Past Due Catching Up- July stuff

I kept thinking there weren't but a handful of pictures or things we have done over the past several months (besides Christmas) but as I went through things, there was much more there than I realized. 

So here are a handful of things from JULY~

Part one-  my friend Ruth has a laundry detergent business.  She makes an all natural product called Selestial Soap.  She has been a great friend to me over the past couple of years and I love her to death!  Anyway-  she got her hands on an old fashioned wringer-washer.  I was keeping a couple of kids a little bit over the summer and Kelly is autistic and his favorite (obsession) thing is washing machines.  So they were in HIGH heaven!

Filling her up with water from the hose!

Loading some sheets to be washed

 Watching the agitator moving around

the boys checking out the motor underneath!

Kelly and Macy checking out Ruth's laundry detergent in one of it's stages

time to pull it through the wringer to squish the water out!

It really was a fun thing to do-  we hung them on a clothes line to dry.  In some ways, I would almost prefer to do laundry this way!!

 

 

So moving on to....  Special Needs Kids Day at the Cherry Festival!

We went to the Festival a couple of times but never really took many pictures- Stacey and I took the three kids down there though on that day.  It was really cool- everything is free for the kids that day and they have LOTS of stuff set up specifically for them! 

 

took the shuttle into town

 Stacey and Macey

Caelan in his sunglasses, waiting for the bus

 Caelan fed the camels and goats some carrots- no fear!  (I am not a fan personally!)

Great big bubble wands

and then a little basketball...

 

 And that great big smile above??  Watching this kitten below!

I couldn't believe I got him to ride the ride-  I think only because it was a TRAIN!

And of course... having Mommy right beside you must be a comfort too!  I loved him having his little hand on my leg the whole time!  So sweet.....

 

 

Next up..... Friday Night Live in downtown Traverse.  During the weeks after the Cherry Festival is over and before Labor Day weekend, Traverse City has Friday Night Live downtown-  they shut down several blocks of Front Street and have music, vendors, etc.  It's always just a nice way to get out as a family and enjoy where we live!

 



 



Fishing Game with Daddy...

And we caught a....

BALL!  :)

This girl did face painting-  and with Caelan being so particular about things, we were REALLY surprised that he let her paint his face-  and actually finish it! He sat very still and patiently while she painted a "red racecar" for him!

 Here is the finished art work!

 Checking out the beautiful caterpillar that will turn into a butterfly!

 Petting a chicken

 This school bus moved all around, had moving eyes and would talk to kids.  He wasn't quite sure about it-  but he did go back to it later.

A little break for some Cold Stone Creamery ice cream.... yummy!

 And then LOTS of fun with musical instruments! 

and on our way back down the street-  he started running back toward that school bus! 

 

And here are a couple of random pictures... 

 

He came across these 'listening ears' that he made during his first week of school LAST YEAR and of course looks super cute wearing them.

 and last (for July) but definitely not least-  Bear!