Pool

Yesterday (Sunday), we decided to try one of the public pools in town. They have reduced admission on Sundays ($1 instead of $4), so thought it was a good time to give it a try. Dave and Greta went shopping and I took Maria and Raymond. We got changed and went to go to the kiddie pool. The kiddie pool went up to 2 1/2 feet deep while the big pool started at 3 feet. So we wanted the kiddie pool since Ray wouldn't be able to touch in the other and no flotation devices are allowed. Well, turns out the kiddie pool is free all the time! The lifeguards refunded our money and we were able to go to the kiddie pool..

.. for about 10 minutes, then it started sprinkling and Maria got cold :) But, it was worth trying it out and now we know that one is free and we can go again on a hotter day.

Nature Camp

The kids just finished a week at Quarry Hill Nature Camp. They went each day from 12:30 to 3:00. It was a nice for them to have some structured learning. And a nice break for me to run errands with Greta. I thought I'd get more done, but ended up hanging out each day instead of coming home since I didn't know if it was worth driving across town to come home and then leaving again to go get them when I had to get groceries and stuff anyway. It gave me an opportunity to spend several hours in Lowe's checking out window coverings (blinds, verticals and curtains - as I'm trying to update some in the house since all the windows have white mini blinds - boring), paint swatches (for a few rooms we want to get painted since they are still white, which doesn't look good with the white woodwork), lights (to replace the fixtures that are in the bathrooms), and ladders (since we need a bigger one). Spent a lot of time just browsing and looking at my options, but didn't buy anything. I feel that I need to make an informed decision and know all my options before getting some of these types of things.

The Fourth

Went home for the fourth of July. Went out on the in-laws boat to view the air show and fireworks over the Mississippi. Unfortunately, I was seasick and missed most of it :(
Raymond fell asleep right as the fireworks were starting. Maria fell asleep before the finale. Greta slept through them, and I was feeling ill and laying down in the cabin of the boat. Well, at least Dave enjoyed them..
Spent the 4th at the annual church picnic with chicken dinner for lunch. We ran into a lot of family (cousins, aunts, uncles, second cousins) and old school friends. Nice to catch up with everyone.

Water Park

We spent Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday at a hotel with a water park. Maria went down the slides, but they were a little too big for Ray. There was a zero-depth entry pool that was perfect for Raymond to play around and run in. There was also a circular pool that had 3 basketball hoops. I even dunked it (once).
We spent 2 days in Madison. Checked out Henry Vilas Zoo , Madison Children's Museum and Wisconsin capitol.
It was a fun side trip on our way to the folks' for the 4th.