Our Summer Dayz Recap

Another sizzling summer with high temps, seldom bored kids and nap times to squeeze into our playtime. Addison had many successful lemonade stands again this year and almost weekly dips with her bestie at Grandma's pool. Charlie continued his American Ninja Warrior training with all the neighborhood boys as well as more football card trading and cycling. The kids did the usual stop in for food, go to friends, grab more food, onto the next house and back again to make the rotation in the afternoon. 

A few more highlights were...

Addi and Annie volunteering at Day Camp while Charlie went as a camper

LC Basketball Camp

Birthday Parties

Swimming lessons with Teacher Shannon

Edaline Ice Cream 

3 on 3 Razz Festival Tournament

Sleepovers

Charlie going on work trips with Daddy

Motorcycle Rides 

Blueberry Picking

and enjoying summers best with BBQ's.

 The little girls loved going on bike rides this past summer. Even if they were short rides around the corner or longer ones to visit friends; they ended with smiles or tears. Last month, when some of our Portland friends were visiting, Myriam insisted on riding her friends' bike with no training wheels. With zero prior help, and only time on Baylee's balance bike, our super girl Myriam adamantly said she could do this. And you know what...SHE DID! Tessa didn't get her bike back the rest of the afternoon as Mimi was so proud of herself and excited to be free of training wheels!

It's a Teenagers Life Now

Addison summed it up herself when making this poster for above her locker. 

What I would add to this list is...

Compassionate, caring, always willing to serve others and her family, creative, talented, 

confident, brave and courageous. 

I'm struggling to believe we have a teenager in our home because I know that come tomorrow she'll be driving away to college. We kept the celebrations low-key, per her requests, this year with a trip to DQ for blizzards and a dinner of buttered noodles at her favorite, Olive Garden. If I had my way I'd have balloons, streamers and a massive cake, but that's simply not our daughter. Instead, we sat together early in the morning, on the couch, sipping our coffee as I got mushy with Mom-Talk about reciting how proud I was of our oldest baby. 

A Camping We All Must Go

With summer coming to an end, we decided to load the kids and gear into the motorhome for one last trip before school started. We found a few great camping sites, but settled in at the KOA campgrounds. The older kids quickly located where the arcade games were along with the candy store. I went into action preventing others from finding such treasures while distracting with walks and making new friends at the playground. 

I played a mean game of horseshoes with Addi while Charlie pedaled himself to exhaustion around the sites. He was so proud of himself as he paid with all his own money to sweat and gain tired legs. 

There was a decent swimming pool that both Charlie and Myriam enjoyed for sometime and of course afternoon snacks of hot chocolate and Oreos. 

Paper, Pens and School Books

Addison Jean: 7th Grade

Ebenezer Christian School

Shoe Size: 8 

This makes the first year, aside from two years in preschool, that Addi is attending traditional school. This comes with some level of curiosity with many unknowns and moments of being uncomfortable, but overall, the transition has been going okay. I would dare say the biggest change after seven years of homeschooling is the long days beginning with catching the bus at 7:30am.