What I am doing with my summer vacation -2015

I am so blessed to have a job where I can work more during the school year and cut back (to the hours I committed to work when I started this job) during the summer.

Mostly I am working 2 days 7-2:30 and one day 6:30-10:30.  It is awesome because I have a 3 day weekend most weeks and am home a bunch.

We hired a new audiologist, so I may even work less this coming school year than I did last year.  I will cross that bridge in the fall.

Carolyn and Joel both spent a week at camp (Catholic Youth Camp for C. and Mitigwa Scout Camp for J.).  Matthew skipped scout camp this year, but vowed to return next year.  His scout money went to Driver's Ed, so I was ok to have the savings.  This week Carolyn is at "Christ's Hands" missionary program at church.  She is working at a food bank during the day and doing fun Youth Ministry things in the evening.  I am sure she is having a great time.  This is the first year for a middle school version of this program.  (Matthew did "Faith In Action" - the high school version - during Spring Break the last 2 years.)

We are planning a trip to Chicago at the end of July.  During the rest of the summer, we are hanging out, spending time at the pool, having fun with friends, reading, biking (this is mostly Anna and Matthew), going on walks (mostly me, Carolyn as well).  The boys have scouts, Matthew has Marching Band and work, the kids are cooking more.

Cascade Falls (our cool water park)

This summer, I am walking a ton, thanks in part to my Fit-bit.  Anna's bike and my walking partner, Joelle, make this much easier than solo-walking would be.

I have been cleaning my house!  The clutter has to go!  This book and the author's blog have really motivated me!

 The 2 youngest and I created a special place under the stairs today after pulling everything out from underneath.  Here is the back of the closet (too dark to see well) - all the scout/camping stuff will now have a place of it's own.

Here is the front of the closet - a special fort-like play area.

In cleaning out this space we found a Birthday Card from Ken's folks - for Anna's FIFTH birthday.  Not sure how it got in the basement closet - but Anna was excited to have $20 to spend!  (She doesn't know how lucky she really is, because "back in the day" most of her birthday money went into her college fund.  Now she enjoys having some money to spend, although she said that she is going to save 1/2.)

In addition to cleaning - I am trying to get back into a budget.  I took $50 to the grocery store and was so happy to spend $46.37!  I was a little less proud when I returned 2 days letter and spent $65!  Still way less than normal and I  made 7 main dishes after the first shopping trip, which will hopefully prevent us from going out to eat in July.  Hoping to stay out of the grocery store this week.  Let's just say there was less preparation in June....and a bit of budget-busting!

In addition to cleaning and cooking a bunch, I read:

 This was a recommendation from Gretchen Rubin, the author of "Better than Before".  She has a blog where she recommends books and this was one that I actually bought from DEALOZ.com, since it wasn't at our library.  Joel is reading it now.  I will recommend it to all 4 kids.

Anna and I read:

 Now we are working through the other 4 books in the quintet.  I know I read the first book when I was a kid, not sure if I read all 5.

There you have it!  We are about 1/2 way through the summer.  (This summer is especially long for Iowa children due to the governor's insistence that schools start later this year.)

Pictures from Chicago to follow in a couple of weeks.