How The Skogs Spent Their Summer Vacation

This week marked the beginning of the school year and I figured this was as good of a time as any to help Superstar with what will undoubtedly be her first homework assignment, "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."  Let's Find out.

Skog Girls On Stage

Superstar had her annual dance recital in early June.  Luckily the dance recital gods favored our family this year and both of her numbers fell in the first half of the program.  I realize it's poor etiquette to leave early, but as much as I love my girls I'm still not quite to the "Sit through 60 numbers in a hot auditorium for 4 hours in June" stage of love.  Maybe someday, and yes I am certain that I just jinxed next year's recital schedule with those comments...







Not only did Toots and Rockstar have to dress up and wear fancy costumes to Superstar's recital, later in the Summer they had their chance to sing on stage at a Jeppson (Wheels) Family Reunion. Wheels and I didn't sign them up thinking they were too shy but come showtime they grabbed the mic and hopped right up and sang. Toots gave us a reverent rendition of Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam while Rockstar brought the house down with a 3 min plus cover of the Spongebob classic Best Day Ever.  To her credit, Superstar also performed I Am Like A Star that night but there is no recorded evidence.  You'll just have to take our word for it that she did just as well as her little sisters.





T-Ball

Superstar, Toots and their cousins Max, Millie and Henry as well as some neighbor friends formed a team this summer, The Mighty Blue Raptors. Toots was probably just a tad too young to play as she spent much of her time flirting with her male teammates but she did win the award for most adorable in the league. Superstar started off the season well but her swing somehow declined over the season and morphed into what Coach Erik described as a baseball version of Charles Barkley's golf swing. The season was somewhat of a bust because the kids only wanted to bat and spent their fielding time sitting down in the infield. Papa J was disgusted at this new, "Everyone bats, nobody gets out" type of system and frankly, so was I. Next year we want the real deal - learn the game and the rules, you get out, kids crying as the umpire calls them out on strikes, you know, the good stuff.







Superstar Rides a Bike

I'm not sure if I should be proud or disgusted because Superstar was two years ahead of the pace established by her father. I am all for being an overachiever at certain things but balance, irrational fear and coordination aren't on my approved list. Lucky for Superstar she takes after her mother and those things are Wheels Family approved.



4th of July

We spent the night of the 4th of July in usual fashion - bbqing and lighting off our Costco meats and fireworks. We later discovered how to really celebrate the 4th. My sister Kristine's neighbor owns a firework stand and after the holidays he lights off his excess inventory. With the relaxed laws this year it was quite a spectacle - 4 aerials going off at a time for nearly 90 mins. Honestly it was better than most city shows and would highly recommend it for next year.



Toots Gets A Haircut

Always the fashionista, Toots decided it was time for a fresh look and Wheels herself chopped off her young locks and gave her this nice bob cut. Superstar also went to a salon and got a 'real' ie: Non Wheels haircut but as usual there is no recorded evidence of this event. Can't wait until she gets older and hates us.



Best Summer Ever

As previously seen, when Rockstar wasn't watching Spongebob this Summer she spent the rest of her time singing his song.



Bear Lake

Wheels' youngest brother returned from his mission in Uruguay and this allowed her family to have nearly all of the family together for the first time in many years. Andy and May didn't want to travel for some reason so they missed out. Oh, right - May was only 40 weeks pregnant at the time, fine, I suppose that is a good enough excuse. Well, they were missed as the rest of us spent half a week at the mulch beach, on the water, or stuffing our faces while we sat on the deck overlooking the lake. Speaking of food, the Wheels family ate the entire dozen bratwurst I grilled and I've never been so proud to call myself a member of their family.



Summer Fun

Well that about does it for the report. It was kind of an odd and strangely stressful Summer but one day we'll look back and wish we could do it all again.