Summer Break: Week One

Our first week of summer break has been fabulous! I didn't take pictures of everything we did this week, but we spent lots of time with cousin Mary, found free and cheap activities everywhere ($1 movies, kids eat free at Ikea on Tuesdays, and concerts galore!), checked out more books from the library, had our music lessons, visited museums, went to two concerts, and got outside to ride bikes and play, despite the heat.

The boys started swim lessons again this week. After swim, it's fun to play at the covered playground next to the rec center. They pretend to be spiders in the web. I'm the fly, so I get captured and eaten!

The Houston Symphony had a free community concert at the middle school close to our house. There was no way my music-loving boys would miss that! The instrument petting zoo is always a hit.

The MFAH's summer Art Detectives program for kids is fantastic. You search for specific art works, learn about the art (this week we learned about portraits), and then do some sketching in the galleries!

We spent our visit at the art museum with Henry's buddy Ainsley.  

The art program ended with a concert by Paragon Brass Ensemble. They were fantastic and completely won over the boys when they played Sousa's "Washington Post March."

We also visited the Health Museum.

The exhibit, "Backyard Monsters," is all about bugs 

and features several robotic bugs, like this praying mantis.

The boys are always up for the brain teasers in the main hallway.

We hadn't see this game before. Basically, you hook up sensors to the forehead and then try to relax. Whoever is the most relaxed sends a ball toward his opponent and wins. Henry was our winner!

And even though the heat of summer is upon us, we're still trying to get outside every day.

Fortunately, bubbles are still lots of fun for the boys!

The best way to replenish after an hour outside? With an ice-cold smoothie, of course!

Despite our busy days, there is still plenty of downtime at home too for games like Solitaire.

We love summer break!