Last Day for Lilo's

On Saturday we went to Lilo's (our shaved ice place) for the last time this summer. Even though school started a couple of weeks ago, it has still felt a bit like summer. Sadly, Lilo's closing for the season makes it really feel we have to let go of summer for this year. I asked the boys what their favorite parts of summer were and both said Jamaica. Henry first said his very favorite part was the swim up bar, but then changed his mind to all the family time we had while we were there. They both agree that their various ailments in Jamaica (puking on the plane and mystery rash) were the worst parts of the summer. 

For me, Jamaica was definitely the highlight, but the four precious weeks we had at home were a close second. We had two weeks in between the end of school and camp, and then two weeks after camp before school started. I intentionally kept us at home during those four weeks. We filled our days with sleeping in for the boys (late, like 9:30 most days!), playing outside with neighbors, and just being together. I have always been happiest when the boys are home (and even happier when Nathan is home too) and they are just playing. They are still in the precious part of childhood when you ask them what they're going to do today and they just look at you and answer, "Play". 

Our driveway and front yard have been the site of countless hours of fun since the time they were little and this summer we got back to that, if only for four short weeks. They rode scooters, hung out on the hammock, pulled all their Legos out and took them to the front porch to trade with neighbors, chattered about Pokemon, played Four Square, celebrated "Frozen Friday" at a different ice cream place each week, and every night we took Poppy on a walk after dinner. 

I have an app on my phone that tells me how many weeks we have left with each boy before they leave for college. We have 360 left with Jack and 516 left with Henry. This summer we spent four of those weeks at home and while I'm sad to see them go, I'm so thankful for the driveway days we had and loved this summer. 

1st Day of School - 3rd and 6th Grades

Henry started school almost a month ago and I think this is Jack's third week of school. Their years are off to a great start!

The night before school I made them read The Kissing Hand, just like we do every year. Instead of sweetly listening to the book, they now interject with helpful comments such as, "This is a baby book", but then they settle down and listen. We have listened to this book every year on the night before school since Jack was starting his first year of preschool. That's nine years of The Kissing Hand. So it's not going away anytime soon.

Henry - 3rd Grade

Henry's teachers are Ms. Thompson and Ms. Baker and they are awesome. So far his favorite activities at school have been taking care of the 3rd grade gardens, independent reading time and recess! He's read the entire Percy Jackson series just since school started and loves it. It rained on the morning of the first day so we had to hurry to get pictures in before we got wet.

Here he is at his cubby on the first morning. He told Jack and I we couldn't go in with him at first and then he said he guessed we could come in, but just to take a picture. He was pretty happy to be back at school with all his buddies. His best friend since preschool switched schools and now goes to EPiC -- they are happy to be together again!

Jack - 6th Grade

After we dropped Henry off at school, Jack and I headed to the Big Biscuit for breakfast and then we were off to his new school -- Liberty Middle School. That day was orientation and he got his schedule and locker. After failed attempts by BOTH of us to open his locker, a teacher saved us and showed him how to open it. In my defense, it is a hard locker to open! He was excited to put a few decorations up, including pictures of Jamaica and Poppy.

After orientation day, he still had an entire week before school started! We had a great week together and soon it was time for WEB Day. This is another transition day just for 6th graders and a few 8th grade leaders. After WEB Day we met up at Culver's with all of his EPiC buddies for a lunch with familiar faces. These guys have been together in the same class since 1st grade. I'm so glad they got to see each other because they all got split up and went to different middle schools.

He is riding the bus this year, so he walked to the bus stop with our neighbors. I couldn't wait for him to get home to hear about his day. His first day was great! His favorite classes are Orchestra and Industrial Tech, he sits at a lunch table with all of his friends and he's enjoying all of his new independence. The other day he came home and said he and his friends noticed a boy sitting by himself at lunch. So they all got up and moved from their table to sit with the little boy who was by himself. I am so proud of him and his friends for showing kindness to someone who needed it that day -- especially in the middle school cafeteria. We are so happy, but not surprised at all, that he is loving middle school.

He was very excited about his new laptop after the first day.

Summer Fun

We got back from Colorado and camp on Saturday afternoon and everyone was very glad to be home. The boys and I have had time to do fun things like go to the zoo and take Poppy to the park for a walk. We are enjoying being home and having some normal summer days.

They have been on the zoo train a million times, but this time the seats were getting pretty small for them! Their long legs don't fit so comfortably in the tiny seats anymore. 

Jack bought himself some cool new shades at the gift shop. Henry bought a new stuffed animal.

Our trip to the park was made more exciting by bringing Poppy along and using her new puppy car seat thing. 

These last pictures are from earlier this summer, but they sum up our summer well. READING! I think we've checked out close to 200 books this summer. Just the other day we had 80 checked out in our account. The boys fly through them. I love the sound of the car on the way home from the library. No talking, just book pages turning. 

Henry's 1/2 Birthday

Henry's 1/2 birthday was June 21 -- the longest day of the year as he likes to point out! He had a baseball game that night and he got his very own Jayhawk baseball hat. He is the sweetest 8 1/2 year in the world. At his yearly check up at the pediatrician she told us he is still very tall and very skinny, which wasn't a surprise. Right now his favorite thing is reading. He has read so many hours this summer and flown through tons of book series. Since being back from camp, he has spent many hours sitting on the front porch with our neighbors trading Pokemon cards. Life as an 8 1/2 year is great!

Father's Day 2019

Look at those handsome guys getting ready to disc golf. And look at that awesome Jayhawk shirt Henry is wearing. I believe Nathan might have mentioned how ugly it was. Ha! Disc golf was a bit of a bad experience. Despite bug spray, lots of little bugs kept attacking us, and both Nathan and Jack lost discs. But the chocolate chip pecan pie I made was good!

Easter 2019

Easter pics are better posted late than never! And it was not my idea for Poppy to be in the family pictures.

Strings

Jack started orchestra this year and has really enjoyed learning to play the violin. He and 3 friends even competed at solo and ensemble contest as a quartet and they were amazing! They chose a really hard son,g and their hard work and lots of practice really paid off with an excellent performance for the judge.

Henry's Spring

Henry had been busy playing baseball and hanging out with friends this spring. He also worked really hard on a presentation for PEAK on his country of choice -- the Philippines. He studied the country all year and knows so much about it. He also randomly became a Tarheels fan this spring and my friend Heather (who went to UNC) got him a Carolina shirt.

Henry and Cameron at our end of the school year party. Next year Cameron gets to go to EPiC with Henry! Together again finally. It's been a few years since preschool.

Good friends at field day.

Eating pizza after an epic baseball win!

At his PEAK presentation. In the Philippines, they celebrate Christmas for much longer than we do. Hence the Santa hat. 

6 Year Makes a Difference

I had Henry take a picture of Jack and I on his last day of 5th grade. I was shocked by how tall he is! It made me think of another picture of Jack and I that we took in kindergarten before school one morning. What a difference 6 years makes!

Last Day of 2nd and 5th Grade

School is finally over for the year -- goodbye 2nd and 5th grade! It was a great year, but we all need a break. No more early mornings or making lunches. For a couple of weeks at least.

Henry was not amused by the headlock.

Goodbye 5th Grade!

Jack had a great end of the school year, filled with all sorts of fun 5th grade activities. During the last week of school they walked to the movie theater and went fishing. He missed the big week of 5th grade recognition activities because we were in Jamaica, but he decided Jamaica was much better. The last day of school the 5th grader walk through the hallways one last time and give all the little kids high fives.

EPiC has been good to Jack. He has had amazing teachers and made awesome friends. EPiC is unique because it's the same 50 kids every year. This group has been together since 1st grade when the school opened. Although it seemed they were all ready for the school year to be over, they are definitely going to miss each other next year. They will split up to go to separate middle school based on their neighborhoods. Jack is heading to Liberty Middle School in the fall for a new adventure. He is going to rock middle school!

Here he is with his sidewalk square. My job (with another mom) for 5th grade recognition was outside decorations. We used chalk paint to spray paint all 50 names on the sidewalk outside of school. One of the 1st grade teachers has amazing handwriting, so she helped too.

Jack and Quinn -- they met the first day of kindergarten summer school and have been best friends every since. The wind was making Quinn's hair crazy.

Here they are at their kindergarten music program.

Jack and William -- They've been playing sports together since 1st grade. Lots of football and basketball games!

Mrs. Caywood! The best 5th grade teacher!

Here's a poster from 5th grade recognition. 

Good friends on their fishing trip.

The day before we left for Jamaica at their yard games party. Jack discovered he is an amazing hula-hooper. He stopped at 600 and could have kept going!

We invited some of Jack's friend over to celebrate the last day of school. They had a blast having a nerf gun war and eating hot dog and s'mores.