Monday, June 20, 2016

Summer Slackers? Not a chance!

So far this summer, the only changes are that I don't pack lunches every morning, and we don't have to meet the bus after school.  Other than that, we're still as busy as ever!

Jackson has been super-busy with baseball on three out of the four weekends this month.  The last tournament felt like they were playing inside a sauna, and it did not bode well for our team. 
#7 did get to play a little bit of first base again, though.  Every now and then it's fun to switch things up, and this kid has always been one heck of a first baseman.

Lila and her Bumblebees have been hanging tough against the older girls this summer.  So far their new uniforms have not helped them win many games, but their luck is bound to change soon.  This past weekend she had a game at the same time as Jackson's first tournament game, so we had to divide and conquer.

By Monday morning these kids were super excited for a great week at Vacation Bible School.  Mandy was their crew leader this year--lucky girls!

While the big kids played at VBS, my main most shopping buddy was busy helping me get groceries for the week.  Note to Albertsons:  small shopping carts = double shopping time!
Jackson and all his buddies were in the Blue Thunder group again this year.  They brought money every day to donate towards a water well in Africa.  Blue Thunder won the first day, but Purple Power won the second day.

Since it was also the week of my dad's birthday, as well as Father's Day, little Miss and had to do some real shopping, too.  But first, we made some time to meet friends at this splash park.
There's always time for a some water fun.  She loved it.
On the first day, Cole came home with us and Lila went home with Madison.  The second day, Jackson went home with Cole and got home just in time for our pool party with the Baldwin and Fudge families.

By then, it was pretty darn toasty outside, but these kids didn't seem to mind one bit.

This is what their moms and I should have been doing, instead of sitting on the back porch sweating:)
Wednesday was another good day for the kids--Mandy sent me this pic of Lila doing some sort of water relay race with her crew.  Hot, but happy, girl!

It was my day for bringing home this good squad.  So with the help of my mom, we loaded up all 7 boys, plus Madison, Lila and Cami, and came home.

The boys chowed down on pizza, then got ready for some serious pool action.
 

Ian, Corbin, Cole, Maceo, Cooper, Jackson and Ethan = Water Maniacs!

Let's do this!

It was Cami's nap time, but there was no way this girl wasn't going to swim first.  She hung out in the hot tub for a while, and kept hollering, "Hey Cooper!  Come get in the hot tub!"  When I told her that he was playing with his friends, she told me, "but he's my friend."  He's such a sweet kid, that he actually got in the hot tub and hung out with her for at least 15 minutes.
Gotta love good kids.

The boys played basketball...
and the girls stayed out of harms way.  

Later on, they had all sorts of diving board contests.  Go Maceo!

Corbin did his front flip a time or two, and it was impressive every time.  Wow!


The last boys left at 4:30, including Jackson, because he had baseball practice that night.  A few hours later, we were celebrating at Campisi's with Boom Pa for his birthday.

"Take my picture, mommy."  A girl after my own heart.

I'm pretty sure that my dad felt the love that night.

After dinner, they brought out his cake.  Happy Birthday to Boom Pa!

It was a fantastic way to celebrate his birthday.

Only 11 hours later, Jared and I were on our way to the airport.
It had been a very crazy three days, and we were ready for some R&R.  Oregon, here we come!

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

We heart summer

By Wednesday last week, it was finally starting to feel like summer.  We didn't have any appointments to be at--our agenda was simply have fun!

The Pointers arrived first and it was so good to see them!  Presley let Lila ride on her shoulders...

Temple visited with Cami...

and Teagan hung out with Maddie and Lila.

I got a few pics of my youngest bathing beauty before she began her 100 jumps into the pool!
This kid loves to swim.


The big kids had chicken fights...

and it wasn't always the biggest ones who won, either.
Teagan and Maddie defeated Presley and Jackson two times in a row!

Madison kept her winning streak alive by capturing another victory a few minutes later.
She's a force!

A little while later, more friends joined us.  Now our whole Florida 2016 group was complete! 

The boys are just a wee bit outnumbered.  Carter and Jackson are going to have to recruit some other buddies on the beach.

But baby Matthew says he's cool just chilling with anyone for now.
These girls cannot wait to hang out at the ocean all day long.

Who loves summer?  We do!

It really is the most fun part of the year.  No doubt about it.


Sleeping like a baby

One of the best things about summer?  Sleeping in!

Those sweet cheeks.  Those curls.  Oh my word.  It doesn't really get much sweeter.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Peace Out, Third Grade!

Good grief!  This year was the quickest one yet.  Jackson hit the jackpot with his teacher this year. She made learning FUN again, and kept this kid challenged, too.

That's no small feat for this kid.  He got this on the last day.  It should have read A+ Honor Roll.  His lowest grade was a 95, but he averaged a 98 in Language Arts, 98 in Social Studies, 98 in Science/Health and 99 in Math.  He's a rock star!

Poor third grade didn't have anything awesome planned, like the box car races, but they did enjoy just hanging out with their friends.  Jackson gets a kick out of Charles...
and he will dearly miss his best bud Ben after he moves to Utah this summer.
They did play Skittle Bingo and this Beach Ball game.  Jackson's question, "what was your favorite school lunch?"  Ha!  He has only bought his lunch one time.  Ever.  It was this year and was because he was in trouble for being disrespectful to me.  In order to illustrate the point that I do so much for him (like make his lunch every day), his daddy gave him $5 to buy his lunch.  He got this look of fear in his eyes, teared up and said, "but I think it might be salad day!"  Oh my gosh.  Who knew that fear-of-eating-the-school-lunch would have such an impact?  He straightened up, though!  And in fact, it was nacho day, not salad, as he had feared:)
Woo hoo for the last day of school!
After popsicle time in Kinder, Lila joined Jackson's class.  
We went outside for their popsicle time, but the boys just ended up playing basketball.
I think it was 15 v 15.

Before noon we were out the door and headed to lunch at Gloria's  The sun was out and the smiles were big!  Cheers to a fantastic year of school!  We ran a few errands, grabbed some cookies for the Third Grade party, and then went home to get Cami,
 
The Bartons go all out for this end-of-school party every year.  This year's theme was the emoji's, so they got these fun signs to welcome the kids.


These kids were thrilled to be able to spend the afternoon in the water.

They were usually running around, but I caught them on break in the hot tub.

Lila was so happy to have some sweet girls, like Olivia, to hang out with.

Perfect stair steps, plus Corbin behind them!

It's good to have good buddies. 


Lila stayed with Cami on the sun step for a long time.  

Madelyn joined them soon after and was so great and keeping Cami out of harms way from all those crazy boys.  She even tossed Corbin and Tucker into the pool when they got too close!



The rain held off for most of the day...

and all of the kids were so thankful.


I can hardly believe that this boy will be in 4th grade in a few short months.  

It seems like only a few months ago these goofballs were walking into Kindergarten for the first time.

Before we know it, these babies will be arriving at school with their backpacks!

They'll be just as precious on that day, I'm sure!

Blog Archive