New for Summer!

I am way behind on event blogging, but while I have a few quiet moments this morning, before the troops awake, I thought I would update you on some of our summer adventures so far.


Titus worked his entire 2nd grade year to earn a LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 - this is a build able robot that comes with the software to program it as well. He has made a moving chomping crocodile, a shooter bot (a robot that moves and shoots 6 balls) a walking person like robot that he programmed to say "Hello, good sir" and has grand schemes for others.  It has been a great "toy" for him and we think right up his ally.  He and dad can be found at the kitchen table constructing and programming well after other little Hopkins' have been in bed.



Next, Tess had her annual spring dance recital.  She was the youngest in her class this year and so was adequately challenged, but just last night she told me "Mom, I really love dance." So, while she enjoys her summer break from weekly class, she will be ready to pick it back up in the fall - which means many more recital posts to come. :)  This season, I got to be a backstage mom. Those who know me well will not be surprised to know that that means I got to scrutinize the inter workings of the production and make a mental list of
all the ways it could be more efficient. ;)
Here we are with our little ballerina:

Before we got too busy, the kids and I took an afternoon to picnic and explore at our favorite spot at Lake Red Rock. Crossing those "Summer Bucket List" events off the little blue paper on the fridge!

Tess has been waiting for her ballet recital to be complete before accomplishing this long-planned event:

  The ballet-bun is over so about 10 inches came off just in time for cooler summer fun! (We think she looks like Lucy Pevensey from Narnia) She donated her hair again to "Beautiful Lengths" to be used in wigs for cancer patients.


Just for good measure, here's some snapshots of the little guys in some of their summer adventures:

Trace is a monkey bar champ, and they just added
some new 'just his size' ones at the wooden park.

Typical Trent - on our Lake Red Rock picnic.

More to come - but the three boys are up and going so I better wrap up... Have a great week!