Monday moments - the 90 degree edition!

It was a hot week.  One of those weeks where we feel extremely blessed to live where we do.  When you have the lake this close - it can feel like every day you are on a beach vacation.  We took advantage of it this week and were at the beach or pool almost everyday. 

Lake Michigan is so warm.

Spencer participated in the Young American's Summer Camp for the week so these two had some daily bonding time.

On Saturday we went to the Young American's performance.  It is always amazing to see what a talented group they are and what they are able to teach the kids in a week.

When we got home we walked down to the beach to take a quick dip before going back to pick up Spencer after his second performance.

Sunday was rainy so we did a lot of cleaning around the house.  That is one thing that is easy to neglect in the summer when you would rather just walk to the beach and sit.  I also hauled out my sewing machine and worked through a pile of stuff that I had needed to mend.  Not a summer beach day - but nice to cross some stuff off the  to do list.

A glimpse into the goodness of June...

How is it almost the end of July?  We are trying to squeeze all the marrow out of summer and we are off to a great start.  Since my weekly photo share has been absent a few weeks...cough...cough...here are some of the June highlights. 

Last day bike ride to school.

Hailey and Ella's Girl Scout troop spent the night at the zoo.  The next day Evan and I went to pick them up and we hung out there for a while and saw the animals.

Taste of Muskegon with the fam.

Spencer went to Washington DC on the 8th grade trip.  His first time on a plane and my first time with part of my heart over a third of the country away from me.

Back to Taste of Muskegon for judgement day two!

Cousins came for a visit!  For the first time in a long time we got to spend Father's Day all together. We even had our nautical attire on.

  

Mira and Hailey participated in Trent's theatre camp so we had to come up with ways to keep Lainey and Evan entertained throughout the week.

A mini adventure to Grand Haven to buy some Shopkins and get some ice cream.

Mini golfing with a jet lagged Spencer and friend.  It was hot this day.  Ice cream followed mini golf and Evan almost passed out.  Interesting times.

A trip to tour the Hackley and Hume homes and paint some bird houses.

Six of the cutest kids on Earth at Grampa's restaurant.

The theater girls after their show.  They did great!

Party in the park for fun and dinner - and texting "get me out of here" if you are Spencer.

My favorite memory of this night is Lainey being cut off by the balloon lady for going back for a second one.  The hysteria that followed prompted Uncle Mark to ask "big Evan" to go stand in line and ask for a balloon sword for him (that was actually for Lainey).  Look at us working the party in the park folk! Ha!

Family running of the Seaway Run.  We all made it.  Not fast - but we did it!

More ice cream cause why not?

Cousins had to leave and the boys left for Scout camp.

Hailey and I had "Mommy and Hailey's week of fun!"

Mini adventure to Grand Haven.   Last year we didn't dare walk to the front of the light house for fear of being washed off.  She loved seeing the front of it this beautiful day.

Maybe not goodness...but this is happening.  Jaw expanders...

There are a lot of teeth in there that have to come down.

Family night at Scout camp.  Hailey was thrilled to see her brothers and daddy.

June was a lot of fun.  Are you listening July?  You have some big shoes to fill!

School's out for summer.

So it has actually been out for over a month but who's counting? I knew I would be disappointed if I tried to look back at the end of this year and didn't have my comparisons so here they are for my own peace of mind. 

I think it is pretty funny that my kids look happier on the first day of school then they do on the last.  I think we were just so tired and ready to be finally done that they were just over it - all of it.  Spencer and Evan look a lot older to me - especially my long haired hippie boy.  It makes my heart happy that Hailey didn't change too much over her third grade year.  Evan had braces put on and Spencer's long hair are the most noticeable changes in their appearances.

All three kids had amazing academic success at school this year.  Trent and I were thrilled to be invited to attend the middle school award assemblies for both Spencer and Evan.

They both got the same three awards.  Academic achievement which means they kept a 3.5 average or above all year.  Perfect attendance - which means they missed less than three hours of school the whole year.  Finally they both got the Sailor Pride award which encompasses - academics, behavior and attendance.  We were so proud of both of them.  

Hailey got Perfect Attendance for the year as well which as I looked back kind of blew my mind.  Not one of them was home sick this year.  Knock on wood to keep that streak going!

I can't believe that Spencer is off to the high school next year.  I hope he continues to be successful. His cumulative middle school GPA is a 3.7 and he participated in many extracurricular activities- track, cross country, the musical and even did a civic theatre production in his 7th grade year.  He is a smart kid and I am excited to see his next chapter.

Evan finished his 6th grade year with a cumulative GPA of 3.94.  He got all A's and a couple A minuses this year.  This kid and his brain never cease to amaze me. We got a letter early this summer saying he was accepted into Pre-Algebra which is a level up from what most of the 7th graders will take in Math.  He was involved in a lot of extracurriculars as well - the musical, Destination Imagination, cooking club, tennis club - and he goes into everything he does with such a take on the world gusto.  I just can't get enough of that kid.

Not to leave out Miss Hailey - as I said she didn't miss a day of school either.  She made such great strides in her learning this year.  She just needs a boost to her confidence - she can do anything - she just doesn't know she can.  We have actually been doing a lot of the summer learning curriculum this year - we need to keep those skills sharp!  We will see how long that lasts.