Monday moments...

A paper that came home in Hailey's backpack. 

Who knew there were so many consonants in allergic.  Bless her heart.

The kids got their school pictures back and I updated the frames.  I can't believe that Spencer's is three years from full.  Seriously - where does the time go?

I was so excited about the box I bought from Amazon for my oils.  More excited than anyone should be about oils.  At least that is what my kids think.

Spencer chose to do his five minute bathroom clean up in a pair of old jammie pants that were supposed to be the rags he cleaned the bathroom with.  So weird.

Hailey was ecstatic to have her cousins in town for a couple days this weekend.  They were all smiles eating their crock pot lasagna.

They were all smiles snuggled on the couch watching a show.

They were all smiles before Hailey's football game.

Lainey was ecstatic that she could use Grama's dollar to buy a ring pop - or maybe two - but don't tell her mama. What happens at Aunt Jenny's stays at Aunt Jenny's.

With her cousins in the stands cheering her on, Hailey found some courage to have the big girls stunt her.  She was thrilled that she got to elevator all the way up.

After the football game we went down to the beach to hang out.  Hard to believe that it is actually fall.

Here's to another great week!

Moments...getting back into the swing of things

Last Saturday Hailey had to cheer at her first game - in the rain.  I had a total mom fail when I didn't even bring her a rain coat or a sweatshirt for that matter. 

The rest of us huddled under one umbrella.

Since the rain showed no sign of letting up the coaches let the girls leave at halftime.  That made our little cheerleader a happy girl.

On Sunday the boys went to Grand Rapids to participate in the 9/11 salute.  This was Evan's first time going.

Hailey dressed up and ready to take on a Monday.  I love her clothes and dress vicariously through her.

Evan's "Me to a T" assignment.  I almost cried when he explained to me the people he admired (TK and MK) stood for Trent and me - the M stands for Mom. Man, I love that kid.

Hailey playing in the yard with her giant baseball.

Hailey also had her first job last week.  She was asked to water the neighbor's flowers while they were on vacation.

Dressed up like a cutie again.

On Friday while I was texting Spencer in the window wondering where his bus was I had a little friend looking up at me.

Then I spotted the long hair guitar player walking up the street.  Once he saw me he quickly avoided the camera.

A selfie from the hunting blind on Saturday morning.

On Saturday evening since it was warm and beautiful, Hailey and I walked down to the beach.  I didn't know if the water would be warm or not.

It was pretty nice and of course my little fish wanted to get right in. It was a bit wavy with kind of an undertow so I didn't let her go in very deep.

Practicing tuck jumps.  She loves them.

She mostly just rolled around the shore alot and let the waves crash into her.

Since Frosty O was closing for the summer, after the beach we took a quick pajama ride over there to get our last treats.

View from the blind on Sunday morning.  Evan had spotted something.

Sunday afternoon was another beautiful late summer day.  We went to Frosty O again (because that's how we roll - and get rolls) and took our treats to Pere Marquette.

We just hung out on the warm sand for a while.  It was very relaxing. If I had a pillow I think I could have fallen asleep.

It was the perfect end to a good week.

One week down...

So we made it through the first week - though it was a long short week.  We were all extremely tired on Friday night.

The boys leave for school when it is still dark outside.  This makes taking outside back to school photos a bit of a challenge - but not a challenge I will not undertake.  Just in case I made them pose for a couple indoors.  Hailey was up early (but barely up) and ready to bid her brothers adieu.  That is why she looks so incredibly tired in this photo.

Evan is a seventh grader this year.  He leaves with Trent a bit after seven in the morning.   He about broke my heart the night before school as I was tucking him in and he told me that "he had a great summer".  So did I bud.  So did I.

I can't even get my head around the fact that I have a high schooler this year.  Ninth grade. Seriously.  Some days I feel like I just finished high school. Luckily he has a friend with an older brother that drives and agreed to pick him up - otherwise he would be leaving for the bus stop at 6:30 in the morning.  I can't even. We are up but not even close to ready at that point.

Then there is my Hailey girl.  She is always so nervous to start a new grade until she actually starts it. I know she can do amazing things she just has to get it into her own mindset.

She is our social butterfly and was so glad to be back with her friends on a regular basis.  I snapped this shot of her and two of her BFF's at recess.

Spencer is taking a guitar class for his first Trimester.  We will see how that goes - I hope well.  I always envied those that could play guitar and piano.

The first week went well.  Spencer claimed he did alright at the high school and thinks that Biology is his favorite class so far.  That may be because it is the only class he has with his "girlfriend".   Evan is an old pro at the middle school.  He is intrigued by his French class.  He claims the teacher is really nice and it is really cool to learn to speak a different language.  Hailey was thrilled when her teacher told her there would be no assigned homework.  Any homework would be stuff you didn't finish in class and studying. Hallelujah! I swear last years' math homework took years off my life.

By the way - we didn't have to do much BTS shopping this year because the kids still fit into most of their stuff.  We did take a family shopping trip to Kohl's so Trent could buy some new jeans and shoes.  The boys spotted these tee shirts and begged like I have never heard them beg before.  My kids are not clothes kids by any means - but Spencer had to have Bob Ross and Evan had to have Pusheen the cat.  I have no idea what the draw is or the significance but oh well - they were THRILLED!

Fingers crossed it looks like it's going to be a great year!