All good things come to an end....

 

Mike took a half day of work on Monday to come home and go bowling with us. However, the $1 lanes were under maintenance (little did we know), and we tried the other bowling place with a Groupon... but it was for a place in Texas... so $70 later... we had a lovely afternoon bowling. 

I saw a praying mantes coming out of Meijer. I might not have seen it if it wasn't pouring. I was hiding out in the vestibule area waiting for it to pass.

The rock tumbler has been hard at work. Changing the grit. I know the kids want more grit for Christmas so they can do more rocks.

Rocks are looking pretty good.

Eliza and Rosie enjoying some time in the window.

Evan found a three sided tree helicopter, it did not fly well. 

Eliza and I finally finished her jewel art unicorn. 

We headed to Evan and Eliza's Popsicles with the Principal events on Wed. and met their teachers and dropped off supplies.

3rd Grader at Scotch. Three kids, three schools, three buses.

After popsicles we went to dinner with the Douglass family and I got an offer to jump in the electric hummer, I of course accepted. I was surprised at how a 10,000lb car can get up and go as quick as it did. Evan was sad he didn't get a ride, so Mr. Douglass let him get in the hummer and raise it, turn on the three wipers, etc. Evan and I also measured the tires to see if my tire could fit in his tire as a rim... it could not.  

We enjoyed a sweet treat at the DQ in Keego, our first time this summer. 

Alex and I finally got to split a banana split. It was delicious, and Alex is an ice cream hog.

My cute Evan.

My garlic is all cured and ready for use.

Eliza and Evan made a pretty nice fort on the couch this week.

Rosie was hanging out with them.

The side view of the fort. 

We tried Applebee's for the first time and it was good. The waiter offered to buy the kids a dessert if they could figure out the riddle. The first one we knew, but the second we had to do some guessing, but we got it and they enjoyed their maple butter blondie. 

We had some good storms Sat. evening and we ended up seeing a really bright double rainbow right before bed.

On Sunday after church we headed to Sheiko to draw on the sidewalk for the first day of school. Eliza wrote "Teachers are the best!"

Evan wrote "Welcome back"

I wrote "Have the best year" and drew an apple.

We got a picture by the sign of Evan.

My 5th grader

First day of school. Ready to go.

Evan wanted to take a picture of Mike and I on the first day.

Rosie enjoying the wild turkeys in the yard this morning while Mike and I did a puzzle. 

Our puzzle. Looks easier than it was. 

Thank you for joining us this year. It was been fun and I hope to catch up with you from time to time this year. Take care for now.

New things and fitting in some last minute things

 

The kids pulled out a excavating rock kit...

and got digging. They got a bunch of cool rocks out of it. 

This is Evan and Eliza dancing in the grocery store to a song being played over the PA. They were swinging back and forth singing to each other. 

The kids all won free passes to the splash pad for reading 30hrs this summer, so we headed there for a twilight session. The clouds were amazing and the kids had fun too. 

Eliza had a friend join her on the adventure. 

This week we went to Middle School orientation for Alex. He got his schedule, his school ID, and his "new" used computer. He's ready for the school year. 

The school got new larger lockers over the summer, so Alex has to relearn how to use a combination lock. Fun fact, this year he gets to use a back pack to lug all his stuff around the school. 

After orientation we headed over to the Douglass's to enjoy some lake time. 

We introduced the kids to the movie Apollo 13. It was supposed to be a two night special feature, but the kids could NOT wait to see what happened, so they just went to bed late. 

This summer has been filled with new flavors. We tried three new mac and cheese flavors: Ranch, BBQ (too spicy for most of us) and Pizza. Alex also was trying out the mini mac and cheese bowls, turns out they are just a snack with the amount of pasta in them. 

Alex and Eliza tried sushi, Eliza said it was ok, Alex was ready to go to a full sushi dinner with me. Evan refused to try it, but he did smell it.

We tried the A&W Ice cream soda, which was good. And earlier this month we tried Verners Boston Cooler drink, which was also good, however I would prefer to just have an actual Boston Cooler. 

We finally made it over to the Wade's house for a swim and lunch, which was most delightful. 

After the Keego Block Party we headed over with the Robotics team to the Douglass house for a swim and just to hang out and catch up.

On Sat. Mike and Alex were away playing D&D, and Eliza was at a friends house so it was just Evan and I. We played trumpet together, learned some new card magic tricks, and made some Oatmeal butterscotch white chocolate chip cookies together before everyone got home. 

After church we headed back to the Douglass house, they might be getting sick of us, for another swim. This is Evan and Eliza putting on their life vests as a diaper to stay up in the water. It's pretty funny looking, but oh so cute. 

We had a dinner of make your own sandwiches followed by a show put on by the boys singing "Another one Rides the Bus" to the song "Another one Bites the Dust". 

Is it hot enough for you?

 

This week the kids and I were at our church VBS (vacation bible school) for the week. I helped with snacks, pre usual, so I got the kids visiting me while they were munching and playing outside. Evan helped Pastor this year and Eliza was in the oldest kids group.

Alex helped with crafts this year. He has been doing this the past two or three years. Keeps him in the air conditioned church and busy.

We did the story book trail at the library where you walk about a half a mile while reading stands that have a children's book page on it. It was a hot day for a walk, but it was pretty and I think I'll go back and pick some flowers/plants to dry.

I've been having regular visits by hummingbirds lately in the garden. I didn't remember them being so loud until they are right next to you. 

We also had a baby rabbit hiding in my garden. I have been wondering what has been munching on my green beans, and I do believe I found the culprit. Evan helped me "shew" him out of the garden one morning.

We also had a black swallowtail hatch this week in the garden.

Eliza and I thought it best to transfer it to a plant it could get nectar from and blend in. 

We headed to my Uncle Kevin's house for a Ernst Family reunion. While it was amazingly hot, it was a really nice event.

Mike and I enjoyed the breeze next to the garage....

While we watched the kids swim the whole day.

Evan asked this week to tumble rocks, so this is what we will be doing for the next month. It was far too loud to keep in the house, so it has been banished to the garage.

We spent more time in the water when we got invited to go tubing with our friends. The boys somehow got completely vertical, but were able to hold on and land still on the tube.