It's that time of year again, getting ready for a new school year! We made the difficult decision to move the girls to Royal Oak Schools this year. We will definitely miss GA, but think this is the best path forward. We toured their new grade school this afternoon, and were really impressed! They take COVID very seriously, everything was clean and organized, really great facilities, and the girls fully approved of the playgrounds (and they get lockers!). I'm happy they will be in a building with air conditioning!
This is actually at Jamie's high school - he helped make the wings!
Jamie started his back-to-school staff meetings and room set up this week - everyone's first day is next Tuesday!
We've been relaxing and enjoying our backyard a bunch. All the kids are doing awesome with the water. Evie went from being terrified to stand in the shallow end to swimming into the deep end in like one week! Ben is timid with the water, but really enjoys holding onto the edge and working himself around the perimeter. He thinks blowing bubbles is hilarious.
This pool makes me sooo happy
The boys
Enjoys my creepy I'm-going-to-eat-you face?
Two birds of a feather... or fish of a scale?
Watching over baby Marigold
We thoroughly enjoyed having the Rabine cousins over one day! (we also had the Odglen's over later, but I'm dumb and didn't get photos)
Making some cookies with Mama (specifically so she could lick the beaters)
Katie came over to play one day
Maggie making strawberry shortcake
Beaver, squirrel or otter? The debate rages on... (definitely a squirrel though, right?)
One thing all my kids will eat - noodles.
Jamie and I celebrated 11 years of marriage with steak and a monstrous dessert
Ben used to fear the dinosaur, they have come to terms now
Last game with my Royal Oak soccer ladies!
Last game with my Utica team!
I brought my American Girl Doll collection out of storage. I can't believe how obsessed the girls are! (for now, we'll see if it lasts)
Our attempt to create Oobleck after watching it on TV:
Super proud day when Evie started jumping off the diving board:
We survived the move to our new house! I still think having a newborn is more tiring, but this is probably the fourth most difficult month I've ever had, and I'm glad it's behind us!
Last family shot at the old house
Just the girls
I am so thankful to all our parents for watching our kids A LOT during the 9 days between getting the keys and the final move - could not have done this without you! Big thanks to our friends and family for helping us move the basement and garage ahead of time (Adam, Jason, Justin, Dad, Bobby, Chelsea and Diego)! We also had the best painter of all time do our entire upstairs, downstairs hallway and laundry room and front room... in one week! We love Joe Krause!
First things first - testing out the pool
I could get used to this!
Making waves
We spent the week cleaning, fixing odds and ends, cleaning some more, getting carpet installed - last Monday was the big move day and our movers were exceptional (Changing Places) - everything was done in four hours, boom! We focused hard on unpacking and setting up the kids' rooms that day so they would have a pleasant surprise - the girls flipped out! Best reaction ever (not captured on video though)! Ben was his normal happy self.
Last night sleeping in their shared room
I shall miss you, dear dinosaurs
We took a couple videos of the old house for posterity... these are probably not that interesting to anyone but us...
One last beer to toast our "baby"
So far the kids are doing really well with the transition. We lost power for 3 days, which sort of screwed up everyone's groove, but they generally sleep very well. Evie has been a bit more whiny and emotional, which is understandable... we're trying to give all the kids lots of love and attention since they were semi-orphans for about a week!
Summer camp ended a few weeks ago... I think Jamie is relieved to be done because it always ends up being more work than expected. The girls had an amazing summer there!
Light saber training unit
Dressed up for her end of the year show
Impersonating Daddy
Got a bullseye in archery!
Ben was not super cooperative at their final performance...
We signed Maggie up for a 4-day horse camp with another friend from school. She had a really wonderful time with her horse, Roz.
A girl and her (borrowed) horse
Sitting pretty
Happy horse days
Jamie orchestrated a huge birthday surprise for Alain - a bunch of friends pitched in to get him the "coolest Lego set of all time" (Millennium Falcon). The box was too heavy for me to lift...
Keeping him busy at dinner while we schemed at his house
Happy Birthday!
The kids had a couple fun sleepovers at Grandma and Grandpa's, where the action never stops!
Working on his form
Watermelon eating contest at the local fair!
Cousin dinner
Evie was happy to at least get a pony ride (she's mad that camp is for 8 years and up)
My mom and dad spent four days with the kids, keeping them busy and entertained. On the last day, the kids prepared a special dinner for us and acted as butler, housemaid and entertainment for our dining pleasure!
Butler Jerry Lewis and Housemaid Kate
The kids played on our emotions and insisted that we go to Jim's Ice Cream one more time before moving (as if we aren't a mere 3 miles from the place)!
Family ice cream night!
Gotta love a place that will smush oreos into your soft-serve upon request
Happy to eat his "spink-els"
Daydreamer
The girls have been taking swim lessons at the YMCA for the past several weeks, which has been pretty great. They do all their training in the deep end of the pool; Evie was terrified and I thought she would run away and never come back after the first day, but she stuck with it and has come a long way! Maggie is a little fishy with a lot of confidence!
Ready to hit the showers
Patiently waiting
Some others:
Ben is enjoying having a park across the street!
This kid is 10 years old!
The girls begged Daddy to "let them" wash his car!
We also celebrated this little one's birthday - 3!
All the cake and ice cream!
We got together with Julie and Ryan and co. - The girls get sassier with age!
