Hlusko Family Visit part 4: Picnics and Bowling

Hlusko Family Visit part 3: Riding Goats and Swings

While our family were visiting the boys wanted to see the goats.  We took the children out and let them feed the goats lettuce and grain.  They would play for a while and then run over to the playhouse and swing for a while.  One day Don was out there with A.J.  He had asked if he could sit on the goat. Don shrugged and said he didn't see why not.  So he hoisted our 6 year old nephew up on the goat.  He sat there for a few minutes and then 4 year old Carson came over to the fence and wanted in.  So Don left A.J.'s side to lift Carson over.  At this point the goat took off running.  Little A.J. held on tight and probably rode about 50 or 60 feet before he fell off.  He was slightly scratched but nothing bad at all.  But at that point all the children agreed that goats were not made for riding.  :)

Hlusko Family Visit part 2: Water Play with Cousins

Being summer, we play in the water quite a bit.  So when Aunt Susan's family was visiting, we had a lot of fun playing in the water.  We filled up our little wading pool, which my brother and sisters and I used to play in when we were little.  All the kids have fun in it.  We also hooked up our little Elmo sprinkler and the kids had lots of fun running through it.  They used the flow off the sprinkler to create some sort of little village with a spring at the edge of the driveway.  We also tried water balloons one day, but decided it was way too much work for how long these children took to go through them.  Next year, we'll buy some water pistols instead.  ;)  We also pulled out our slip and slide.  That was very humorous.  :)  The only child who seemed to be able to figure it out the traditional way was A.J., so Don ended up throwing a few kids down the traditional way to help them. :)  When left to their own devices, however, Alexis and Emily just kind of ran and sat down on their knees.  Ashley just wanted to play with the water squirting out and in the pool at the end.  Carson was the funniest of all and just wanted to tip toe through the water squirting out.  :)  We also got bubbles out several times along with our bubble maker and the kids had a blast with those, as well.

Hlusko Family Visit Part 1: Library Program with Hlusko family

Aunt Susan and her family came to visit this past week from Oklahoma. We had so much fun doing so many different things. One thing we did while she was here was attend a folk music type program at our local library. It was so neat and the kids really enjoyed it. The wonderful lady that did it sang songs, told stories, played instruments, and played simple games with the children and they all just loved it. Several of the older children got to participate. We really love our library's summer programs!

Ashley's Duck

A couple of weeks ago Ashley brought me a little wooden duck from the playroom and wanted me to fill her up a bowl of water because the duck, apparently, wanted to swim.  Now this has become one of her favorite games to play and every other day or so her little duck needs to go swimming in a little bowl. 

There Were Ten in the Bed.....

I found these two like this on morning. They were playing Emily was the mother and all these dolls and Ashley were her babies. They had a very big bed and all slept there together. They continued playing for a long while and Emily fed everyone and then she took them all to the library where Alexis was the librarian, (who issued everyone official library cards, including me), and everyone listened to story time and then checked out books. :)

Swimming

We've been enjoying swimming at our local/pool water park this summer.  It's such a nice place with a lazy river, big pool/slides, splash pad, little kid slides, baby pool, little kid pool and play area.  We mostly like to go in the late afternoon after Ashley's nap and afternoon snack.  We tend to bring dinner with us and swim for 2-3 hours.  Everyone has their favorite parts.  Alexis like the big twirly water slide she can go on with daddy.  Emily tends to like just about everything.  Ashley's favorite is the baby pool.  Don and I are happy anywhere.  We just enjoy being with the children.  :)