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.

Better late than never...

We are so close to the end of the school year!  I can see the light at the end of the lunch packing tunnel!  There are so many photos that I haven't posted - so much good stuff that has been going on.  I am telling myself that once this week is over I can go back and retro post.  We will see if that happens. 

So lately.

We are finally staining our trim after 17 years.  It looks so good and makes the house look so fresh.  I love it.  It is amazing that our cedar is in such excellent shape after no upkeep for 17 years - my sister and I must have done an amazing job the first time we did it!

Some Memorial weekend chalk art in the driveway.

Evan and I went to the store and he spotted this cotton candy.  I let him buy it because of the name.  He still sleeps with his "fluffy stuff" blanket.  He just doesn't pick the fluffy stuff off of it anymore.

 All three of our Scouts were in the Lakeside Memorial Day parade.

On Memorial Day we also celebrated my birthday.  Ugh.  That number has been the hardest to bear yet. 

 On my "real" birthday, Trent and I went to dinner at the Lake House.  We sat outside and were practically melting.

One day after school I grew weary of kids on electronics and took them all away.  A bit later I found Evan in his hammock reading a book.  I can't wait for summer.

The kids in front of the high school after Spencer's last middle school choir concert.  Yes - we are now into the "lasts" of lots of things around here.

It was a beautiful day for field day at school!

Friday night we went downtown to the new street performers festival.  It was a fun time.  It seemed well attended.

Hailey was thrilled to juggle with one of Daddy's students.

We have lots of activities going on this week ending with both boys receiving Sailor Pride awards on Friday and Spencer going to his Bon Voyage dance with a GIRL!  Big stuff around these parts!

Moments...

Guess what?  Last week was super busy.  Guess what?  This week is too.  I know I sound like a broken record.  I guess I just have to resign myself to the fact that life with three kids going three different directions is always busy.  At least tonight is my last PTO meeting as an officer.  I am sure I will still go but at least I will not be required to go - a major part of my "let it go" mantra for this year.  So here are the pictures on my phone - largely Evancentric since it was his birthday week. 

Hailey found a new item for her wish list at Meijer.  She thinks it will fit in her bedroom.

This little cutie all decked out for May the 4th be with you!  That Stormtrooper dress with the pleather? - I can't even.

Evan's thank you to his DI coach.  I know it is upside down but I don't feel like fixing and reloading.

Dear Ms. Hillman,
Thank you for a wonderful year of DI.  I know you had to deal with many problems and interruptions (Erik) but you persevered and led us to State.  Thank you again coach.  Sincerely Evan.

On the way to the DI meeting I told Evan that he probably shouldn't give his card when Erik was around.  He told me that if Erik saw it he would totally own up to it because he knows he is annoying and always says so.  Then he added on the end - I get what you're saying though.

That kid is the best.

On Thursday at GOTR we had our practice 5K.  The quick finishers made a tunnel for the slower girls.  So awesome.

Thursday was also Evan's band concert.

He is second from the end in the last row.

Saturday Evan's tennis team played in Whitehall.  Then we had his birthday party at Craig's Cruisers.

The trees on the golf course were in full bloom.  Gorgeous.

How is he twelve already?

On Mother's Day and Evan's birthday we waited in bed for our breakfast.

Hailey sporting the flower Grama Dionel made for Evan's gift.  Then she thought it would be fun to play in Evan's new birthday hammock.

There they are!   A lot of fun moments for the week.

Last weeks moments...late again.

Our weeks have been jam packed lately and it seems like this last month and a half of school might be even worse.  It is all good and fun stuff, but heaven help me - I am exhausted by dinner.

Wednesday Evan went to the orthodontist.  I thought he would be getting molds made or something like that, but they actually put brackets on his top teeth.  We found out two interesting things while we were there.  He has a baby tooth that is trapped and will need to be extracted and that our current insurance plan is awesome.  Provided nothing changes his whole orthodontic treatment cost us a bit under five hundred bucks.  Compared to Spencer, those are major discount braces!

Wednesday afternoon I helped out at school after work with the Feelin' Good Mileage Club. 

Another shot of the new tin grin later on Wednesday after his much needed haircut. 

On Saturday Hailey got out her scooter and spent the whole afternoon on it.

Saturday night Spencer, Trent and I went to see the play Diary of Anne Frank in Grand Haven.  We ate dinner at Old Boys first.  It was a fun night out with our first born with the mop of hair.

Sunday morning was super dreary so Hailey convinced Daddy to build some LEGO creation with her.

While they did LEGOS the boys played on the PS4.  This was a rare moment - it is not often they play games together these days.