School's out, the rain has finally stopped (after nearly a month of every day showers!), and it's been a busy couple of weeks as usual!  I posted the pictures from Keeley and Kaelin's ballet recital (picture folder #78), very cute rehearsal and show, but the months of ballet preparation leading up to give us about two minutes of stage time!  Still exciting and a great experience for the girls. The dance studio they attend puts on a terrific show and it's really cool to watch the groups from the youngest toddlers to eighteen year olds and how they progress from year to year.  Keeley and Kaelin are great on stage, regardless of the number of people in the audience (probably more than 500 for their recital night!). 

With the end of school, came me having to fulfill my promise to Keeley and Kaelin that I'd let them get bangs. I was dreading this, but they (especially Keeley) begged and begged. So, off we went to the salon and the chopping began.  Keeley wanted her bangs long so she could swosh them to the side, which sort of defeats the purpose of the bangs keeping hair off her face.  However, she seems to enjoy peeking through them.  Kaelin got her's a bit shorter, but I was relieved that they were styled and not too blunt. Both girls surfed the net before we went to the salon and choose what kind of bangs they wanted.  Keeley picked a picture of Sharpay (from High School Musical) and Kaelin picked a picture of Reese Witherspoon with bangs. You can see the cutting and the results in our picture folder #77.  

After a very long two weeks of nearly no activities and lots of rain, Kaelin had her first summer activity and went to the horse farm for a "Horse Lover's Day". She had an absolute blast and was so in her element learning all about horses, and riding them too.  Ainsley began her first experience with a structured class when she began at the Montessori Summer Camp with Aidan and Kaelin at the beginning of the month.  It's a perfect outdoors-ey program for all three of them and a great introduction for Ainsley to the school since she'll be beginning there in September.  There were only two mornings were she got a little upset when Jeff dropped her off, but otherwise she's doing terrific and is making lots of friends. The camp is from 8am to noon. Getting three of them out the door by 7:45 is very, very, tough!  Especially for Kaelin who likes to sleep in.  We've attended a couple friend's birthday parties this month so far too and that's been nice for the kids to reconnect with their friends.  Keeley is attend a partial day "camp" at the elementary school as well, it starts at 9am each day.  Each week is a different "class". So far she's had a Rock (not music...) class and has learned all about rocks & gems, minerals, the earth's crust, etc. She had an art class this week and next week is a cooking class.  She and her best friend Pooja both signed up for the same sessions, so she's in heaven.  As soon as the kids get home at noon, it's a quick lunch and then now that it's nice, into their bathing suits and in the pool!

Once again we enjoyed some awesome fireworks over Massapoag Lake this year.  We had a terrific spot on the beach to watch and the kids had a blast (maybe not Ainsley as she spent most of the time during the display peeking through her hands covering her face while I had my hands squeezing her ears tight).  The gang also enjoyed (way too much) fried dough. Of course, they are all famous for licking off the confectionary sugar on top and leaving big portions of soggy fried dough!  After spending way to much money on fireworks accessories (flashing lights, swords, etc.) we settled down on our comfy blanket to a great night. Keeley, being the holiday lover she is (any and every holiday), decided she wanted to gather a parade together at the house.  She wrote up invitations, officially gave invitations to each one of us and invited Nana, Papa and Auntie Kelly.  We had to march around the house and hold little flags.  Keeley had a set of games set up (all that she made up herself).  Nana brought red, white, and blue cupcakes too. It was quite a funny day.  Picture folder #76.

Work has been absolutely nuts as usual, I've been in Los Angeles nearly every week the past month and it's exhausting.  Everytime I say I can't possibly put in another 80 hour week, I do...Unlike working at a University where it always slowed down during the summer months, the medical center never slows down and the culture is 24/7.  (Randi, if you are reading this...I am hoping you are enjoying your retreat in Hawaii, because I don't ever think I will let you take another 4 week vacation again!).  Jeff started working from home again this month and is seeming to put in as many hours too. In addition, he's been working on the house again now that the weather is cooperating. Current project is burying our sump pump pipe and then grading the yard on the same side of the house that the pipe is on.  He was out digging basically from sunrise to sunset last weekend. It was completely exhausting just watching him. Of course the kids all want in on the dirt action and there were no less than 4 changes of clothes each day for all four of them (yes, sixteen outfits...).  Not to mention the caked dirt under 40 little fingers and toes. Why I didn't just wait until the end of each day instead of wanting clean children throughout the day is beyond me (and will NOT be a mistake I make this weekend...the less than 48 hours I am home before heading back out to LA again...).

The kids loved Grandma and Grandpa's visit during the fourth of July weekend (picture folder #75).  They've been looking forward to it since last summer's visit!  It was a true Christmas in July with them arriving with a car full of presents from the holidays and the last 4 birthdays for the little monkeys.  We are sure that we will not have to buy clothes for Aidan for the next year and the kids are all set for toys (until next Christmas anyway....).  The kids were sad that the visit is so short and by the time they really start to open up and be themselves, it's time for Grandma and Grandpa to leave :-(.  We made the best of the three days we had with them and had some perfect times just hanging out at home horsing around, playing in the yard, by the pool, and sandbox.  And, way to much restaurant eating was had that weekend (our bellies all grew!)!  The gang also enjoyed fishing by a damn down the road with Grandma and Grandpa. A couple tiny fish were caught, but none to fry up in a pan.

Hope you get a kick out of our new four folders of pics!  You may wonder, and think why on earth do we put up all of the pictures we take instead of just a select few.  It may take forever for you to download, may bore you, etc. But, believe me!  Out of all the pictures I put up, we have hundreds and hundreds more during the month that are stored away and not posted.  It is so, so, difficult to select the ones to post.  With the four kids we try very hard to get an equal amount of each for historical purposes and to capture all the little bits of their individual personalities (we hope they appreciate this when they are older!).