Where has the summer gone?

Hey Graham Fans! It has been too long! I blame my editor (my mommy). She just hasn't been giving me time on the computer to share with you all what we have been doing this summer. I am really going to have to dig into the recesses of my memory to cover what we have done this summer. I hate to admit that it has been since Caroline's birthday since I have blogged. I think Caroline shared some of our activities after that so I will try to pick up where she left off.

We have been to the zoo a couple of times. We went earlier in the summer with some of our Brighter Beginnings friends. It was the first time we have ever ridden the train. I was a big fan. With all the heat, we hadn't been back until last week. We had a great time. We rode the train again. Caroline and I really had fun in the petting zoo feeding the goats and the llama. Mom packed a picnic lunch and we ate in the shade. They also have a dinosaur exhibit. We loved it! Caroline growled at the dinosaurs! What a silly girl. I liked the one that you could use the buttons to move around. Fun times!

Daddy has participated in four barbeque contests this year, two of which we visited. The first one was in Valley Junction here in town. We went down on Saturday evening and had dinner with Grandpa and Dad. Then we went back Sunday afternoon. I like to run around. The second one was in the Kansas City area in June. Mom, Caroline, and I stayed at Nanny's. We went to see Dad on Friday night. It was kind of hot but I still had fun running around the trailer and the area by his site. Benjamin was there for awhile too so we played some. Some people had a little puppy there - we LOVED it! The next day we went to a park with Nanny, Aunt Lisa, Benjamin and Joe. This was a great park - it had a HUGE sand pile and actual diggers. I really didn't want to share but sometimes I had to let other kids use it. We had to leave the park to go see Daddy then headed back home.

On Father's Day we went to church, then drove to Jester Park to play at the Natural Living Playscape. It was fun. I really liked the big sandpile. They had a natural pool thing which was nice but the bottom was rocks so not the easiest to walk on. We had a picnic lunch under a big shade tree. Before we left, we were playing in the pool area and some other family saw a snake crawl out between some of the rocks. Everyone, including us, pretty much left after that.

The last weekend in June Daddy had another bbq contest in the Kansas City area. Mommy, Caroline and I went to Grandma's to go to the Peiffer family reunion. We had lots of fun at Grandma's. We played outside, rode the mower, rode in the wagon behind the mower. Uncle Greg gave me a ride on the tractor. We actually went down the road on the tractor. The reunion was on Sunday. Sam and Kayla were there and played with Caroline and me. It was a fun weekend. I wanted to stay another night at Grandma's.

For the 4th of July weekend, we went to a barbeque down the street. I had a good time. I played with a couple of older boys down the street. We all had a good time. On the 4th we went to the Urbandale parade. They threw out candy - lots of Tootsie Rolls. I ate as many as I could. We left after the fire trucks went by, but had already seen a couple of bands, some old cars, motorcycles, and lots of random stuff. The bands and the fire trucks were my favorite. We really lucked out in the spot we got. Some people had saved the curb, but let me squeeze and Mommy say behind me. Dad and Caroline were behind the sidewalk, but we were all in the shade and we could all see! Fireworks were too late for Caroline so Mommy drove me to watch some from the car. I already had my pajamas on so when we got out she just held me. It was kind of fun.

We have had a couple of playdates over the summer with some Brighter Beginnings friends. At the beginning of the summer the weather interfered with a couple of our playdates. We did get to the park with them and the splash pad. We went to the splash pad another time. I have to say that it is fun, but Caroline and I really liked the play equipment at the park better. When it was really hot, we went to Backyard Adventures. It is a place with a whole bunch of playsets indoors. Sissy and I both liked that place. We even ate our lunch there. Big thumbs up for that place.

It has been a crazy summer weather wise - lots of rain at first then REALLY hot. Early in the summer, Daddy blew up our pool when we had some really warm weather. The first day was a lot of fun.

By the third day, I would get Mommy to sit in it then would play everywhere in the backyard by the pool. Funny thing is it hasn't been out since. We have had our frog sprayer out multiple times and even ran through our sprinklers. The sprinklers were a lot of fun because I was just in my undies and Caroline in her diaper! I have tried to help Dad mow the lawn different times. He doesn't like to mow, but I LOVE it! He tells me I need to remember that when it was one of my chores!

We have had some good times this summer. There have been a couple of cul de sac parties and that usually involved staying up late. Woo hoo! We have eaten lots of popsicles. Even when it was hot, we played outside at least a little each day. We went to story time or played at the library regularly. I like to go to the library but I really like having some different books to read.

For those that know me, you realize I haven't talked about my birthday - that will be the next post! Stay tuned! (PS - Mommy made me put that picture of Caroline at the beginning.)