Last lazy, hazy days of summer vacation

It's getting to be that time. I officially report back to work on Monday (although I've been doing lots of work all summer here and there), and the kids go back to school Tuesday. Reece is pretty blase about it; Greyson wants to run for the hills but is working his way toward acceptance. We did find out two girls Reece knows (one of whom he considers one of his best friends) will be in his class this year. No word on Greyson's closest friends, but there are so many 6th grade classrooms at his school, since it's the entire district together, that odds are not good and it doesn't really matter anyway. He spends so much time away from his homeroom that he sees them all enough one way or another.

So, how have we been spending our last days of freedom? Lots of time with the cousins, quite a bit on the computer playing non-educational games, and more time watching Netflix than I care to admit. Also, last Saturday Dan went to the Indians games with his cousins, Greyson went to a birthday party and the Browns' game, and Reece and I were left to fend for ourselves. Our choice - Wildwater Kingdom! I cannot recommend the season pass enough if you think you'd go at least twice, because it comes with free parking ($7 otherwise), and coupons for a free admission (1) as well as reduced admission (2) for a friend. Except for Reece (being under 48" tall), it cost the same to buy a season pass as it would have to go two times anyway. So, I just need to take Greyson once more to make it fully pay for itself and then some, since I used the free coupon for Reece last weekend. Have I thoroughly confused you? Oh, well. I would also like to say that it was fun for me to take each kid alone to the park, because we could just focus on what he wanted to do for once. Sometimes, the age difference is a bit of a problem around here.

We spent yesterday at the beach with my sister-in-law and the cousins, and I might take both boys back to Wildwater Kingdom on Friday for a last-ditch summertime activity, and then I fear we're on to feeling like it's autumn even if it isn't. We already did Greyson's supply shopping and are waiting to hear from Reece's teacher about specifics, since when I go with the generic list the school's website provides, I always seem to get not quite the right items and then I have to whine and flop about. We have enough of that going on around here without me adding to the angst.

I'm also following my pattern of not taking pictures, so you only get two today. Reece eating his dessert treat at the water park, and the full-size flag pole our crazy neighbors have put up (most likely without getting any sort of permit, but that's a story for a different day). The pole even has its own lighting but no flag yet. I'm afraid of which one it will be...