Camp Laken Lemon!

This year was the first (annual!??) Camp Lake Lemon!  Will, Dane, and Madalynn were invited to Lake Lemon for 3 days to boat, tube, swim, fish, the list goes on and on. Will tried to ski and got up a few times for a very short time. They ate yummy kid food and made smores by the fire. They slept in a tent in the living room all 3 nights. I'm sorry - I forgot the other camper, Brinkley. She had a blast at CLL and also camped in the tent. :)  A huge thank you to Nana and Grandpa for taking on the campers and showing them such a fun time!

Snack

Dane said he was hungry. I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed and told him he could get a little bit of popcorn.  Instead, he decided to go with a giant cup of ice.

Yogi Bear Camping

We went camping at Jellystone Yogi Bear campground.  We camped next to our friends the Crones.  We had a great time and talked about trying to go each year.  They have so many things for kids and the boys had a great time.

A giant jumping pillow that the kids loved.

They rented these go-cart pedal cars.  They loved them.  In the background is Sonny's camper that he generously lets us use. 

They had so much fun with the individual pedal go-carts that they decided to rent a 5 person.  Great idea in theory, but after they took off and we hadn't seen them in a while we went to look for them.  We found them at the bottom of a hill and they couldn't pedal it back up.  I jumped on and tried to help them it was SO HARD.  I couldn't get it back up and was sweating and defeated.  So the two dads jumped on and succeeded in getting it back up the hill but we basically decided it was awful and will never rent it again.  Ha!

Macy, Reesy and Dane.  He has been wearing this "pirate banjo" most of the summer.  I think it's ADORABLE.:)

Dane going down one of the water slides.  I have a slo-mo video of him going down one that's neat I'll try to post it later. 

Jack, Dane, Will, Delaney, and Macy.

Fun weekend!!

Camp Invention Week

Will  was so excited to get to go to Camp Invention this year.  It is a day camp and lasted a week.  It was at a STEM school in Brooklyn (IN).  The camp incorporates science, technology, engineering, and math into daily activities and experiments.  He absolutely loved it.   They were encouraged to bring along recycling items (like tape, wires, plastic containers and other things that they could use to build prototypes) and upcycling items (like old electronic devices) that they could take apart and see how they work.  Will took an old remote controlled 4-wheeler that he got to take apart and investigate.  They worked together in teams to accomplish goals (like one day they had to figure out how to launch things across a room using certain items), they built "crickobots" little solar powered bugs that they did different experiments with.  They did fun and educational activities and experiments every day and Will had a blast. 

Will and his crickobot. When in the sun, it vibrates and moves around like a little bug. 

Dane really wanted to go to Camp Invention as well, but Luke and I decided that we wanted to wait a year or two before he goes so he's a little older and can get more out of it.  Therefore, each day that Will was at camp I told Dane we would do something fun.  And we did!  Between trips to visit Opa (who had open heart surgery a couple of weeks before and was recovering at a rehab facility) we had fun. 
We played glow in the dark miniature golf.

We did art projects and painting.

We took bike rides - the weather was beautiful!

We went to Aunt Terri's and swam. 

And on the final day of camp, Dane had his friend Hudson over to play all day.  It was a fun week for all of us!

Cousins Weekend 2016

Inside Scoop

We had 20 minutes to kill - good a time as any to stop for a quick bowl of ice cream to share!

Lake Lemon Fun

End of Year Awards

I'm playing a bit of catch up..

The boys finished up their kindergarten and 2nd grade school years!  It's so hard to believe.  

Dane did amazing.  Every 9 weeks he was awarded a "Ribbon Kid" award.  Meaning that even though kindergarteners don't receive letter grades, he was one of the top in his class in all three categories of behavior, academics, and attendance.  He REALLY wanted to be awarded the Pillar of Paragon - an award that one child receives in each class and it means that he demonstrated all 6 "Paragon Pillars" well over the 9 weeks.  The pillars are: respect, kindness, citizenship, caring, trustworthiness, and responsibility (we're pretty sure - Will and I just tried to complete the list:) This was his goal, and Dane received the award!!!  He was so excited, and we were so proud of him.  His picture will hang in the front hall of the school until the next Pillar is awarded after the first 9 weeks next school year.  Go Dane!!

Receiving his Pillar award from his Principal, Ms. Johnson. 

Above, he is with others in his class receiving his 9 weeks awards.

Getting his picture taken to hang in the front hall. 

Will had an awesome year in 2nd grade!!  He continues to do amazing in Math.  Definitely his strongest subject.  Although he enjoys math, his favorite subject?  Is PE. :) He received an awesome award from his PE teacher.  In class they test in I think 8 areas during the year.  I don't know all of them, but some of them are pull-ups, different strength tests, 1/2 mile time, etc.  Every child that falls within the "very healthy" range of EACH one of those tests receives an award.  When Will's name wasn't called to receive that award, I was surprised.  The kids sat back down, and then Miss Rishell continued on to say that one child in the WHOLE SCHOOL exceeded, tested out of, the "very healthy range" in EVERY category.  This kid!!  How cool, Will!!!!   Awesome job!

Here are the boys running to the house after getting off the bus on the last day.

And of course having some celebratory ice cream at the Candy Kitchen after school.  We met the Dunscomes, Haywoods, and Nana there.  

My handsome (now) 1st and 3rd graders! 

Buddies

This is Brady Etter, one of Will's best friends. Dane loves him too and Brady is so sweet to Dane as well. Will and Brady met last summer when they were on the same soccer team. They're both  I have a feeling Brady and the boys will be good friends growing up.

Summertime

It's summer!  It's hot and school is out. Last night and tonight the boys have wanted to camp in their tent on the back deck. They're so cute!  Last night Brinkley slept w them. 

Flowery Beauty!

I know for a fact I've never had this many flowers at one time.  Luke gave me a dozen roses for our anniversary ❤️

He and the boys got me flowers for Mothers Day. 

And then a few of my students from school gave me flowers or plants at the end of the year. I'm definitely feeling the love and really enjoying all the beauty! 

Holidays

Having a conversation w boys about holidays:

Me: I really like Halloween. 

Will: You do!?  Why?  You never even dress up!

Me: Well I used to every year, but now I have fun dressing you up. 

Will: You should dress up this year. 

Me: maybe I will. 

...silence...

Will: I know, you could be a witch. 

Dane: Or you could be a Grandma! A really old Grandma! 

Payton Road Action

Big changes happening on Payton Road this summer.  We are getting *gasp* neighbors!!  A young couple (Luke and I haven't met them yet) are building a house. We will no longer be the only ones who live on Payton Road. 

My Independent Problem Solver

I go outside to check on the boys and find this. 

Do you see the ball on the roof? 

Do you see the tower he's built? 

Do you see the golf club in his hand? 

Further evidence supporting the probability that I'll have a heart attack before this child turns 18. 

#idontthinksoWILL  #iappreciatehisproblemsolvingskills

#thankgoodnessiwasnt2minuteslater