snakes and other animals. But the Pink Palace "robotic dinosaur exhibit" has definately been the family favorite. We have taken multiple trips up to the Pink Palace to see these dinosaurs. Beau and Ali have their favorites. Beau loves the Stegosaurous, Triceratops and T-Rex. Ali likes the "family" of Protoceratops. They are robotic, and they move and roar which makes them very life like. Ali was scared to death the first visit. But she really enjoys them now on repeat trips.

We have gone to the pool almost 3 times a week this summer. Beau took swimming lessons and now knows how to swim. He loves it! He goes off the slide, and jumps off the diving board all by himself. We are really proud. Ali loves the water as well. But she enjoys playing with her ponies or bucket and water toys more than actually swimming.

One Saturday, earlier in July, we went up to the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and let the kids see the famous ducks march in the lobby to the water fountain where they stay all day. We spent that morning riding the $1.00 trolley around downtown, and then went down to the park by the MS river to fly kites and watch the boats leaving Memphis and heading South......to Natchez? That was such a fun day. It is sad that we live 15 minutes from downtown Memphis, and that was the first time we have ever done that with the kids. They had a blast. And I loved riding the trolley! Derick enjoyed the kite flying.

The summer has flown by...hard to believe we only have two weeks left before school starts!