Guess What Alyssa Got?

Braces!!

(And yes, she picked green ones.)

She had the choice to get them right before school started or two weeks later. She decided she'd rather have them on for the first day of school. We think she looks super cute, and so far, the only downside is having to give up Laffy Taffy and Starburst for two years.

Fun at Ikea

I've decided Ikea has a little something for everyone: Fun things to buy...cheap snacks if you're hungry...even things to occupy your teenager...

...especially if he's in the mood to take silly pictures with his DSi...

...and has a good eye for the photo op.

I actually had to be the one to say "let's go." They weren't ready to leave.

Life's Better at the Beach

We always look forward to June for two reasons: 1) the school year finally ends, and 2) we get to spend a week at the beach with Jason's family. It's something we look forward to all year, and we are never disappointed.

After the last van load of cousins has arrived, we take a break from unpacking and run (literally) over to the beach to check things out. We always tell the kids not to get completely soaked since they're not in swimsuits yet.

Not sure why we bother since they all end up drenched either way. (And yes, this is my child.)

The next day we hit the beach en masse, and the fun really begins. The Mattingley boogie board collection continues to grow as more and more of the kids take to the waves. Here are Diego, Alyssa, and Corinne riding in together.

Jason with Courtney...waiting for the next wave

Tyler and Jordan with a plan...

...and later enjoying their sand couch with Alyssa and Corinne.

We also spend hours in the backyard pool. Here's a shot from one of the many pool baseball games. The kids use their hands to hit splash balls thrown by one of the dads. After they get a hit, they jump in and swim to designated bases around the pool. And it's always the entire group of kids against one or two dads. Some might call that unfair. The kids say it's all part of the fun.

Here's Alyssa performing in one of the many water contests of the week.

Anthony, Julia, and Courtney enjoying a ride on the giant alligator (which earned high honors as the best pool toy of the trip)

Baby Autumn looking glamorous pool side

Alyssa and Jordan enjoying the pool

Corinne, Diego, and Alyssa playing Toss Up outside on one of the decks

(This was their favorite place to eat dinner, too.)

Jordan and Tyler launching water balloons from the top deck down onto the people swimming in the pool

And here they are finally using their powers for good - trying to make ice cream. Everyone had fun tossing around the bags, but in the end, it was just too hot outside for the ice cream to freeze.

Question: What draws a crowd at the beach?

Answer: A stingray!

(It was dead but still pretty cool. And definitely the only way I'd ever touch one.)

Had to throw this one in. Here's me and what my sister-in-law calls my "trusty steed." This was about the extent of my pool fun this year. I had to keep my hand bagged (so it would stay dry) and elevated/iced (to keep the swelling down). Party on.

One of the best things about the beach is definitely cousin time. Here are Courtney and Julia hysterical about who knows what. It doesn't take much with those two.

The 16 little Mattingley beach bums

Rewind to June

So I've been a little negligent when it comes to blogging lately, and I'm pretty far behind, especially considering how busy the summer has been. And despite the temptation to do otherwise, I've vowed to catch up and get these memories posted. Truth be told, my scrapbooking fell by the wayside years ago, so sadly, this blog is now the main way we look back on our adventures. (Well, besides simply clicking thru endless pics on the computer...) So on that note, we'll jump back to June...

The music teacher at the girls' elementary school has the musical programs for the year assigned to specific grade levels, and it's the same year after year. (Some are more exciting than others.) Luckily for Alyssa, 4th grade means learning to play the recorder, and it's one the kids really look forward to - almost like a rite of passage. =)

(I should probably note that her concert was really in April, but I realized I forgot to blog it and threw it in here now.)

Then they put away their recorders and sang a few songs. (And no, Alyssa wasn't the only girl there, but she did somehow end up surrounded by boys.) =)

Here's Courtney singing at her concert. (This one really was in June.) Their school has a big International Night every year, and the 2nd graders are the designated entertainers. Despite Courtney's happy face, this would be one of the performances the kids don't get quite as excited about.

Note the attentive brother in the audience

Also that week was Jordan's final orchestra concert. And not just final because it was the end of the year - final because Jordan is switching to a different elective next year. It was a good two-year run, but violin just wasn't something he really loved. His heart belongs to the electric guitar.

The last week of school brought final awards ceremonies. Courtney received a special award for being the top reader for 2nd grade.

Then came Alyssa's award ceremony an hour later, and she received the award for being the top 4th grade reader! What a day!