Brookville Lake

    With the weather still nice...cooler than average and sunny, dry...I decided our school week should include trips to places outdoors.  So, this week, I chose Brookville Lake (which I had heard about but never been to). 
   In our studies, we are beginning with US History as Leif Ericsson discovers land. Since most of the land was Indian inhabited at this time, I thought it fitting for us to travel the Adena Trace trail on a hike through the woods where Indians traveled in past time with their buffulo.  The trail also took us past an old Indian Mound dated 10 BC. 
   So, we set off...biking back to the trailhead...and then talking about all kinds of things as we walked....Indians, plant growth variation, snakes, birds, the lake, etc.  What a fun way to learn!

Then we headed back to the beach area and decided to go fishing...

 And then, we headed back up the road to the Overlook so the boys could see the dam area and understand the purpose of Brookville Lake...for the whole Ohio valley area! 

A FUN day homeschooling for sure...!!!!

Golf

 As a reward for not sucking his thumb...Joe got to go golfing with Josh.  He thoroughly enjoyed driving the cart, putting on the greens...

 ...and, of course, the ice cream cone afterwards!  (see it on his nose, too)

Joe loves a "family game" of anything

 This day...it was football.  "Can we maybe play a family game of football today?"
Joe was all game.  Jake was all giggles...listening to Josh's random hike calls ("Hey, lady in green shirt..hike, hike!)

... Dad is still a stud player...

Little early contact by Joe (often)

...but always smiling...

Debbie's 60th

  We hosted a party for Debbie's birthday.  Rachel used her genetics and her work at KB foods (the cake line) to create a beautiful cake for Debbie.

Got to get the recipe for this cute little dip, too. (Greek yogurt with chocolate chips in it?)

House stuff

  So in the midst of working on the garage, we discovered the septic was about to back up. Fortunately we designed it so we could easily remove our deck steps to access the tank. 
  However, when the guy came to empty the septic, he indicated that the style of tank meant there was a second tank right next to the first. 
  So, we move a couple rocks and started digging...right to our drain pipe for the water softener and gutter(which had already been there and we just tapped into it) ...and about 4 inches down from it was the tank lid.
  Jack cut the pipe (Josh was finishing drywall sanding so I could paint) and made a removable bracket at each end of it in case we need future removal.

    Here is the finished garage...

July...this and that (catching up...)

Swim Award Winners

high point for 6 and under ... rookie of the year for boys on the team

A warm humid morning (haven't had many this summer)...pulled out the slip and slide

And filled some water balloons...

The boys have been WAITING for the chance to mud again...finally had their chance in the garage!

joe was taking a snack break

 Jake now reads to Joe...and they both love it...for now...

This was Jake's creation (an original) for a 4H project...a camp scene

Stopped to take this shot b/c it happens often...the boys barely finish breakfast and hover over books looking at pictures and enjoying re-"reading" the story by looking through the pictures...

I feel very safe in our house...(never know where these guys are gonna show up)

 After our picks from the blackberry patches...