Summary of Summer 2012

 So here we are, 3 months after my last post, and I am TRYING to get back into the swing of blogging....for Eli & Anna's "online scrapbook" sake!  My plan is to blog monthly but for the summer, this is one MASSIVE post of pictures.  Pictures, with some captions, but definitely out of order.  Seems blogger deemed it necessary to make blogging MORE complicated and won't allow you to upload in order or move pictures.....who runs that place anyway??  Regardless, here it goes!

This summer we.....

...watched caterpillars turn into butterflies!

...Miss Anna had 4 crowns put on her deteriorating molars

....took a vacation with the Clarkson family in Branson....our first vacation!

....played at the Lego store in Branson

...Eli had his creation displayed!

....went go carting

...saw a show!

....attended Grandpa Bidney's retirement party in Iowa

....played with cousin Katelynn, too!

....played in Grandpa Bidney's pool

....took our first bus ride to attend the Iowa State Fair!

....looked at Fairy Houses

....and played in forts!

....found a fun bowling alley

....and at yummy Yogurtini after!

....payed at the library

....and earned free books!

....frequented Paradise Park

....and did fun crafts, learning, and cooking at home!

....Dragonfly Daze at George Owens is a yearly favorite!

...attended a Royals game in the heat

....and the Dinosaur exhibit in the cool of Crown Center

....and of course ate chocolate at the chocolate factory

....we attended Popsicles in the Park every Tuesday

....had fun times with friends

....and more time in Iowa!

...Eli jumped off the diving board for the first time!

....had a fun 4th of the July with A LOT of fireworks to watch AND make

....met puppeteers in the park

....Eli attended Vacation Bible School

....we went to a nature center

....and played at many a fun park

....remember we went to see fairy houses?  We built our own, too!

....we danced to Dino O'Dell

....and built our own forts, too!

....George Owens story time

....and a building workshop for Eli!

....played with neighbor friends

....and Eli tried out a few sports....basketball camp....

.....and t ball!

....we went to Legoland

....and fed the ducks at Waterfall Park a time or two

....Eli continued his weekly gymnastics class....which he LOVES

....and rode our bikes a lot!

....ate ants on a log

....and rode a carousel and did activities at Bass Pro

....enjoyed Father's Day with dad

....and swam in Grandma & Grandpa's pool

....Anna let cousin Sammie braid her hair

....Eli expanded his chalk drawing skills

....had gooey fun at Popsicles in the Park

....and shook shakers to the beat

....Bass Pro crafts were a lot of fun

....only at Bass Pro!

....more Paradise Park fun!

.....Anna became a little mommy

.....and we loved being outside in the cooled down evenings

While it was the hottest summer we have had in awhile, we made a lot of great memories with family & friends!  The summer of 2012 was a good one for this Clarkson fam!