The Playground is My World

Daddy put up a playground in our backyard this summer. We actually bought the playground last summer, but Daddy warned us that it might take a few weeks to put it together. Over a year later, it's finally done.

Getting it together wasn't what took so long. It turns out we don't have any flat spots in our backyard, so we had to make one. First, we built a retaining wall, carting 150 retaining wall blocks into the backyard one wheelbarrow at a time. That took a few weekends (spread over a few months). Next, we had to fill it in with fill dirt. That took a few weekends, too. When that was done, we were finally able to start building. It was pretty quick from there. Of course, now it's too hot to play on the playground... but in a month or so it's going to be great.

To the Lighthouse

While we were in Florida, we went to the lighthouse in St. Augustine. (Apparently, it's haunted, so we went in the daytime.) They let you climb up the stairs in the lighthouse. It's a bit of a hike. You have to be tall enough for them to let you climb up. McKenzie and Josie weren't tall enough, so I went up with Moms. When we got back down, Dad wanted to go up so I went up again with him.

I was careful not to spit from the top. I didn't want to hurt anyone with my projectiles.

Beach Bummin'

We went on a trip last month to Florida. We stayed with a friend at their family's beach house and bummed at the beach most of the week. We all boogie boarded (I like to boogie), except for Josie who just wanted to stroll up the beach toward the horizon.

We took a little break from the beach to hit St. Augustine. We hit La Herencia for a Cuban breakfast and then infiltrated the Castillo de San Marcos there (an old Spanish fort).

It was a sweet trip. We got to hang out with friends and work on our tans. A great break before heading back to school (next Monday!). More on that later.

Swim Meet

McKenzie and I are on a swim team this year. Lots of neighborhoods have swim teams and every week we compete against other neighborhoods. Yesterday was our first swim meet.

Neither of us won, but we both finished. Not bad, given that it was our first competitive swim.

Karate Kid

I've been taking karate lessons. Today I got my yellow belt. I graduated up from yellow belt with white stripe. Check it out. I didn't even have to sand the floor.

Justin's Greatest Hits

Put Me In Coach

I play T-ball. This is my first year. Saturday was my first game.

It's not your normal T-ball, though. The rules are kind of weird (it's a church league). The coaches pitch a few pitches and if you don't hit those, then you hit off the tee. The only way you can get out is if the other team catches it or if the ball beats you to first. There are no outs at other bases. Each team bats through their lineup each inning, unless they get three outs first, which is only theoretically possible at this level (we got the other team out once during the game... one more time than they got us out). Also, we don't keep score. Everyone wins.

I got to bat three times (games are limited by time, not innings). Each time, I hit it off the coach pitching. No need for the tee here.