On weekdays this summer, my kids have had five responsibilities to do each day:
1) Do a household chore
2) Do pages in their "summer learning" Brain Quest workbooks
3) Practice the piano
4) Read for thirty minutes (or, for Lucy, read at least one book)
5) Do something active
I have liked this last requirement of doing something active, because it has prompted us to spend time outside, try new sports like tennis, and spend time at the gym. I also want my kids to establish a regular habit of exercise. Lucy also started swim lessons this summer and she made some great progress with getting comfortable and putting her face in the water. She still has a long way to go and we will continue lessons this fall, but I'm pleased with the progress she has made.


These are all of the hikes that my kids went on this summer:

• Mount Constitution and Cold Springs (Orcas Island)
• Cascade Lake Loop Trail in Moran State Park (Orcas Island)
• Moraine Lake in Banff (to viewpoint above the lake and along the shore)
• Lake Louise shoreline trail in Banff 
• Hoodoo Creek in Yoho National Park
• Wapta Falls in Yoho National Park
• Ramona Falls at Mount Hood National Forest (I wrote a post about this hike)
• Trillium Lake shoreline trail at Mount Hood National Forest (shown in photo)
• Myrtle Falls at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park
• Grove of the Patriarchs in Mount Rainier National Park
• Denny Creek and Franklin Falls (we plan do to these on Labor Day)

I feel like this summer passed by quickly, like a dream, although as I have gone through photos I realize that we have done so much (not even counting our trip to the Weber in July). Sam also got to do a fencing camp, as well as a Lego/Chess camp. Lucy went to a Princess Camp at her dance studio.
We have had a lot of fun, and it's hard to say goodbye to the summer. Both of the kids are excited about the upcoming school year, though.

At the beginning of this month, J went to Provo for his cousin Colin's wedding. I had the kids with me, so I got substitutes to cover my tours at the museum. Since we didn't have any obligation to be in town, we drove south to Portland to visit Mount Hood, the Enchanted Forest, and the Wa-Fol family. I also loved that we listened to Kenneth Branaugh narrate "The Magician's Nephew" while we drove (I highly recommend it - he does accents for all of the different characters and it really is delightful.)