New Mower

Eli took of the lawn mowing job this year. Last year Logan or his dad took turns, but this summer it was all him. Jason loved it.

Cousins

Our niece Bethany came through town for a few days and it was fun to see her and meet her husband Quinten. We joined them at Cantigny (twist our arms...)

And at Oberwies where cousin Emily worked.

And it was a little bitter-sweet saying goodbye to Paige and Emily as they both headed out of state to college, but we're excited for this next stage of life for them.

Can't wait to see them at Christmas!

Music

All the kids have developed a bigger love for music ever since Logan and Ali got their phones (and thus an easy way to search and play music). Their tastes are very eclectic, ranging from oldies, to country, to pop, to classical, to movie soundtracks. For some reason, it especially makes me giggle when I hear my 7 year old request "Hotel California," "Jailhouse Rock," or "Danger Zone," to list a few new favs. 

Musical

Eli has been enjoying his new trombone (he joined band, and participated in the Junior High Summer Band program), and Ali decided she may as well practice with him.

Back to School

After a busy summer, it is time to get back to school. It's a big year for everyone: two starting High School, one starting Junior High, and one in Elementary School alone for the first time. Mornings are busy around here with three different departure times.

Ali and Logan were a bit nervous about the size of their school, but did a three-day Wolves 101 course before school started and by the day I went with them to walk their schedules, they knew how to get everywhere.

They felt rushed the first day, so excuse the garage as a backdrop. They leave at 5:40am to head to seminary; their dad drives them (bless him).

Eli leaves at 7:30am and walks himself to his bus stop.

He also had a day where he got to go and look around, so by the time I went with him a couple of days before school, he was already a pro at opening his locker and walking his schedule.

Jake was thrilled for back to school night, and happy to meet Mrs Sieble, a teacher new to us.

He's already made a bus friend that helps him pass the time by doing read-alouds, so all is well. He and I leave to walk to his bus stop at 8:20am.

Whew! The back to school emails from 3 different schools and 4 different sets of teachers (Ali and Logan only have one teacher the same, and they don't even have him at the same period) has been no joke, but everyone is liking their new schools, so I can deal with that.

No Braces!

Look who got his braces off already (18 months or so, not to bad)! Such a handsome smile.

Fun for Jake

One of the results of a summer with me busy running the older three all over town was that Jake was often left wishing he could go somewhere too, but I was often out of time and energy to make that happen. Some days, that was just the reality, and life is never going to be even: the older three never had me all to themselves as little kids like Jake did, as one example. 

But, I did decide I needed to occasionally make the effort to find something fun for me and Jake to do. So I turned to my old standby-the library programs. And they did not disappoint! One evening Jake and I got to take Lovey to the library and have story time and crafts with him. Then, we went home, but Lovey got to spend the night at the library! And when we went to pick Lovey up the next day, he came home with a little photo album of all the fun things he did overnight at the library with all this new stuffed animal friends. So cute. And Jake loved it. Thanks for the win, library!

Summer Fun

This was a very different summer for us, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I was used to summer days full of us being home together, and me taking all the kids to several fun places a week. But this year, the three older kids were very busy going off to several camps, and then often had places they wanted to go with their friends (without me!). I know this is perfectly normal, and even good, for their ages...it's just going to take some adjusting. I did manage to sneak in a few fun things for most, if not all, of us.

Outdoor movie at Cantigny!

Outdoor movie at a neighbor's house.

Letting Max try out the Riverwalk (he did not want to go in the water).

FSY

Logan and Ali got to experience the church's new youth summer camp program For the Strength of Youth. They roomed with a couple of kids from our ward and both had a great time.

Dunes

We took a day trip to the Indiana Dunes again this summer, and we invited our friends the Eastons to come along. And actually, Jason and Garrett planned it, which was so nice!

Our families have kids similar ages, and our kids played for so much longer with friends there than they usually do when we're on our own.

The only downside of the trip was that soon after I took this picture, Jason joined the volleyball game, and one time when he hit the ball, his wedding ring flew off! They looked and looked, but we couldn't find it. Oh, well. It lasted 20 years; time for a new one I guess!

We had a blast!

Camps

This was a summer full of camps for our teens and pre-teen. I have one picture of stake YW camp, and zero pictures of either stake YM or ward YM camp, but they happened too! We're grateful for the leaders who make these wonderful trips possible, and for the fact that the Eastons are still our friends after Eli threw up in their tent at the ward YM camp...