Random Summer Fun

We've done a lot this summer. It's been unseasonable cool so we were able to get outside more than usual in July and August. 

 Tractor rides with grandpa.

 

E riding "scrambler" as the boys have named it. 

Walter took the boys strawberry picking while I was gone for the weekend. 

We did VBS at our church. X and W attended, I worked, E just joined the picture for kicks :)

We also did another VBS with our good friends Scout and Cooper

My best friend Sara has this adorable baby girl, Bria.

 On Father's day we took the family and my dad to the Transportation Museum. 

The older boys and I headed back to Kansas to see my good friend Shana for a few days. This time more friends (Hilary and Aiden) came with us!

We had 6 little boys 8 and under (and we left 2 more at home!) I love having other "boy mom" friends who just understand the loud rough crazy zoo I live in!

The Beach

We took the boys to see their first beach EVER at the end of May. We went to St. Joseph Michigan. It was great. I would totally go back! Only a 7 hour drive (boys did great) and we were in an awesome family friendly town. The boys loved the beach. The water was still cold since it was up north, but we got in up to our waists and spent lots of time playing in the sand. We walked through the downtown quite a bit and got ice cream treats a few evenings. There was a neat children's museum and a carousel to ride. The beach also had an huge playground! 

The only bad part of the trip was our hotel. We planned this trip at the very last minute and were only staying 3 nights. I booked a place on line and it DID NOT live up to the pictures. It was crummy :) We ended up switching hotels for the last night. Also, because we were in a hotel we had to eat out a lot (which is kinda stressful w kids) and all 5 of us slept in 1 room. If we ever go back we would definitely rent a house where  we would have more space to spread out the sleeping arrangements and a kitchen to cook meals so we didn't have to eat out so much.

Despite a few hangups with our accommodations, the trip was great and I'm really glad we went. This was the first time we'd taken a trip, just the 5 of us, that didn't involve visiting family. We made some memories and just enjoyed the time together. And I even read an entire book during the car ride - yay!

(I was there despite the fact that I'm not in any pictures -- I guess those are all on Walter's phone)

Preschool Graduation

Way back at the end of May Xavier graduated from preschool. It was adorable! Unfortunately Walter couldn't be there. He had an out of town trip for work that he couldn't get out of. So, Wesley and I went while my mom watched E.

X and his classmate and buddy, Caden.

 Cute kiddos singing their songs. 

 Getting his diploma from his teacher, Mrs. Aman (he untucked his shirt while I wasn't looking -- always gotta be soooo casual -ha!)

 

Wesley brought his own camera and helped photograph the event as well. 

Showing off his diploma next to cute Audrey who is my good friend's daughter.  I want them to get married later :)

 The ladies responsible for Xavier's awesome year in "Junior Kindergarten" -- Mrs. Aman and Mrs. Deffendall. We are so blessed to have an awesome preschool!

Duck, Tea, Run

More catching up.....

My friend Audrey invited us over in May to see their ducklings. I'm not an animal person, but these things were pretty cute. And the boys were really excited. I thought they might be a little afraid of the ducklings running around the yard (our boys are mostly afraid of dogs) but they wanted to be right up around the ducklings and even hold them.

After playing with the ducks, Audrey's little girl Trudy wanted the boys to have a tea party with her. The boys were happy to oblige so we we went inside for a little tea party with water and oyster crackers.

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On Cinco De Mayo we went to the Cinco-K which was a 5K run / 1 mile walk supporting the special needs school that my neighbor's son attends. It was a semi cold and rainy morning but we still had a fun time!!!