August 2020

We started August with a camping trip with friends. The kids and I dropped Jim off at Hawn State Park to solo hike wearing a 30 lb backpack and then we met friends at Pickle Springs for a hike. Jim was preparing for a backpacking trip at the end of the month.

The cutest hiker:

There were lots of opportunities for climbing.

You can see Charlie in his green jacket below.

After hiking at Pickle Springs, we went back to Hawn to meet Jim at our campsite.  While the Dads set up the campsites, the Moms went on a hike.  Without kids, we were able to move more quickly. 

The kids spent a lot of time on a rocky "island" where they built shelters. I didn't get any pictures of that, though. We enjoyed some time around the campfire together.

One afternoon we played mini golf.

After mini golf we got snow cones.  You'll never guess what color Maggie's was.

Maggie's friend in the neighborhood asked her to be pen pals. It's pretty sweet. They write each other notes and make things for each other.

Maggie is wearing the necklace her friend made.

I did a couple online yoga classes. Maggie joined me.

I gave Jack a haircut. He was not happy about it.  This picture was taken much later (after he rode his bike and met us at a friend's house).

As we were visiting friends in their backyard, I looked around and didn't see Charlie. Then, I looked up.  Can you spot his red shirt in the tree?

We made an appointment and visited the zoo.

I made this yummy strawberry tart.

We found a BMX track nearby.  The kids didn't love it as much as we thought they would, but it was really hot out when we went.

Before the start of 8th grade, the kids do an Amazing Race. We were the kindergarten stop along the race. The teams had to make kindergarten graduation caps.

Jack's group with their caps.

One morning I found out there was going to be a Blues parade a block from our house. The kids and I walked down to watch it.

It was not nearly as awesome as the Stanley Cup Parade the previous summer, but it gave us something to do.

Hotbox is a popular backyard game.

The day before school started we went back to my Godfather's house for one last swim.

The kids had LOTS of treats!  

First day of first grade and Maggie wants to be a gymnast when she grows up.

First day of fifth grade and Patrick wants to be a pitcher when he grows up.

First day of eighth grade and Jack wants to be a computer scientist when he grows up.

First day of third grade and Charlie wants to be an electrician when he grows up.

After no scouting activities for months, Jack spent a socially distant night camping with some other scouts.  They had to do some community service while out there.

They had to find a place to build a shelter with whatever they brought. Here is the shelter Jack made with his rope and a tarp. He slept in a sleeping bag underneath.

We picked the lone watermelon from our garden.  We had LOTS of cucumbers this summer.