Summer

It's been a while so these pictures are from before school let out this spring.

Alex couldn't go back to school after a ceiling in one of the classrooms came down. So he had to do virtual school for the last two weeks of school. This is him doing gym on a yoga mat with matching pajamas. 

Alex hard a work at school. 

Evan decided on his own to try pickle juice right out of the jar. He thought it was good, but not something he wants a glass of. 

Eliza graduated from Shepherd King and got to be in the middle of the podium this time, like both brothers before her.  

Eliza and I made cookies for her teachers. She helped me fill the frosting outlines with icing. They turned out great!

Eliza requested a bath in my bathtub. Her dream came true and it was her first bubble bath. One of many in her future it seems. She LOVED it!

Evan wild strawberry hunting in the garden.

Found one!

Last day of school, summer here we come!

We went to the splash pad and the water was so cold the kids kept wrapping themselves in blankets and laid down in the sun to warm up.

Evan started piano lessons this summer. He's been doing really well and has played a few duets with his teacher and it's really fun to hear. 

I broke my big two walking up the basement stairs. My top of my flipflop folded down and my toe went right into the side of the step. I didn't want to go to the doctor, but Mike made me. When I got to the office and took of my shoe the assistant told me "You didn't want to come in with the toe looking that way?! Good thing you listened to your husband!"

Cute kids at the park after dropping off their brother at his sports camp.

Julie at church celebrated her 100th birthday. She is such a sweet lady and we all think she's the tops! She enjoys the kids a lot and loved all the cards we made for her.

Eliza planted a sunflower in preschool, we brought it home, nurtured it, and it grew to be taller than Mike and look lovely. Another nice thing is bees love sun flowers and finches. 

We finally bought a  grill this year. This was its maiden voyage with hotdogs.

Heading out to Ludington for a few days to visit Uncle Geoff and deliver his mattress. 

2nd stop at Culvers to get ice cream and split up the trip.

We made it to Uncle Geoff's lovely home.

He took us out on the dune with his brother to give us a tour and also let us experience going over giant sand dunes in a jeep. The kids couldn't get enough!

Ice cream, yes please!

Bye bye, Badger!

Visiting Pentwater one day.

Naps are so great, even on vacation.

We went for late night fireworks in Pentwater over lake Michigan. The crowds walking back were pretty crazy, but it was a nice evening for fireworks.

Dad came to stay with us this summer for a few days. We decided to take him to Greenfield Village.

I also took out my Daisy BB Gun and we did some target practice with cans in the back yard.

Alex got the first hit on this can.

Evan LOVES shooting BB Guns!

The kid didn't want to stop.

Loving our sun shade over our new deck.

Eliza loved her art class this summer. She dressed to impress.

We went with the Rowe family to see Lightyear, which was really good. Sad it didn't stay in theaters longer. 

We were blessed to be invited out with Alex's bestfriend from school family to go on a boat and the kids could tube. I think this was the highlight of their summer. 

Alex got a volcano kit for his birthday and we finally made it. We enjoyed watching it "erupt".

Eliza getting to pour the water.

Alex finally let me cut his hair. He didn't think I would leave it long on top. *eye roll*

Eliza is on two wheels now. She was very scared, but I hung on to her a few times but then she just took off and she's not turning back. This was our first family bike ride around the block.

The kitties came with us for the bike ride, they got to be put in a tree at the "Camp Fire" site.

Oma had kittens this year, and this is Muffin.

The kids really enjoy playing with Muffin.

Dad came to stay with us again and they got to enjoy looking through our new photo album and going down memory lane.

I harvested onions while dad was here and packed them up in panty hose for the winter. Dad was very impressed with my harvest.

My dearest friend Michelle gave us a frog dissection kit with a plastic frog. The kids really enjoyed learning about the organs of this amphibian. 

The kids have plum worn out the power wheel wheels. No worry we got some new ones to put on and keep the fun rolling.

Eliza had so many doll houses in her room that I decided to clean out her closet and make it her doll house area. She loves it, and I love having more floor space.

More fun on the boat and tube and doing YMCA! So much fun!

This cucumber got away from me and went to seed. It was hiding between the cucumber bed and the marigolds.  No worries we made good use of it and harvested some seeds.

We had the neighborhood over for our annual Cul-de-sac party, but this year we did an ice cream social. It was wonderful to see everyone and get to enjoy ice cream. Even got to meet a few of our new neighbors. 

Everyone brought a different topping, which was so much fun and the kids ate so much sugar. We love summer!!

The kids really enjoyed VBS this year at church. Mike found this great outfit from Aunt Shawn so Eliza had to wear it and take down the big bad Alex and Evan.

Yippy!

We took the Rowe boys to Greenfield Village for Jason's birthday. We rode the train and the merry go round and fed the fish and had a picnic. Great time had by all.

We headed to the library for an event they were putting on. While I stood in line for balloons they boys built this giant thing.

Pretty amazing!

They were last in line so they got extra special ballons. The boys got swords and Eliza got a unicorn.

Mike walked in to say good night to Eliza and this is what he walked into seeing... she was just staring out the window quietly. 

Carrot harvest, some looked better than others. :)

Eliza reading the little girls book at the library. We make up stories usually and sit with her for a bit before we leave.

We got to go to a super awesome birthday party for Jason. It was a scavenger hunt/activity/use your brains thing... it was great!

Eliza using her skills.

Been getting a lot of cucumbers this year. Enough to keep Evan happy with cucumbers, but even more to can for Mike. I've canned over 16qts of pickles this year I think. I've even run out of quart jars!

We visited Alex's new school and met his teacher. 

A fun reflection picture.

We also got to meet Eliza's teacher, which was Alex's teacher for kindergarten. We LOVE her and are so happy to have her again for Eliza's kindergarten teacher. 

This is how we find Alex all the time. This kid always has his nose in a book. He's taken to hiding from his siblings so he can read in quiet.

Eliza helping me do weeding.

Eliza with her sword at Meijer.

Evan looking great for Church.

Outside service for church means sunglasses.

After we got Eliza's room cleaned up before school started, she decided to lay everything out as a 'store' and sell us her items. Just what we needed.

Lunches are packed and ready to go for the first day of school. Water bottles and backpacks are all labeled and supplies are at school.

First day of school picture!

Alex's backpack is as big as him.

Round and round they go waiting for the bus for over an hour.....in the rain. Alex bus was an hour late when I called and noticed that they had forgotten him all together and were heading to school. So they sent another bus to get Alex and his Magnet friend and then they had to send another bus to Evan and Eliza because their bus was supposed to be Alex's bus after they drop Alex off at school. Which reminds me, I need to call Transportation. 

Alex was finally on his way to school and these two were ready to go.

Off they go. Eliza's first bus ride to school!

She had a great first day and made lots of friends.

No second day of school thought because a huge storm rolled through and Evan and Eliza's school doesn't have power. So instead they get to help me clean up the yard after all the branches fell.