Enjoying A Nice Summer Day

Today we enjoyed a nice summer afternoon hanging out on Druid Lake.  The kids enjoyed themselves swimming in the lake (thank you Debbie!).  We even got to go on a pontoon ride (thank you Barb!).

An Afternoon Movie

Yesterday it was hot and humid outside.  Just plain YUCKY!!!  Decided to pack up and find something "cool" to do.  Decided on afternoon movie at theater.  Went to see The Smurfs.  Talk about going back in time!  The movie was really cute.  Lots of funnies for all ages.  It was nice to find something that everyone enjoyed.  That seems to be harder to do now that the girls are getting older and Jack-jack is so "boy".  But everyone agreed it was a good afternoon!

I do have to show you what my mom dug out of the closet!  It's a Smurf radio from when I was younger.  One little wire is broke, but have to see if hubby can fix it.  Then we can see if it still works.  I know I also had a lamp, but she couldn't find that.  However she did come across a Smurf baby buggy for dolls, but I think that was mine and Sara's (sister) to share.  Too funny!

 

A Relaxing Sunday At Home

"Chilling" out at home on a Sunday.  We have no where to go......and no where we have to be.  Love days like this!!!

 Hannah just being smiley.

 Chey and Jack having a picnic lunch in their fort.

Chef Jack's afternoon project.  Cooking ribs over the fire.

An after dinner  family game of bocce ball.

 And a very pretty sunset.

A very nice ending for the month of July.
Tomorrow we welcome August.
 

Swimming And Fishing

It was beautiful summer night so we packed up the kids, the fishing poles, and headed to Long Lake (in the Kettle Moraine).  Had a good time and enjoyed ourselves completely!

Fishing 101

Hannah got the most worms eaten off of her hook for the night, but no "big catches".

Day # 2 of the little bruisers recovering from his bicycle accident.  His cheek is still a bit swollen.  Says he can "feel it jiggle up and down" and "sort of hurts" when he runs or bends over.  He also says his back teeth still are "kind of sore".

No bites for Cheyenne, but a turtle followed her and her pole wherever she went.

The kids got a kick out of how cool the air gets in the evening and how warm the water stays.

Wipe Out!

Our first bicycle accident of the summer which I think is pretty good considering it is almost August.  Luckily the little guy is tough!

Jack-jack took a header!

The side of his face took the brunt of the fall.

He's pretty skinned up, bruised up, and swollen, but nothing is broken (as far as we can tell).

Creativity In Motion

It has been a very warm past week plus a few days--as it has been all over.  

We have been laying low at the Krell house.  We have no air conditioning, so we have been sitting in front of fans, underneath the shade trees, or playing in the little pool to keep cool.  Needless to say it hasn't been very exciting around here.

Today again it is another warm and sticky day.  It being cooler indoors made the kids put their creativity to work.  Not really sure what they are going to make they use (recycling) cardboard and the hot glue gun.

Their final products....

 

Jack and Hannah made a spaceship.  Cheyenne made a double decker bus for her Barbies.

Operation Determined Cookie

Of course when you don't have an oven (in working order) is the time you totally craaaave something that requires an oven to make.  We've reached a point where the cravings led us to a more creative way of thinking.

Since the sun was shining and the day was about to get warm, we reverted back to our fourth grade science lessons on alternate energy.  We grabbed ourselves a cardboard box, some aluminum foil, and a sheet of glass.  Cheyenne (our little baker) whipped up a batch of cookie dough, dropped spoonfuls on a cast iron griddle, and we tried out our homemade solar powered oven.

As we wait for our cookies to bake we are even more determined than before.  We will have those yummy chocolate chip cookies before the sun goes down!!!

After one hour of progress.  Our oven is definitely working.  Looking like cookies.

After two and a half hours we have ourselves a delicious plate of freshly baked cookies (and another batch in the oven).

Our oven worked!  

It does take more time than using the conventional oven, but no energy other than that provided by the sun was used for baking.

"He that can have Patience, can have what he will”

-Benjamin Franklin-