"School's Out for the Summer" ~ A. Cooper

I'm sure you recognize the quote in the title.

Yup, around here school's always out.  But

there are some activities that are best suited

to summer.  You'll see those at the end.

Here's a June sampler.

Hunter likes the new Transformer airplane/blaster.
He takes on the dinosaurs single-handed.

If you haven't already viewed this video of

Hunter and the dinosaurs, take a minute now.

Or watch it again.  His sound effects are hilarious.

O-u-u-c-c-h!

Bri has collected a half dozen large millipedes from
our water meter.  She likes to visit with them every
week, but this is the first time she put them in her
critter box.  We released them the same afternoon.

Everybody just look natural, okay?

Evan proves he's man enough to handle the
Transformer plane, too.

Claire and Evan get a real kick out of my sister
Caryn's vintage fishing game.  We improvise with a
 couple of magnetic pointers in lieu of the original poles.

WOW!  I caught a big one! Is it purple or blue?

Evan pops in on Grandma and Claire to introduce
his new monkey friend.

The kids loved sitting on the trunk of the giant oak
tree the recent storm brought down.

Standing is pretty fun, too.

Grandma, I didn't know you were about to take my picture!

At least give me time to pose!

Ah, to be young and carefree!

Hunter was plenty impressed with the huge hollow
of the fallen oak tree.
(Editor's note: this picture was not taken in the fall,
but Bri and Hunter had just gotten out of the pool
and wanted to wear jackets.)

I'm going in.  If I'm not out in five minutes, come
get me, Son.

Tree huggers.

Say "AHH."  I mean say "CHEESE."

The Great Wallenda at work.
Hopefully not the Tumbling Talbert.

Don't get too attached to this tree.
It's in Grandpa's woodpile now.  But don't worry.
We've got an even bigger tree that fell back in the woods.

June is pool time.  Although Hunter and Bri

christened our new pool a day earlier, I didn't

have the camera.  So let's let Claire and Evan

show how much fun it can be.

Grandma, are you sure it's above 32 degrees?

Let's see, how much sugar goes in Daddy's coffee?

If this is Muscle Beach, I'm your man.

Do you know how much courage it takes to lie
down on your tummy in this ice water!?

And Mr. Jonah, if you're bad, we throw you
overboard, see?

Since when is Evan such a daredevil?
Since NOW, I'd say!

Claire was delighted we had kept the old pink pool
for a makeshift water slide.  Perfect form, too, Claire.

And perfect form for you, too, Ev Man.

More pool time coming up.
After all, today's just the first day of summer!