Summer's Last Blast!

Last weekend - Labor Day weekend
-- the official end of summer!
Boo hoo !

We had one of the best summers!
While I worked until about 1 or 2 pm every day, Maddy
slept late, took the pup for a walk, tidied up the house
and watched a movie or show on Netflix.
Add to that her zoo crew duties and some sports camps
and the summer flew by!

Mads and I spent a ton of time at the pool -- not during the heat
of the day getting all sunburned, but instead in the evenings,
and we often had the whole pool to ourselves or shared it with
only a few others.

The last couple weeks, the weather changed and it was a
little chilly for August, but we were determined
and continued to hit the pool, even
with its shorter hours after school started.
We became such regulars that if we were a little late, the lifeguards
started calling to make sure we were on our way! :)

Labor Day was the last day of pool-time fun
 and sadly, our pool (club) is closing forever.

On one of the last nights there, I was
able to get these silhouette photos
with my iPhone of some folks going off the high
diving board!

We will really miss that place!

The July 4th Report!

We had a really fun 4th of July --

 hope you did too!

Now, on to the report.

Happy 4th of July!

This is the final year for our golf/tennis/swim club's 4th of July festivities

as the club is being sold. :( 

We are really trying to make the most of

its last summer season.

Clowns at the pool!

Maddy and I are hitting the pool a lot 

when the weather cooperates.

It was a little cool a few evenings ago - so 

besides us, there were 3 lifeguards and a Mom and little kid!

Nice to have it all to ourselves!

Noodle racing!

On to the 4th!

This place knows how to celebrate the 4th of July!

The morning starts with tennis and golf tournaments 

and then on to pool festivities!

Noodle races, big splash contests, lip sync competition,

and yummy food and drink!

Guy in the orange hat almost won the big splash contest!

Singing and Dancing!! 

The finale is 

4 skydivers landing on the golf course!

Getting closer -- no worries -- he missed the trees!

The last skydiver carries the flag and everyone sings

The Star Spangled Banner!

We celebrated a little at home too later with a few fireworks.

It's really much quieter and a lot cheaper then when the boys were Maddy's age!

I'm not saying who (both of them), 

but they nearly blew up a metal patio table and burned holes through the umbrella one year!

The 4th scared me a lot back in those days!  :)

Sparklers, a few artillery shells and some cracklin balls and our 

fireworks bill totaled only about $20 this year!

Good for us and good for our pup Muffy, who

was hiding in the basement watching tv and trying not to be too afraid!

We topped off the evening celebrating our country's freedom with a 

traditional bowl of red/white/blue rainbow sherbet. 

Go USA!