Summer Lovin'

We are soaking up every ounce of summer over here. 

The kids are having a blast!  

As I downloaded these pictures I couldn't help but smile at the raw joy in their faces!

This may just be a summer to remember with how well they are getting along and having a blast together. I know there will come a day when there is a pull of other activities and the slip in slide in the back yard may not cut it.  There will be friends that will be more fun than little brothers but we will take this time and soak up every ounce! 

I love the brother to brother pep talk happening in the background!

 Max loved the end result ... water in the face!

New plans were made as they decided to try to head down backward with a little help from their siblings!

  

 Almost every picture I took when Max was on the side lines looked like this ... complete excitement as he is screaming, waving his hands and jumping up and down! This little boys knows how to embrace life with every ounce of himself!

It is amazing the joy that a little bit of water and a $5 slip and slide can bring on a hot summer day!

These were shot with my Canon 60D and my 50mm lens.

They are SOOC!

I am linking up to Stephanie's Sunday Snapshots this week.  

Strawberry Picking

One lazy summer evening I decided to google "strawberry patches." I wondered if there was one in the area. I thought it would be fun to take the kids strawberry picking. Wouldn't you know there was a new strawberry patch just 20 minutes from our house and they were open for picking.

 

The kids had never been strawberry picking before. This picture pretty sums up how Max felt about his first trip to the strawberry patch. The other kids echoed Max's sentiments toward the strawberry patch. They thought it was so much fun, where grinning from ear to ear on the tractor ride and ate their fair share of fresh red strawberries. I am pretty sure the red fingers, red shirt and red face are a dead give away ... Max loved strawberry picking.

Emma went right to work eager to fill her bucket. 

Max also went right to work ... but instead decided to eat each strawberry he picked. 

Max watched over Shane's shoulder to see how it is all done !

He too the cue that all those red strawberries were fare game.

 

The girls worked hard but also ate their fair share of berries.

The girls were trying to show Max how it is done.  It looks like they couldn't resist those bright red strawberries either.

Every time we turned around Max had a strawberry in or near his mouth. The farmer who owns the field told the kids they were safe to eat and they could each as much a they want but had to stop when they reached their body weight.

The girls went right to work and were more than excited to fill their buckets.

 

Shane decided to take a little break and wait for the tractor. 

Emma was busy trying to get those last minute strawberries in the bucket before it was time to head back. 

 The kids loved hoping on the tractor for a ride out to the patch and back to the van.

 

We had a couple yummy buckets of strawberries to take home.

 

This picture pretty sums of how Max felt about having to get off the tractor and leaving the strawberry patch behind.

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I am linking up to Stephanie's Sunday Snapshots this week. As I fall more and more in love with hobby of photography I love taking in others work especially when they share their work so generously. Head on over to Stephanie's blog to see some amazing photographs. I used a Canon 60D camera, my 50 mm lens at various settings and a little bit of Florabella 1968.

School Is Out

It feels like yesterday I was taking a picture of Eric and the kids heading to breakfast before their first day of school. I can't believe how fast the year flew by. It was a year full of fun, growth and 

tremendous blessings. 

As Eric and the kids left for breakfast and I sat down to write their teachers notes I got all teary. I feel so blessed that each of the kids were truly blessed with amazing teachers this year. They were a perfect fit for each of their personalities. If you remember back to the first day of school post

Alexa was in tears and totally stressed out on her way into school her first day. It usually takes her a month or so to settle in and let her nerves calm down. It is hard on this mom's heart to watch and yet I know God is working on both of us and growing us in the process. This year was amazing. Within a day Alexa's little heart, mind and soul was at a very peaceful place. I didn't seeing an anxiety or stress rise up once in her the whole year which is absolutely amazing. I attribute it to her amazing teacher. She has an amazing gift in how she handles her classroom, how she teaches and her sweet, gentle spirit.

 

Alexa grew in so many areas this year and her confidence soared through the roof in so many subjects. She turned into a complete book worm . Her heart and compassion for others struggling her classroom was an area her teacher said she also stepped up to the plate. She was quick to recognize when others were anxious or needed help and found a way to gently come along side of them. I just can't believe she is going to be a 4th grader. This was the first year she really voiced being sad about school being out because she was going to miss her friends. Alexa has been given the gift of a couple very special friends and it was so fun to see their friendship grow and move to a new level this year.

 It wasn't uncommon for them to make things for each other and give each other notes of encouragement. One of her friends often made little bookmarks with verses on them. I pray their friendship and love for the Lord continues to grow in the years to come. 

 Emma went through her 2nd grade year in true Emma style. She loved everything about school and embraced it head on. She had two teachers this year that job shared. They were a perfect fit for her and each of them brought out something different in her. I saw her heart for the Lord grow this year in a new way. The excitement she had for the Bible and new nuggets of information in stories she heard over and over again. Emma felt like it was a great year as she gained confidence in her Math and Reading. Her very favorite part of 2nd grade was studying the human body.Over and over we heard from her teachers that she had a huge heart and just loves life. Emma has always had a large group of girls she plays with but this year she had a couple that became her best friends. It has been fun to see those relationships blossom this year.

 

Shane had a great year too. It started out a little rocky with a few time outs as he was figuring life out as a kindergartner. He had an amazing teacher that was gentle and loving and yet ran a tight ship so Shane knew exactly where the lines were.

 It was amazing to watch him grow and blossom this year. He matured so much in his self control and ability to focus and finish. He is a true boy who loves to wiggle, talk, poke his neighbor ... so watching him work through all that and come to a place where he knew what was expected and see him handle it was fun to see. 

 I think Kindergarten is the most amazing year as they go from hardly knowing their letter to reading. They go from learning numbers to adding and telling time. They go from just figuring how to write all their letters correctly to writing words and complete sentences. They go from looking so little to losing teeth and looking all grown up! I am so proud of Shane and the way he grew socially, emotionally, academically and spiritually this year. It was a big year for him and he is ready for 1st grade. I am just not sure I am.

 

The kids had their final chapel of the year that I got to go to and then when school was out at noon we said our good byes to friends and teachers for the summer. I love summer and was so looking forward to it but as I hugged teachers goodbye and told them thanks for all they did for my kids I got pretty teary! I feel so blessed that God gave them all such amazing teachers. There were precious memories made this year and each of them had an impact on my kids in a very special way. The big kids and I headed out for a special celebratory lunch. Later we got home and I had a fun little idea pop in my head.

 

If you know me you know I love to throw a party so I thought why not have a "School Is Out" party.

 

We made a quick run to Target and I made some sneaky purchases and while the kids played outside I pulled a quick little party together. Thank goodness for people who make darling printables and post them for free on line ... these printables made things pretty easy.

 

We had a fun evening of celebrating a great year and we are looking forward to a fun summer!

A Favorite Summer Hangout

Wild Water West is one of our favorite hang out spot in the summer.  Not only do the kids love all the water fun but many of our friends have season passes so we spend many of our hot days together having fun.  I do have to say this year looked a little different on my end.  Last year the kids were all great swimmers so they could swim by themselves.  Alexa and Emma could go down the big slides themselves and we all enjoyed the wave pool and lazy river together.  There was plenty of time to chill with friends and catch up on life.  

Well this year this little man kept me on my toes.  There was very little sitting this summer ... I spent most of the summer running after this little cutie.  I know this stage will pass and as busy as it was I love this age and everything Max is seeing through his little eyes and experiencing for the first time.  It helps that his little personality is so out there that there is no guessing how much fun he is having in life.

Max LOVED the water and there was NO fear.  He came at it full force and usually with his mouth wide open!

The kids spent a ton of time at the Pirate Ship.  It didn't take long and Max was going down the big slides with his brother and sisters.  Forget the baby slides ... the bigger the better.

There was plenty of fun to be had especially when their friends were around.

Emma loved spending time on the pirate ship too! 

Max seemed to think all the slides were fun!

The kids loved it when their cousins came to spend a day with them.  It is always fun to get treats on special days. 

Shane is what we call at our house "the snack king." He loves snacks and seems to be an empty pit where snacks are concerned.  There are plenty of treats offered at Wild Water West but to the kids disappointment they only get treats once in a while.  You can't take food into the park so we pack our lunch and head out to the parking lot.  I wish I would have taken a picture of our set up.  My friends and I got a system down of parking close to each other and having a rather large picnic in the parking lot with all of our kids.  I am sure our parking lot picnics will be memories the kids will remember in years to come.

The kids loved just swimming around in the pool and climbing on the animals.

The girls love being big enough to go down the slides by themselves. 

What a finish Emma! 

Everyone loved it when daddy came along because that meant we all got to go on the big slide. This was Max's first time down the big slide.  I wasn't sure what he thought of it but in a matter of minutes he was screaming with excitement! 

When daddy comes it also usually means that we get treats! 

We had such a great summer and logged many hours at one of our favorite hangout spots!