The Simonson's: School Is Out Things Will Slow Down

The biggest miss conception of summer is that things will slow down. For me I am always ready for the school year to be over so that we can slow down and live off schedule more, then the end of the school year comes and the schedule goes out the window and we live in what I would call mass confusion. I feel like I am constantly forgetting something and I just seem to be unorganized. So here we are already missing a week of blogging and having to catch up on a Tuesday night because I am two weeks behind. I am hoping to wrap some things up and get all (okay most) of my ducks in a row by Sunday. So let's get started with the week of May 16 through the 22.
We will start with some pictures I forgot to add from last week.

Rachel eating the steak bone from our new steaks

Becca is a little daintier.

Alec was not sure how to get the meat off and just kept chewing on the bone.

No he did not get to keep his hair like this. I told them to, "Try again!"

Monday we took Rachel to school then came home and finished up a few things before heading back to school for her AR party. Mrs. Dewey (neighbor Melissa) is the librarian at school and she took the kids if they all meet their reading goals this year they could slim their teacher and the principal. It was supposed to be an outside event but since it was cold and rainy they had to move it inside, the kids had a blast none the less. Rachel was so excited to slim her teacher.

Getting their slim

The teachers got silly string to spray the kids

The county Sheriff even got involved and got slimmed

The Principal

Mrs. Dewey

Tuesday we took Rachel to school then went to Jazzercise. It was weird for Becca to be back at Jazz on a Tuesday. We then went to walmart and came home to play in the sun that finally decided to shine. Wednesday was Rachel's last day of school and they got done at noon. She wanted to wear the same outfit as she did on the first day of school and have her hair done similar. Crazy girl! After school we came home and played then went to town and had Margarita's for supper.

Look how tall she is getting. When we moved into the house she was shorter than the bottom bowl of the fountain.

Rachel finally lost another tooth. Mommy had to pull it out but she made sure it was really loose before I pulled.

Thursday we got up and packed in the morning then picked up Babs and headed for Stuart and Atkinson. We dropped Babs off at Jim and Button's then headed out to mom and dad's. Mom and dad were on the way to town and then down to Katie's so Rachel and Alec jumped in with them while Becca and I looked for asparagus while we waited for everyone on the get to Katie's. The kids had a good time playing until it was time to go and stay at Sandi's house. Friday we hung out with Sandi in the morning then I ran and got Babs so she could watch the kids while Sandi and I went to the cemetery to watch dad and cop Rachel speak at a ceremony for fallen police man of Holt county. After the ceremony we headed to Norfolk to help Deb and Derric celebrate their 35 year anniversary.

Playing with Tanner and Jaidyn

"Mother May I"

Cop Rachel and Dad waiting to speak!

Saturday we got up and let the kids swim and play putt putt golf before going back out to the ranch to see everyone and celebrate Devan's college graduation. We then came home Saturday night so that the kids could spend some time with Mike before the week started and so that I could get my garden plants bought and planted before we left for branding.

Most of the Kohle great grand kids

Alec and his buddy Kole

My littlest golfers

Golfing like daddy!

Sunday I went to church and bought my garden plants while Mike spent the morning with the kids. Rachel had T-ball practice that night and then we watched a movie when we got home.

Monday we spent most the day outside working on the garden and playing. The kids enjoyed a picnic and playing in the water when they were not helping me plant. Rachel took the following pictures.

Herb garden

Carrot and radishes

Strawberries

Vegetable garden

Iris's

Hibiscus

Watermelon

Front flower bed

Tuesday I did laundry and mowed. It is so nice to be able to mow when I want and not have to get a babysitter. It is not so nice when Alec decides to take a 3 hr nap while I mow and work outside and then does not want to go to bed. So instead that night he stayed up with me to watch the storm come in. We ended up getting a lot of wind and some rain but no hail like they predicted we were going to have so not a bad storm after all.

The kids have been begging me to make Obleck (cornstarch and water) so I finally made some for them.

They each got to play for 30 minutes

Becca loved it and actually played with it for almost an hour

Wednesday Alanna came to play with the kids while I got my hair done and ran a few errands to get ready for branding. Rachel had T-Ball practice that evening and Alec and Becca enjoyed riding their bikes around the fields while Rachel was at practice.

Thursday we went to town in the morning and then had lunch with Mike. When we got home that afternoon I decided to clean the garage and then Mike called and asked if we wanted to go golfing so we headed to the course and enjoyed a nice evening of golf until it started to rain.

He is so proud of his own golf clubs

Friday we took off for the ranch for Branding. We helped Wanda get things ready and cleaned the lake place. Alec and Becca got to help move some cows around on Friday. Saturday we had branding. Everyone had a great time. Rachel got a bad scrape that ended up having a 3 inch sliver in and Alec got some bug bites but other than that this year's branding went well. We came home Sunday, the boys enjoyed a nap and I mowed and then Mike and the kids watch a movie while I headed to bed early.