Flag Football

Eli enjoyed trying flag football this summer. His team was the Vipers and he had two teenage coaches who were really fun with them. He made some friends and learned some skills: success!

Bathtub

Jake has always played in the bathroom while I get ready for the day, but lately he plays IN the bathtub while I get ready. Whatever makes him happy!

Cub Scout Rocket

Logan is glad scouts has started up again now that summer is over; he missed it! The first couple activities were making and shooting off rockets. His rocket went higher than any of his have in the past, so that was fun!

Just a Tuesday

I stopped and got Jake some Portillo's french fries the other day, and people kept asking if it was his birthday. Nope, just a Tuesday! Sometimes, you just need (or deserve!) fries!

Skating Class

Alison wanted to take a skating class this summer, and she convinced Eli he wanted to do it too. It is continuing into the fall, and they're both getting much better!

First Days

The first day of school was August 15th. Once the kids found out who their teachers were and a few kids in their classes, they got excited. It was the smoothest first week we've had yet. Usually we have tired, grumpy kids after school, but this year they were happy and pleasent. I think they were really ready to go back and get back into the school routine.

We have Noah here with us before and after school again. So far, that's going well too.

The bus stop group!

The following Tuesday was Jake's first day of Joy School; he was SO excited!

Running to the car!

Hooray for a new year of school!

Summer Recap

I like to make a list of all the things we did in the summer so my kids can see exactly how amazing I am:)

-Trip to Colorado for two weeks with tons of fun activities
-Trip to Arkansas for five days with tons of family fun
-Blackberry Farm 3 times
-Cantigny
-DuPage Children's Museum 2 times
-Library countless times
-Naperville's Riverwalk and picnic
-Drawing Class for Alison, Logan, and Eli
-Scout Day camp for Logan
-Flag football for Eli (including 6 practices and 7 games)
-Piano lessons
-Phillips Park Playground
-Two or three other parks
-Mall for school shirt shopping, puppy cuddling, and playground fun 3 times
-Embroidery, knitting, and sewing classes for Ali
-Skating class for Alison; Logan came once, Eli came several times
-Ferdinand at Movie Theater
-Incredibles 2 at Movie Theater
-Phillips Park pool at least once a week
-Splash Country Pool
-Camping with Dad
-Go Cart Riding
-Ward 4th of July Breakfast
-Splash Pad and Police Vehicles
-Centennial Beach
-Stake and Shake for Milkshakes twice
-Meatheads for dinner
-Slushies
-McDonald's for ice cream cones at least 6 times
-Ice cream social at School
-Back to School night to meet the teachers
-Logan had over Sam*, Derek*, Brandon (*Friends had them over too)
-Alison had over Rena, Kate*, Madison
-Eli had over RJ*, Marshall*, Keegan, Noah, Adam*
-Jake had over Scotty

Whew! No wonder we were all sort of ready for back to school!

Summer out and about

Here are a few last random summer pictures. 

Camping

Jason took the older kids camping! They love it! The boys lit the fire with very little help from their dad.

S'mores are always the best part of camping!

I'm so glad Jason likes to do such fun things with our kids!

Lawn Mower

Logan, at his request, learned how to mow the lawn this summer! He actually really enjoys it and Jason loves the help!

Happy Birthday Family!

Jason and I celebrated our 16th anniversary, a day that we also call our family's birthday! We went out to dinner just the two of us to celebrate, but we also got an ice cream cake to celebrate as a family. I'm so thankful for a blissfully happy marriage and four amazing kids that get to be ours forever because of the priesthood and temples! Life is good!

Riverwalk

We went to Naperville's Riverwalk for a picnic and to walk along the river. The water was really low, allowing the kids to walk to this island that is usually inaccessible.

Jake threw rocks into the river to his heart's content and then ran around on the bridges while the other kids waded in the water to their heart's content.

We had our picnic under this tree. At one point Jake laid down and said, "Beautiful!" He often notices the beauty of things around us, both natural and man made, and I love that he helps me to take notice with his exclamations of awe.

Neighborhood Night Out

We joined in our community's Neighborhood Night Out, which lets us mingle with our local law enforcement personnel, and they bring all their cool vehicles! Aside from getting to see and sit in more vehicles than we imagined our law enforcement people having, we got to see a canine unit demonstration, eat hot dogs and get free stuff! Cool!

Summer Days

As much as we love Summer adventures and outings, sometimes we also love being home.

Alison pulled out her microscope that hasn't been used much since she got it for her birthday, and she and her brothers enjoyed a few days being scientists.

After watching "Coco" Ali and Eli made an ofrenda honoring Grandpa Eldredge and Grandpa Blau.

We pulled out the play dough for the first time in a long time, and clearly for the first time in Jake's memory because he LOVED it and kept saying, "Much fun with play dough, Mommy! Thank you!

Alison and Logan have been taking piano for about a year and have gotten quite good. Listening to them has made me want to play again, so I've been trying a few of their easy pieces (from a year ago!) and Ali has enjoyed being my "piano teacher" whenever I have questions for her.

There has also been much drawing by all the kids. The older three even had a drawing class they went to once a week for a month (not that they need much instruction: they're all naturals in my opinion!)

Jake does this silly thing where he kneels on someones feet that Eli calls, "Praising to my feet." Here is pictorial proof.

I convinced a few kids to do puzzles with me a few times.

Lego recreations of favorite summer movies were a hit: they made all sorts of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Hobbit recreations.

There were quite a few selfies found on my phone...

We had lots of friends over and sometimes I convinced the kids to play outside!

They like putting the sprinkler under the trampoline and then putting liquid soap on the trampoline!

I do enjoy having these guys home more in the summer!