Back to School - Boo Hoo!

Time to document the worst time of year (Sad)

I can't believe it.

CJ is going to kindergarten

Grace is starting 2nd Grade

Allie is starting middle school - 7th.

We were smart to do back to school shopping in July (i didn't like the idea at the time) but it made summer so much better not to have to stress about that while hustling to get everything done.

The only thing we had to do was get back to school haircuts.

Easy Peasy!

 First day of school!

 CJ has afternoon kindergarten, so I was able to go in the class with him until he was comfortable.
He did great and loves his teacher, Mrs. Lopez

 When I picked him up he showed me his Mighty Husky shirt!
He is excited to be a husky!

Summer Hit List #13 - Watch the Sunset

 I am sad as I'm typing this one!

It's the end of our Summer Hit List and so therefore, means it's the end of summer!

I get really sad when it's time for the kids to go back to school.

I dislike immensely the grind of a school schedule, homework, waking early, driving kids to and fro to all their various activities, and miss so much the freedom that summer brings!
However, I do think this a perfect post to end the summer!

They wanted to watch the sunset. 

Sweet and simple!
Love this sweet little family...only thing that would make this picture any better is if Sabrina was in it!

Summer Hit List #11 Stay Smart & #12 Grunion Run

I also, don't have any pictures of #11 which was Stay Smart...we did pretty good at this...we read and did some work pages whenever time permitted.

#12 on the Hit List was the Grunion Run

Grunion are small fish (Leuresthes tenuis) of coastal waters of California and Mexico that spawns at night along beaches during the high tides of spring and summer.
We didn't see ANY grunion, which was a bummer.
However, it was so fun, being together at the beach at night.
We will try again next summer!

The picture above is what a grunion run is supposed to look like!
It did not...we saw nothing :(

This boy was tired, he ended up falling asleep right in this chair.

A Day at the Races

This was not on our Summer Hit List, but we did it anyway.

Well, Scott and the kids went with his sister Doreen and her kiddos.

I spent the morning at urgent care with Sabrina. (Strep and sinus infection - where she received IV Antibiotics and Steroids)

Our kids had never been to the horse races.

I was sad that I missed it, but I know they had so much fun.

 They loved petting the horses

 and watching them race!

Summer Hit List # 9 & #10 - Camping and Lake Activities

We were so lucky to be invited by a friend of Scott's (Troy Smith) to camp with them this summer up at Shaver Lake.

We invited our friends the Haubert's to join us.  It was the BEST time!

I love to camp, but - boy oh boy is it a lot of work.

It is worth all the effort though when you see how happy and dirty your kiddos are!
We headed out of town shortly after church on Sunday, August 9th.

It was a pretty drive up to the lake.

After we arrived, Hayley was a little grumpy so she sat with me and we took selfies!

Hunter and Hayley after they set their trailer up.

 Our little campers having dinner Sunday night!

After dinner, Scott's friend Troy set up a movie!

The kids loved that!

 After the movie, we roasted marshmallows!

Our camp setup!

 Getting ready for bed

The next morning we had breakfast of deep friend donuts
and then headed to the lake!

The kids found some fun rocks to jump off of,

Allie and Maddie

The Abbott's joined us for the day.
CJ and Joseph

Troy brought up that huge 12 x 12 inflatable raft that was anchored down.

Becky had quite the workout of rowing kids out to the raft.

Teddy trying out the paddle board.

Troy managed to get Scott's truck stuck for a bit!
Haha!

The kids loved these little boats that they could paddle out to the raft in.

Allie on the paddle board

Jackson as well..

Our setup at the beach

Scott brought the boat and we bought him a tow tube last year.
It was so fun to try out....the kids LOVED it!

I fell off pretty quickly!

and found it nearly impossible to get back on the boat!

The kids loved fishing off the shore

Smore's on night #2

Headed to the lake on our last day

Louie rented a jet ski on the second day...another thing the kiddos loved!

More paddle boarding
Maddie and Allie

Gracie

and Peggy and I

On the way back to the dock...Scott let CJ fish for a little bit.
Seriously!! Have you ever seen a happier boy?

 Fishing with his dad!  He is so cute, and take a look at the fish he caught!

This will be a trip we will never forget!