Summer Break: Week Three

Summer has arrived in Houston and it was HOT this week. We did get outside, but we mostly filled our time with playdates, library visits and other indoor activities. Here are some highlights from our third week of summer break:

The boys helped Daddy mow last weekend. Using a push mower is harder than it looks!

Tuesday mornings are pretty quiet at our house. The boys entertained themselves with their dress-up clothes. These are some crazy new looks, though. Henry is a tiger-magician-knight-superhero while Will is a cowboy-pirate-astronaut-Darth Vader. 

On Tuesday, we also said goodbye to Daddy, who left for London (but is already back!).  

He left us notes, which we found when we got back from music lessons. I love that his notes are about reading! (Gene and Henry have been reading Junie B. Jones together, and the whole family ends up listening and laughing.)

Speaking of reading, we are obsessed with books this summer (much like last summer!). We went to the library four different times this week. Will just plows through books like crazy, and I can barely keep up. This stack is just some of what he read this week. His current favorite series are Geronimo Stilton and Secret Agent Jack Stalwart, but he reads pretty much everything from picture books and magazines to nonfiction about electricity and mummies. 

On one of our visits to the library, we caught a Magic Tree House program. Henry was excited because he and I have been reading the series. We are on book 5 and he just loves it!

The program was fun because it incorporated music, science and books -- all things we love!

The kids got to explore the hands-on activities after the program. Will is making a tornado in the bottle. All the activities corresponded to a Magic Tree House book. 

At the library, we also checked out a FLIP kit called Butterfly, Butterfly. 

We've done them in the past and they are so much fun! The kit contains a book and craft activities (all materials are included). 

This kit was perfect because we talk a lot about butterflies at our house. We went to the butterfly center last week, check out Aunt Jess's caterpillars and chrysalises, and even found a swallowtail caterpillar on our fennel plant in our own backyard!

This week we also found a cicada shell hanging off the garage at Gramma and Grampa's house. Since we like to learn about insects, we decided to bring it on home to examine more closely.

Bug-loving boy!

When we do get outside, it's usually for a bike ride or pool visit. The boys were excited to go to the neighborhood pool on Wednesday after swim lessons. They are best buddies for sure. 

Cooling off in the water!

We were back at the MFAH for their summer detective program on Thursday. The boys learned about Pre-Columbian art and sketched in the galleries, and then we checked out the James Turrell exhibit. They love the tunnel so I knew they would love the exhibit, and they did! 

We've been talking and reading about optical illusions a lot this summer, so the Turrell exhibit tied in nicely with that, as did this mirrored sculpture in the sculpture garden.

And finally, we had a couple of fun playdates with good friends this week. Even though we don't get to see Chloe and Bella often enough, I love that these kiddos just pick up right where they left off and have the best time playing together.

Despite the heat, we sure are loving summer!