Summer is in Full Swing

Usually I have a billion things planned every summer, but with our travel and sports schedule up in the air, we kept things pretty open. I was worried, but it has been an amazing 6 weeks so far with tons of fun family memories and great structured and unstructured time. The weather has been on our side with cooler than normal temps and beautiful play outside weather. It's the first year where I really don't want summer to end. I am soaking up my 4 boys playing and learning together. They are all so individual and amazing and really great friends. I feel so blessed every day. Here are a few of the highlights so far...

Parker got to walk on the field with the Michigan Bucks for the semi-pro soccer team. We enjoyed the game in the stands with treats and friends. 

We have been catching fireflies and enjoying their magic. There are some really beautiful things about living in the midwest. 

We have all been loving watching this little boy grow up. He is talking so much and cracks us all up on a regular basis with his questions and answers. The acquisition of language is a true miracle. We love every new word and phrase he says. He is hilarious about 90% of the time. This was his "hat."

We spent a day at Rolling Hills Water Park with some fun friends from our ward. It was a fantastic day!

We had an incredible night and evening with our friends at their lake house. For the first time the boys got to try water skiing and they were all pretty good. Jace and James almost had it but stopped short of really getting the hang of it, but Parker was up on the skiis on his first try. Amazing! Mike loved wakeboarding again. We had a beautiful evening as a family with our friends. Michigan is one gorgeous place.

We have been wand-making crazies. Karinne Stacey, one of my cute Mia Maids taught the boys how to make Harry Potter wands and we have been making them all summer. It's a great, easy and cheap craft that occupies them for hours!

We have loved spending time at our friend's neighborhood lake. We had FHE there one night and swam in the rain for our activity. A lesson and treat will never be good enough again.

Mike and I headed to a concert with Train and The Script. It was a beautiful and fun night full of our favorite songs. So glad we still have date night!

 We have spent a lot of time in our books, workbooks, at the library, and doing xtramath. I love watching these boys learn!

 On one of the hot days, we went to Troy Michigan to visit AirTime, an indoor trampoline zone. We got to go for free since they wanted me to check it out for my blog. Made for a great morning!

We said good-bye to some fun friends. Jace was especially bummed to see Sydney go :(. 

Mike and I were in charge of Youth Conference for our Stake this year. It was a truly incredible and testimony strengthening experience. We saw the hand of the Lord over and over again as our plans were executed to create a truly spirit filled weekend for our youth. They are so strong and so amazing. We felt blessed beyond belief as things went off without a hitch. The testimony meeting was our spiritual payoff for hours and months of planning and organizing. It couldn't have been better.

Our kids were so happy to have us back. So grateful for charitable friends who took great care of these boys.

 It was a LONG weekend!

Baseball wrapped up for James and Parker. Jace made the All-Star team again and has had a really great season. Both Parker and James were really solid players too!

I have been trying to get a workout in. I found having the boys come with me to the track at the middle school is good for all of us. 

Our baby pool and slide has been a hit with all of them ;). Love watching them all giggle and play together. 

And Mike ran the Tough Mudder!! He is so awesome and determined. Wish we could have been there to cheer him on.