Dog Days of Summer

We are loving the dog days of summer! The kids still can't get enough of the pool or Kings Dominion! This week we played with our friends in the Gills back yard as well as in our back yard with slip-n-slides, baby pools, sand boxes, and swing sets. We also visited our pool and Bebe's pool and the park.

Also, this week is Grace's vacation bible school and the theme is "Kids Give Back". Kyle, Riley and Tracy attended on Monday and only Riley though the rest of the week and she has had a blast! Aside from fun activities including coloring, singing, dancing, obstacle courses, bubbles, painting, and of course bible stories, each day the kids do a project to help someone else (the American troops, Ashland Convalescent Home, Kids Community Outreach group, the Food Bank) Great Job Ladies!
Enjoy the pix:

Riley rollerskating in the garage

painting rocks outside

TAZ!! Every one's favorite cat

Kyle loved the slip-n-slide but his pants wouldn't stay up!

Riley is over her fear of the water and even loves the slip-n-slide

(that fear was sooo last year!)

Riley dancing at "kids give back"

(notice: no dress... I got her to wear shorts all week since

the kids run around outside for 2 hours!)

The entire KGB crew! excluding all the amazing organizers and Hank the Handyman

Kyle getting his groove on:

Splishin-n-splashin

I should have learned my lesson already, but once again I'm behind by a couple weeks and they have been FUN weeks! We have gone to Kings Dominion a few times - once with Darcy and Lexa, once on our own, and once with the Best's and Haley's and had TONs of fun each time! Kyle talks about roller coasters constantly and both kids have gotten crazy in the water!

We have also frequented our pool and Bebe's pool - both kids are little fish and love jumping in. We also visited our friend Caroline's pool and volunteered with the MOM's club to work our won Anthem Lemon-Aid stand at the club house. Riley loved getting "customers" and our club raised over $200!

Of course we also had playgroup a couple times with all our buddies and had playdates at our house with a few different friends and Lexa. Riley also had a pool birthday party, we had our friends the O'Sullians over for dinner, and we all visited Lewis Ginter with the Sproulls to see the butterflies! But all of this can better be told in pix! Enjoy!

Lexa, Kyle, & Riley in the wave pool

Riley at the water area of Lewis Ginter

Riley, Molly, and Kyle at LG

Riley and Molly exploring the gardens at LG

Kyle checking out all the butter flies at Lewis Ginter

Riley checking out a butterfly!

Jeffery, Molly, Emory, Kyle (with football) and Riley at LG

Kyle at KD - Kyle hung with Tracy and the babies (Ben 9months and Jake 1.5 years) while the "big kids" rode the flume ride with all the other moms and dads.

Kyle, Eric, and Riley

Ri is up front with her hands up - Kyle (also hands up)

and Eric in the next row and Julie and Ruthie behind them!

This is Cerys holding her Kyle manikin doll... LOL!!

Kyle, Ivy, Riley, and Aiden working the Anthem Lemon-Aid stand

Ivy and Kyle on the see-saw out back

Kyle and Riley finally got that plane in the air!!

On the Eiffel Tower

Cerys and Kyle being silly

One more time!

Happy Birthday America! The Surratt's had a great weekend in NC with Grandma, Papa, Darcy, and Lexa. We took the boat out several times, spent hours at the pool, ate great food, saw wonderful fireworks, and even did some tubing! The girls loved to tube and can't wait to go back for some more!

Aside from a great weekend in NC, we also went to Kings Dominion with some friends last week and had swim lessons all of last week. Riley is totally smitten with her swim instructor, Zach, and is willing to do anything swim related once Zach is present or we threaten that he is watching. Her crush is a glimpse into the future, and we aren't sure how much we are going to enjoy the teen years:-) Riley continues to love wearing dresses and requests to wear a dress DAILY and now loves to have her hair french braided. Again, a bit of a look into the future...

Kyle is nearly healthy and has continued to love the water. His skin rebelled last week and he was covered in eczema but is nearly back to normal now. Today at the pool he stepped on a bee (possibly a hornet) and got a nasty sting. He hung strong and was quickly back in the water acting like a mad man!
Enjoy the pix!

The Surratts on Papa's boat waiting for the fireworks display

Grandma and the kids

Papa and Kyle

The trio before the fireworks

Kyle in his never ending desire to fly!

Riley snuggling with Grandma!

Riley on the tube with Tracy

Uncle Mike playing with Kyle at the pool

Riley and Lexa paying close attention to their swim instructor, Zach.